Town of Lewiston, NY Camping Grounds and Parks

The purpose of this chapter is to promote the health, safety and general welfare of the community by establishing specific requirements and regulations governing the occupancy and maintenance of recreational vehicle parks and camping grounds.

§ 123-3 Definitions.

[Amended 6-13-1977 by L.L. No. 7-1977]

For the purpose of this chapter, the terms used herein are defined as follows:

CAMPER

A temporary dwelling designed to be mounted on a pickup truck for use in travel, recreation and vacation.

CAMPING GROUND

A parcel of land with two or more spaces, intended to be used or rented for occupancy by campers, camping trailers or tents.

CAMPING TRAILER

A folding structure, made of canvas or other material, mounted on wheels and designed for travel, recreation and vacation use.

PERMIT

A written permit issued by the Town Zoning Officer allowing a person to construct and operate a trailer parking area under the provisions of this chapter.

PERSON

Any individual, firm, trust, partnership, public or private association or corporation.

RECREATIONAL VEHICLE

Shall include:

MOTOR HOMEA portable, temporary dwelling to be used for travel, recreation and vacation, constructed as an integral part of a self-propelled vehicle.

TRAVEL TRAILERA portable vehicle built on a chassis, designed to be towed and used as a temporary dwelling for travel, recreational and vacation uses.

RECREATIONAL VEHICLE LOT

A parcel of land in a recreational vehicle park for the occupancy of a single recreational vehicle and its towing vehicle.

RECREATIONAL VEHICLE PARK

A parcel of land in which two or more spaces are provided for the occupancy of recreational vehicles.

SANITARY STATION

A facility used for disposing of wastes from vehicle lavatory holding tanks.

SELF-CONTAINED TRAILER

A trailer which can operate independently of sewer, water and electrical connections. It contains a water-flush toilet, lavatory and kitchen sink, all of which are connected to water storage and sewage holding tanks located within the trailer.

SERVICE BUILDING

A structure housing a toilet, lavatory and such other facilities as may be required by this chapter.

SERVICE SINK

A slop sink for the disposal of liquid wastes from trailers.

TENT

A collapsible shelter made of canvas, nylon or other material stretched or sustained by poles.

TENT LOT

A parcel of land in a camping ground for the occupancy of a single tent, camper or camping trailer.

§ 123-4 Permit required.

[Amended 6-13-1977 by L.L. No. 7-1977]

Any person being the owner of any land within the Town of Lewiston shall not use or allow the use of such land for a recreational vehicle park, camping ground or combination of both unless a permit and certificate of occupancy have been obtained as provided herein.

§ 123-5 Application.

[Amended 6-13-1977 by L.L. No. 7-1977]

An application for a permit for a recreational vehicle park, camping ground or a combination of both or the annual renewal thereof shall be filed with the Zoning Officer and shall be accompanied by a fee, as set from time to time by resolution of the Town Board of the Town of Lewiston. The application for a permit or the renewal thereof shall be made on forms prescribed by the Planning Board of the Town of Lewiston and shall include the name and address of the owner in fee of the tract. If the fee is vested in some person other than the applicant, a duly verified statement by the owner that the applicant is authorized by him to construct or maintain such recreational vehicle park, camping ground or combination of both shall accompany the application.

[Amended 8-27-2018 by L.L. No. 4-2018]

Each permit or renewal thereof shall expire on the 31st day of December following the issuance thereof. If the original permit is granted on or after July 1, the applicant shall be required to pay 1/2 the annual permit fee for the period expiring December 31.

Before such permit may be issued, there must be a favorable recommendation by a majority of the Planning Board of the Town of Lewiston, after public hearing, and compliance with all the provisions of this chapter and all other applicable ordinances of the Town of Lewiston.

Any applicant for a permit for a recreational vehicle park, camping ground or combination of both shall state that he, as owner or operator, shall be responsible for the proper maintenance and upkeep of the proposed premises and shall further submit a plan containing, but not limited to, the following information:

(1)

Boundaries and areas of the plot.

(2)

Entrances, exits, roadways and walkways.

(3)

Layout of recreational vehicle lots and/or camping lots.

(4)

Perimeter planting of trees and shrubs to provide a screen for adjoining highway and adjacent property.

(5)

Number and location of service buildings and number of facilities therein.

(6)

Plan of sewer system and disposal arrangements.

(7)

Method and plan of garbage and refuse disposal.

(8)

Water supply.

(9)

Electric power distribution and general lighting.

(10)

Means of providing for surface water runoff.

(11)

Owner's and operator's names, addresses and telephone numbers.

(12)

Certificates of approval of the Niagara County Health Department and compliance with the New York State Sanitary Code, if applicable.

§ 123-6 Park requirements.

[Amended 6-13-1977 by L.L. No. 7-1977]

Park requirements are as follows:

The minimum tract size shall be 10 acres, and such tract shall front on a collector street as designed in the Comprehensive Plan of the Town or by the Planning Board, and such streets shall be improved to collector street standards us set forth in the Town of Lewiston Subdivision Regulations.[1]

[1]

Editor's Note: See Ch. 306, Subdivision of Land.

A front yard setback of 50 feet shall be maintained from the right-of-way line of any public road bordering the tract, and the side and rear yard setbacks shall be 20 feet from property lines of adjoining properties to any recreational vehicle or tent in the park. No recreational vehicle park and/or camping ground or combination of both shall be established within 200 feet of an existing residence, unless such residence shall be owned by the owner of the recreational vehicle park, camping ground or combination of both.

All interior two-way roads shall be 20 feet wide, and one-way roads shall be 15 feet wide, with the full width paved with compacted stone or better, with a minimum overall depth, including foundation base and wearing course, of six inches, and, upon completion, no road shall be dead-ended.

Entrances and exits shall be so located as to provide a minimum sight distance on the adjacent public road in both directions from the interior road of not less than 300 feet at a point not less than 10 feet from the intersection.

Each recreational vehicle park, camping ground or combination of both shall provide an approved water supply system for fire-protection use.

Each recreational vehicle park, camping ground or combination of both shall set aside a portion of the total acreage as open space and recreation area, and a reasonable portion of such area shall be set aside for and equipped for recreational use in compliance with standards to be established by the Planning Board.

In the event that the person applying for a permit anticipates the creation of a combination of both a recreational vehicle park and camping ground, said areas shall not be intermingled but shall be separate and distinct, notwithstanding the fact that they may be adjacent to each other.

Auxiliary parking areas are to be provided for automobiles, maintenance equipment, boat trailers, utility trailers, incapacitated or unregistered vehicles and such similar equipment and vehicles.

Recreational vehicle sales. No lot or plot for the display of recreational vehicles for sale or rental or the conduct of a sales agency for recreational vehicles shall be permitted in any recreational vehicle park or campground, except that the owner of a recreational vehicle or the owner or operator of a recreational vehicle park shall be permitted to offer for sale or rental any recreational vehicle located upon a recreational vehicle lot within such park.

Conditions of soil and topography shall be suitable for the use and surface drainage provided to prevent accumulation of surface water. Exposed ground surfaces shall be paved or covered with stone screenings or similar material or protected with a vegetative growth.

Density shall not exceed 25 recreational vehicle lots or tent lots per acre of the area assigned to them, and there shall be a minimum separation of 10 feet between recreational vehicles, between tents or between a recreational vehicle and tent if they are located in adjacent areas.

It is recommended that consideration in each instance be given to the construction of all utilities underground, and the Planning Board may require that all utilities be located underground.

§ 123-7 Water supply.

An adequate, safe and potable water supply shall be provided in the park. Where a public supply of water of satisfactory quality, quantity and pressure is available, connection shall be made thereto and its supply used exclusively. When such public supply is not available, a private water supply system may be developed and used as approved by the Niagara County Health Department and in compliance with the New York State Sanitary Code.

The water system shall be capable of supplying 50 gallons per day for each lot lacking individual water connections and 100 gallons per day for each space provided with individual water connections, at a minimum pressure of 20 pounds.

Each recreational vehicle park shall be provided with one or more easily accessible water supply outlets for filling recreational vehicle water storage tanks. Such supply outlets shall consist of at least a hydrant and shall be protected against the hazards of backflow and back siphonage.

If facilities for individual water service connections are provided, the following requirements shall apply:

(1)

Riser pipes shall be so located and constructed that they will not be damaged by the parking of recreational vehicles.

(2)

Riser pipes shall extend above grade elevation, and the size shall be 3/4 inch.

(3)

Underground stop valves and waste valves shall not be installed on any water service.

§ 123-8 Service buildings.

[Amended 6-13-1977 by L.L. No. 7-1977]

Regulations for service buildings are as follows:

All portions of the structure shall be properly protected from damage by ordinary use and by decay, corrosion, termites and other destructive elements. Exterior portions shall be of such materials and be so constructed and protected as to prevent entrance or penetration of moisture and weather. All structures and internal arrangements shall comply with the New State Building Code, New York State Sanitary Code and any other applicable ordinances and statutes regulating such buildings and electrical, plumbing and sanitation systems.

All rooms containing sanitary or laundry facilities shall:

(1)

Have sound-resistant walls extending to the ceiling between male and female sanitary facilities. Walls and partitions around showers, bathtubs, lavatories and other plumbing fixtures shall be constructed of dense, nonabsorbent, waterproof material or covered with moisture-resistant material which will withstand continual cleaning.

(2)

Have at least one window or skylight facing directly to the outdoors. The minimum aggregate gross area of windows for each required room shall be not less than 5% of floor area served by them.

(3)

Have at least one window which can be easily opened or a mechanical device which will adequately ventilate the room. All external openings shall be screened.

Toilets shall be located in separate compartments equipped with self-closing doors. The shower stalls shall be of the individual type. The rooms shall be screened to prevent direct view of the interior when the exterior doors are open.

Illumination.

(1)

Illumination levels shall be maintained as follows:

(a)

General seeing tasks: five footcandles.

(b)

Laundry room work area: 40 footcandles.

(c)

Toilet room, in front of mirrors: 40 footcandles.

(2)

Illumination must be maintained night and day while park is in operation.

Hot and cold water shall be furnished to every lavatory, sink, bathtub, shower and laundry fixture, and cold water shall be furnished to every water closet and urinal.

Service buildings shall be maintained at a minimum temperature of 68° F. while the park is in operation during the period from October 1 to May 1. The park shall be considered to be in operation if any lot is occupied.

Service buildings providing for non-self-contained recreational vehicles and camping grounds shall house therein the following facilities:

	Toilets		Urinals
Number of Lot Spaces	Men	Women	Men
1 to 15	1	1	1
16 to 30	1	2	1
31 to 45	2	2	1
46 to 60	2	3	2
61 to 80	3	4	2
80 to 100	3	4	2

	Lavatories		Showers
	Men	Women	Men	Women	Other Fixtures
	1 2 3 3 4 4	1 2 3 3 4 4	1 1 1 2 2 3	1 1 1 2 2 3	1 service sink with a flushing rim

For premises having more than 100 lots, there shall be provided one additional toilet and lavatory for each sex per each additional 30 recreational vehicle lots and/or tent lots; one additional shower for each sex per each additional 40 recreational vehicle lots and/or tent lots; and one additional men's urinal per each additional 100 recreational vehicle lots and/or tent lots.

§ 123-9 Refuse disposal.

Each lot shall be provided with at least one twenty-gallon garbage can with a tight-fitting cover. The cans shall be kept in a sanitary condition at all times. It shall be the responsibility of the park operator to ensure that garbage and rubbish shall be collected and properly disposed of outside the park as frequently as may be necessary to ensure that garbage cans do not overflow. Exterior areas shall be free from organic and inorganic material that might become a health, accident or fire hazard.

§ 123-10 Sanitary stations.

[Amended 6-13-1977 by L.L. No. 7-1977]

A sanitary station shall be provided, consisting of at least a trapped four-inch sewer riser pipe, connected to the recreational vehicle park sewerage system, surrounded at the inlet end by a concrete apron sloped to the drain and provided with a suitable hinged cover and a water outlet with the necessary appurtenances connected to the park water supply system to permit periodic washdown of the immediate adjacent areas.

Each recreational vehicle park shall be provided with a sanitary station in the ratio of one for every 100 recreational vehicle spaces.

Sanitary stations shall be screened from other activities by visual barriers, such as fences, walls or natural growth, and shall be separated from any recreational vehicle lot and tent lot by a distance of at least 50 feet.

§ 123-11 Lot requirements.

[Amended 6-13-1977 by L.L. No. 7-1977]

A hard-surfaced parking pad shall be provided on each recreational vehicle lot for a recreational vehicle and one automobile.

Each lot in a recreational vehicle park shall face on an interior street.

Parking for one automobile shall not be required at individual tent lots as long as automobile parking is provided pursuant to Subsection H of § 123-6, Park requirements, above.

§ 123-12 Maintenance.

[Amended 6-13-1977 by L.L. No. 7-1977]

The entire recreational vehicle park, camping ground or combination of both shall be continuously policed to preclude the accumulation of litter, trash, discarded items or other debris.

Provisions shall be made for the regular and continuing maintenance of the landscaping which was required as a condition of initial approval and of all portions of lots and other areas within the recreational vehicle park, camping ground or combination of both which are not surfaced, covered by buildings or otherwise improved.

§ 123-13 Supervision.

[Amended 6-13-1977 by L.L. No. 7-1977]

The operator of the recreational vehicle park, camping ground or combination of both or a duly authorized attendant shall be in responsible charge at all times to keep the recreational vehicle park, camping ground or combination of both, its facilities and equipment in a clean, orderly and sanitary condition. The attendant shall be answerable, with the operator, for any violation of this chapter to which the operator is subject.

§ 123-14 Inspection.

[Amended 6-13-1977 by L.L. No. 7-1977]

Before the recreational vehicle park, camping ground or combination of both commences operation, the Building Inspector shall make an inspection of the premises to determine that all requirements of this chapter have been complied with. If it is found to be in compliance, the Building Inspector shall then issue a certificate of occupancy. No use of the recreational vehicle park, camping ground or combination of both shall be permitted until such a certificate has been issued.

§ 123-15 Registration.

[Amended 6-13-1977 by L.L. No. 7-1977]

The operator of each recreational vehicle park, camping ground or combination of both shall maintain a permanent written record of all persons occupying and using the facilities of such recreational vehicle park, camping ground or combination of both, which record shall be available to the Zoning Officer upon reasonable request and which shall include the following:

The name of each adult and the number of children occupying each recreational vehicle or tent.

The date of arrival at and departure from said recreational vehicle park, camping ground or combination of both of each recreational vehicle or vehicle carrying persons camping in tents.

The name and address of the owner or each recreational vehicle and each vehicle carrying persons camping in tents.

The registration number and year and state in which registered of each recreational vehicle and vehicles carrying persons camping in tents.

§ 123-16 Revocation or suspension of permit.

[Amended 6-13-1977 by L.L. No. 7-1977]

The Town Zoning Officer shall have the authority to enter and inspect any recreational vehicle park, camping ground or combination of both, for purposes of health, safety and sanitation, at any reasonable time.

If, upon inspection, it shall be found that the operator has violated any provision of this chapter, the Zoning Officer or the Planning Board shall have the power to revoke or suspend the permit and order all occupants of the recreational vehicle park, camping ground or combination of both removed or order the premises closed after notice and an opportunity to be heard.

§ 123-17 Penalties for offenses.

Any person found guilty of violating any provision of this chapter, whether or not such violation shall be found sufficient by the Zoning Officer or the Planning Board for revocation of the permit, shall be guilty of a misdemeanor punishable by a fine of not more than $100 and not more than 30 days' imprisonment, or both such fine and imprisonment. Each and every week that a violation of this chapter is permitted to exist shall constitute a separate offense.