Wherever any subdivision of land is proposed to be made and before any contract for the sale of or any offer to sell any lots in such subdivision or any part thereof is made, the subdivider or his duly authorized agent shall apply in writing for approval of such proposed subdivision in accordance with the following procedures. From inception of the proposed subdivision to the point of approval and/or bonding of site improvements, no construction, grading, excavation, site preparation, removal of trees, blasting or demolition shall occur within the platted lands and no building or zoning permit shall be issued until subdivision approval is granted by the Planning Board or an acceptable performance bond is in place. Limited excavation necessary for deep tests and percolation tests witnessed by the Dutchess County Department of Health are excluded from the prohibitions above.
It is hereby recognized that an initial consultation with the Planning Board pertaining to the property to be subdivided will function to conserve the applicant's expenditure of time and financial resources through the identification of significant property features as early as possible during the subdivision review process. The preapplication consultation shall also facilitate efficient compliance with the State Environmental Quality Review Act (SEQRA) and facilitate superior site design. The preapplication consultation identifies existing natural and man-made features occurring on the property prior to the planning and engineering of proposed lot lines and attendant improvements. The property information requested toward the preapplication consultation is available at little or no cost from various government agencies. The preapplication consultation shall also assist the Planning Board in determining the appropriateness of an on-site inspection of the project site.
Prior to the filing of a formal application for subdivision, an owner or duly authorized representative or contract vendee shall file a written request with the Administrative Secretary to introduce and discuss the subject property with the Planning Board at a regularly scheduled meeting. There are no filing fees associated with the preapplication consultation. A request for a preapplication consultation shall be accompanied by a recent property survey or, alternatively, a recent aerial/satellite image at a scale of not less than 500 feet to the inch. The features itemized below shall be identified as they may occur on the subject property and within 200 feet of the property boundaries. In order to provide the Planning Board with a depiction of existing conditions and in order to minimize the initial expenditure of the subdivider, the illustration of proposed development and proposed lot lines shall not occur until the sketch plan phase of subdivision review. The following property features shall be shown as they occur on the subject property:
A.
New York State Statutory Wetlands, as mapped by the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (NYSDEC).
B.
Federal wetlands, as identified on the National Wetland Inventory (NWI).
C.
Streams, lakes and other surface water features, as identified by NYSDEC and NWI.
D.
Floodways and one-hundred-year floodplains, as identified by NYSDEC and Federal Insurance Rate Maps (FIRM).
E.
Topographical contours at intervals of 10 vertical feet, as identified on United States Geological Survey (USGS) quadrangle maps. Areas exhibiting slopes of 15% or greater shall be highlighted.
F.
Soils mapping, as available at the Dutchess County Soil and Water Conservation District Offices (DCSWCD) identified on Dutchess County soils mapping. Soil types important to agricultural activity shall be further noted.
G.
Known habitat associated with endangered animal and/or plant species, as identified by NYSDEC.
H.
Healthy specimen trees, at least 12 inches in diameter at breast height (dbh). If large numbers of such trees occur on the site, groupings of trees may be identified, without identifying individual trees.
I.
Significant historic and cultural features, as identified by NYSDEC and the New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation (NYSOPRHP).
J.
Continuous hedgerows outlining active or former agricultural fields.
K.
Rock outcroppings and unusual geologic formations.
L.
Existing stone walls.
M.
Existing buildings and structures, including utility structures for drainage, electricity, etc.
N.
Surrounding roads.
O.
Town of Beekman Zoning District designation(s).
P.
Vicinity map at a scale of one inch equals 800 feet, in the form of a drawing or as an aerial image.
The subdivider or his duly authorized representative shall attend the meeting of the Planning Board to discuss the existing features of the site and its prospective development.
Following the preapplication consultation with the Planning Board, including the presentation of the property features listed above, an owner of land shall, prior to subdividing or resubdividing land, submit to the Administrative Secretary a completed application for subdivision accompanied by requisite application fees and five copies of a sketch plan of the proposed subdivision.
A.
The sketch plan review phase is intended to encourage early and effective discussion of significant site features likely to affect the resulting subdivision design in order to establish a fundamentally sound site design that can properly advance through the subsequent preliminary and final plat review phases. The sketch review phase formally commences the SEQRA process, in accordance with Part 617.3(c) of the SEQRA Implementing Regulations.
B.
The objectives of sketch plan review include:
(1)
Formal initiation of the SEQR process.
(3)
Determine the jurisdiction and requirements of local county, state and federal agencies whose review and/or approvals shall be required by the proposed subdivision.
(4)
Evaluation of the proposed subdivision layout as measured against the goals and objectives of Town Comprehensive Plan and other articles of these regulations.
(5)
Where the lands to be subdivided represent only a portion of any and all contiguous lands owned in whole or in part by the subdivider, the development potential for all such lands shall be adequately considered so as to not segment the review, as prohibited by the State Environmental Quality Review Act Implementing Regulations.
The subdivider or his duly authorized representative shall attend the meeting of the Planning Board to discuss the requirements of these regulations of street improvements, drainage, sewerage, water supply, fire protection and similar aspects as well as the availability of existing services and other pertinent information made on the sketch plan.
The Planning Board shall determine whether the sketch plan meets the purposes of these regulations and shall, where it deems necessary, make specific recommendations, to be recorded in the minutes, and incorporated by the applicant in subsequent submissions to the Planning Board.
The following items shall accompany a request for sketch plan review:
A.
Completed and signed application forms.
B.
Application fees.
C.
Proof of ownership (recent tax bill, copy of deed, copy of contract to purchase).
D.
Layouts and plats shall be clearly and legibly drawn, to a scale of not smaller than 60 feet to the inch.
E.
Full Environmental Assessment Form (EAF), Part 1. Parts 2 and 3 of the full EAF shall also be completed by the applicant in draft form.
F.
Sketch subdivision plan, to include the following:
(1)
The proposed subdivision name or identifying title and property address.
(2)
"Town of Beekman, Dutchess County, New York."
(3)
The name and address of the record owner and/or subdivider.
(4)
"Reference: Town of Beekman Zoning Law, Land Subdivision Regulations."
(5)
True North point.
(6)
Graphic scale.
(7)
Date of preparation of plans, including date and description of any subsequent revisions.
(8)
The name, address, signature and original seal of the New York State licensed professional engineer, registered landscape architect and/or professional land surveyor who prepared the plans.
(9)
Boundaries of the present parcel, as well as the boundaries of any and all contiguous lands owned in whole or in part by the subdivider.
(10)
The approximate proposed new lot lines.
(11)
Existing and proposed road layout, if any.
(12)
Lines of topography; USGS topographical map with ten-foot contours (satisfactory for sketch plan only).
(13)
All significant regulated and nonregulated naturally occurring features on the site, as well as any existing man-made features.
(14)
"Vicinity map" at a scale of one inch equals 2,000 feet to measure at least six inches by six inches as placed on the plan.
(15)
"Area map" at a scale of one inch equals 400 feet or one inch equals 800 feet with all roads, property lines, waterways, statutory wetlands and other features of interest within 1,000 feet of the boundaries of the project, and to measuring at least six inches by six inches as placed on the plan. Aerial imagery may be substituted for a map only if the features are clearly legible.
(16)
The zoning district in which the subject property is located.
(17)
Tax Map and parcel designation.
(18)
Total acreage of the property involved.
(19)
Number of proposed lots.
(20)
Smallest lot size.
(21)
"Zoning Table" to include proposed compliance with area and bulk regulations for each proposed lot and/or any variances sought.