[HISTORY: Adopted by the Board of Trustees of the Village
of Wesley Hills 12-11-1984 by L.L. No. 16-1984. Amendments noted
where applicable.]
This chapter shall be known as the "Wetlands Law of the Village
of Wesley Hills."
A.
The Board of Trustees finds and declares it to be the public policy
of the Village to preserve, protect and conserve its wetlands, water
bodies and watercourses and the benefits derived therefrom, to prevent
the despoliation and destruction and to regulate the use and development
thereof to secure the natural benefits of wetlands, water bodies and
watercourses consistent with the general welfare and beneficial economic
and social development of the Village. In this connection, the Board
of Trustees finds as follows:
(1)
Freshwater
wetlands are invaluable resources for flood and storm control, fish
and wildlife habitat, protection and provision of groundwater, recreation,
pollution treatment, erosion control, environmental education and
open space.
(2)
The
preservation and maintenance of wetlands, water bodies and watercourses
in an undisturbed and natural condition constitute important physical,
ecological, social, aesthetic, recreational and economic assets necessary
to promote the health, safety and general welfare of present and future
residents of the Village and of downstream drainage areas.
B.
It is the intent of this chapter to implement the Freshwater Wetlands
Act of the State of New York as presently contained in Article 24
of the Environmental Conservation Law, as the same may be amended
from time to time, to the extent that said Freshwater Wetlands Act
applies to property within the Village of Wesley Hills, and to promote
the public purposes identified therein and in this section by providing
for the protection, preservation, proper maintenance and use of the
Village's wetlands, water bodies and watercourses, by preventing
or minimizing erosion due to flooding and stormwater runoff, by maintaining
the natural groundwater supplies, preserving and protecting the purity,
utility, water retention capability, ecological functions, recreational
usefulness and natural beauty of all wetlands, water bodies, watercourses
and other related features of the terrain and by providing and protecting
appropriate habitats for natural wildlife.
For the purpose of this chapter, "wetlands" are defined as all
lands and waters of the Village of Wesley Hills, including but not
limited to any such lands and waters hereafter designated on the State
Wetlands Map, which have a contiguous area of at least 1/10 of an
acre and which contain any or all of the following:
A.
Lands and submerged lands commonly called "marshes," "swamps," "sloughs,"
"bogs" and "flats," whether flooded at all times, flooded only seasonally
or having a water table during at least three consecutive months of
the year within six inches of the ground surface or supporting aquatic
or semiaquatic vegetation of the types listed in § 24-0107,
Subdivision 1(a), of Article 24 of the Environmental Conservation
Law. The common names of these vegetative types are:
(1)
Wetland trees, which depend upon seasonal or permanent flooding or
sufficiently waterlogged soils to give them a competitive advantage
over other trees, including, among others, red maple, willows, black
spruce, swamp white oak, red ash, black ash, silver maple, American
elm and birch.
(2)
Wetland shrubs, which depend upon seasonal or permanent flooding
or sufficiently waterlogged soils to give them a competitive advantage
over other shrubs, including, among others, alder, buttonbush, bog
rosemary, dogwoods and leatherleaf.
(3)
Emergent vegetation, including, among others, cattails, pickerelweed,
bulrushes, arrow arum, arrowheads, reed, wild rice, bur reeds, purple
loosestrife, swamp loosestrife and water plantain.
(4)
Rooted, floating-leaved vegetation, including, among others, water
lily, water shield and spatterdock.
(6)
Wet meadow vegetation, which depends upon seasonal or permanent flooding
or sufficiently waterlogged soils to give them a competitive advantage
over other open land vegetation, including, among others, sedges,
rushes, cattails, rice cut-grass, reed canary grass, swamp loosestrife
and spike rush.
(7)
Bog mat vegetation, including, among others, sphagnum mosses, bog
rosemary, leatherleaf, pitcher plant and cranberries.
B.
Lands and submerged lands containing remnants of any vegetation that
is not aquatic or semiaquatic that has died because of wet conditions
over a sufficiently long period, provided that such wet conditions
do not exceed a maximum seasonal water depth of six feet and provided,
further, that such conditions can be expected to persist indefinitely,
barring human intervention.
E.
Lands and submerged lands containing poorly drained soils, as defined
by the United States Department of Agriculture, including, but not
limited to, the following:
Except as provided in § 221-5 of this chapter, it shall be unlawful to conduct, directly or indirectly, any of the following activities upon any wetland, water body or watercourse or within 100 feet of the boundary of any wetland, water body or watercourse unless a permit is obtained pursuant to the requirements of this chapter:
A.
Any form of draining, dredging, excavation or removal of material,
except removal of debris or refuse.
B.
Any form of depositing of any material such as but not limited to
soil, rock, debris, concrete, garbage, chemicals, etc.
C.
Erecting any building or structure of any kind, roads, the driving
of pilings or placing of any other obstructions, whether or not they
change the ebb and flow of the water.
D.
Installing a septic tank, running a sewer outfall, discharging sewage
treatment effluent or other liquid waste into or so as to drain into
any wetland, water body or watercourse.
The following activities are permitted by right within or adjoining
any wetland, water body or watercourse, except where the Planning
Board submits written notification to the property owner that it is
assuming jurisdiction over the activity for the purpose of assuring
that the intent of this section is not violated:
A.
The depositing or removal of the natural products of the wetlands,
water bodies or watercourses by recreational or commercial fishing,
agriculture, hunting or trapping where otherwise legally permitted.
B.
Outdoor recreation activity that does not materially alter the natural
state of the land or require construction, including use of field
trails for nature study, hiking or horseback riding, swimming, skin
diving and boating, where otherwise legally permitted.
C.
Grazing, farming and harvesting of crops where otherwise legally permitted; provided, however, that any tillage of soil shall leave an undisturbed strip not less than six feet wide at the edge of any wetland, watercourse or water body to prevent erosion. With respect to any properties designated on the State Wetlands Map, the activities of farmers and other landowners in grazing and water livestock, making reasonable use of water resources, harvesting natural products of the wetlands, selectively cutting brush and timber, draining land or wetlands for growing agricultural products and otherwise engaging in the use of wetlands or other land for growing agricultural products shall be excluded from regulated activities and shall not require a permit under § 221-4 of this chapter, except that structures not required for the enhancement or maintenance or the agricultural productivity of the land and any filling activities shall not be excluded hereunder, and provided that the use of wetlands, water bodies and watercourses for uses other than those referred to in this subsection shall be subject to the provisions of this chapter. Each farmer or landowner who intends to conduct an activity described in this subsection which would otherwise be regulated shall notify the Planning Board, in writing, of his intention to engage in such activity, stating the approximate acreage to be affected, the general location thereof, the use or uses to be made of such land and the methods to be employed.
D.
Gardening where otherwise legally permitted; provided, however, that
any tillage of soil shall leave an undisturbed strip not less than
six feet wide at the edge of any wetland, watercourse or water body
to prevent erosion.
E.
Operation and maintenance of such dams, retaining walls, terraces,
sluices, culverts or other water control structures or devices as
legally existed on the effective date of this section.
F.
Public health activities as exemplified by orders and regulations
of the Rockland County Department of Health. The Department of Health
shall notify the Planning Board, in writing, of the proposed activity
it will undertake.
G.
Any actual and ongoing emergency activity as defined by the Board
of Trustees which is immediately necessary for the protection and
preservation of life or property or the protection or preservation
of natural resource values.
A.
Applications for permits. Any person proposing to conduct or cause to be conducted a regulated activity specified in § 221-4 of this chapter upon any wetland, water body or watercourse shall file four copies of an application for a permit with the Planning Board as provided in this section. Such application shall include the following information:
(1)
Name and address of the applicant and the applicant's agent,
if any, and whether the applicant is owner, lessee, licensee, etc.
If the applicant is not the owner, the written consent of the owner
must be attached.
(2)
Street address and Tax Map designation of the subject property.
(3)
A detailed description of the specific purpose, nature and scope
of the activity proposed.
(4)
A map showing the area of wetland, water body or watercourse directly
affected.
(5)
A topographical and perimeter survey, hydrological computation, engineering
studies and other factual or scientific data and reports as deemed
necessary by the Planning Board to permit it to arrive at a proper
determination.[1]
(6)
In the case of applications affecting water retention capability,
water flow or other drainage characteristics of any wetland, water
body or watercourse, the Planning Board may require the inclusion
of a statement of the area of upstream and downstream watersheds,
impact analysis and information as to rainfall intensity in the vicinity
for not less than a ten-year return frequency, together with approximate
runoff coefficients to determine the capacity and size of any channel
sections, pipes or waterway openings, together with plans for necessary
bridges, culverts, stormwater or pipe drains that, in the opinion
of the Planning Board, are needed to arrive at a proper determination
on the application, consistent with the purposes of this chapter.
(7)
The applicant shall submit stamped envelopes addressed to each of
the owners of property within 500 feet of the perimeter of the subject
property. An affidavit shall be submitted by the applicant declaring
that the names and addresses of such adjacent property owners are
correct as within the knowledge of the applicant as shown on the latest
tax assessment roll.
[Added 9-4-2004 by L.L. No. 2-2004]
B.
Public hearing. No sooner than 30 days and not later than 60 days
after the receipt of such application and publication of notice of
application as required herein, the Planning Board shall hold a public
hearing on any application submitted pursuant to this chapter. The
Planning Board shall cause notice of such hearing to be published
in the official newspaper at least 10 days prior to the date set for
such hearing. The Secretary of the Planning Board shall mail copies
of the notice of the public hearing to all owners of record of property
within 500 feet of the perimeter of the subject property, by regular
first-class mail, at least 10 days prior to the date of the hearing.
All applications and maps and documents relating thereto shall be
open for public inspection at the office of the Village Clerk. At
such hearing, any person or persons filing a request for a hearing
or a timely notice of appearance may appear and be heard.
[Amended 9-4-2004 by L.L. No. 2-2004]
C.
Planning Board action. Within 75 days of the date the application
is submitted or within 45 days of the date of any public hearing which
may be conducted on said application, whichever period is shorter,
the Planning Board shall render a decision to approve, approve with
modifications or disapprove the issuance of a permit for the proposed
activity. The decision of the Planning Board shall be made by written
resolution stating the findings and reasons for such decision.
A.
The applicant shall have the burden of demonstrating that the proposed
activity will be in accord with the policies and provisions of this
chapter.
B.
In granting, denying or limiting any permit, the Planning Board shall
consider the effect of the proposed activity with reference to the
public health and welfare, fishing, flood, hurricane and storm dangers
and the protection or enhancement of the several functions of the
wetlands and the benefits derived therefrom as set forth in this section,
irrespective of political boundaries.
C.
The Planning Board may grant a permit, subject to such terms and conditions as it shall reasonably impose upon finding that such activity is not contrary to the purposes of § 221-2 of this chapter. Said Board may also, in its discretion, permit any activity otherwise prohibited by this chapter to be done, except with respect to property designated on the State Wetlands Map or otherwise regulated by the state, provided that the Planning Board determines after investigation that to prohibit such activity would cause undue hardship to the property owner.
D.
In granting a permit, the Planning Board may limit the same or impose
conditions or limitations designed to carry out the public policy
set forth in this chapter. The Planning Board may require a bond,
in an amount and with surety and conditions satisfactory to it, securing
to the State of New York or the Village of Wesley Hills, as the case
may be, compliance with the conditions and limitations set forth in
the permit. The Building Inspector, with the concurrence of the Village
Engineer, may suspend or revoke a permit if he finds that the applicant
has not complied with any of the conditions or limitations set forth
in the permit or has exceeded the scope of the activity as set forth
in the application. The Building Inspector may suspend the permit
if the applicant fails to comply with the terms and conditions set
forth in the application.
Review of the determination of the Planning Board shall be within
a period of 30 days after the filing thereof, pursuant to the provisions
of Article 78 of the Civil Practice Law and Rules with respect to
the properties designated on the State Wetlands Map or otherwise regulated
by the state.
All applications for a wetlands permit shall be accompanied
by a fee in accordance with the fee schedule adopted by the Board
of Trustees.
A.
The requirements of this chapter shall not apply to any work shown
on construction drawings or improvement plans for subdivisions or
site plans approved by said Planning Board.
B.
The requirements of this chapter shall not apply to the construction
of a single-family residence on a lot in a subdivision approved by
the Planning Board, provided that the dwelling is constructed in substantial
compliance (as to location and grading) with the dwelling shown on
the subdivision construction plans, unless the Planning Board, at
the time of approval of such subdivision, shall have designated such
lot as a sensitive lot for which a wetlands permit is required for
such construction.
[Added 7-8-1997 by L.L. No. 3-1997]
C.
Where this chapter is less or more protective of the environment
than the Environmental Conservation Law of the State of New York or
any local law or ordinance of the County of Rockland or the Village
of Wesley Hills, the law or ordinance that is more protective of the
environment shall prevail.
Pursuant to Title 23 of Article 71 of the Environmental Conservation
Law, the following penalties shall apply:
A.
Civil
sanctions.
(1)
Any person who violates, disobeys or disregards any provision of
this chapter shall be liable for a civil penalty not to exceed $11,000
for every such violation. Before assessment of the civil penalty,
the alleged violator shall be afforded a hearing or opportunity to
be heard before the Planning Board upon due notice and with rights
to specification of the charges and representation by counsel.[1]
(2)
The Planning Board shall also have the power, following a hearing,
to direct a violator to cease violation of this chapter and, under
the Board's supervision, to satisfactorily restore the affected
freshwater wetland or watercourse to its condition prior to the violation,
insofar as that is possible, within a reasonable time and under the
supervision of the Planning Board.
(3)
Any civil penalty or order issued by the Planning Board shall be
reviewable pursuant to Article 78 of the Civil Practice Law and Rules.
B.
Criminal sanctions. In addition to the above civil fine, any person
who violates any provision of this chapter or a permit or order issued
pursuant thereto shall be guilty of a violation pursuant to the Penal
Law, punishable by a fine of not less than $2,000 nor more than $4,000
for a first offense. For a second and each subsequent offense, the
violator shall be guilty of a misdemeanor, punishable by a fine of
not less than $4,000 nor more than $7,000 or a term of imprisonment
of not less than 15 days nor more than six months, or both. Each offense
shall be a separate and distinct offense and, in the case of a continuing
offense, each day's continuance thereof shall be deemed a separate
and distinct offense. Instead of these punishments, any offender may
be punishable by being ordered by the court to restore the affected
freshwater wetland to its condition prior to the offense, insofar
as that is possible. The court shall specify a reasonable time for
the completion of such restoration, which restoration shall be affected
under the supervision of the Commissioner of the Department of Environmental
Conservation or of the Village. Each offense shall be a separate and
distinct offense, and, in the case of a continuing offense, each day's
continuance thereof shall be deemed a separate and distinct offense.[2]
C.
The Planning Board shall have the right to seek equitable relief
to restrain any violation or threatened violation of any provision
of this chapter.
[Amended 5-14-2002 by L.L. No. 4-2002]
The Mayor, Deputy Mayor, Code Inspector, or Building Inspector
shall issue and post notices of violations of this chapter.
For the purpose of this chapter, certain words and terms used
herein are defined as follows:
The Board of Trustees of the Village of Wesley Hills.[1]
Any structure having a roof, self-supporting or supported
by columns or walls, which is permanently affixed to the ground, and
intended for the shelter, housing or enclosure of persons, animals
or chattel.
The Building Inspector of the Village of Wesley Hills.
The Code Inspector of the Village of Wesley Hills.
To fill, place, eject, discharge or dump any material, but
not including stormwater.
Soil, stones, sand, gravel, clay, bog, peat, mud, debris
and refuse or any other organic or inorganic substance, whether liquid,
solid or gaseous or any combination thereof.
The Planning Board of the Village of Wesley Hills.
The wetlands map prepared by the State of New York pursuant
to Article 24 of the Environmental Conservation Law.
Anything constructed or erected, the use of which requires
location on the ground or attachment to something having location
on the ground. Included are swimming pools, parking garages and tennis
courts, but not anything requiring only simple paving or surfacing
of the ground, such as parking lots, driveways or sidewalks.
The Village Engineer of the Village of Wesley Hills.
Any body of standing water which is not dry more than three
months of the year as computed from the average of the last two consecutive
calendar years and which, when wet, in customarily more than 500 square
feet in water surface area.
Any body of flowing water flowing in an identifiable channel
or course and which is not dry more than three months of the year.
As defined in § 221-3.
A zoning district as specified in Chapter 230, Zoning, of the Code of the Village of Wesley Hills.
Chapter 230, Zoning, of the Code of the Village of Wesley Hills.
