A.
Application to the Code Enforcement Officer. As provided by § 120-79, application for a permit shall be made to the Code Enforcement Officer prior to the commencement of any excavation, grading, or clearing, or the construction of any building or structure or the use of land. If, upon receipt of such application, the Code Enforcement Officer determines that the excavation, construction or use of land for which the application is made requires the issuance of a special permit, he/she shall, within 15 days of its receipt, forward the application to the Planning Board for review and approval of a special permit.
B.
Application for Area Variance. Where a proposed special permit contains one or more features which do not comply with the zoning regulations, application may be made to the Zoning Board of Appeals for an area variance without the necessity of a decision or determination of the CEO.
C.
Conditions. The Planning Board shall have the authority to impose such reasonable conditions and restrictions as are directly related to and incidental to the proposed special permit. Upon its granting of the special permit, any such conditions must be met in connection with the issuance of permits by the CEO.
D.
Waiver of requirements. The Planning Board may, when reasonable, waive any requirements for the approval, approval with modifications, or disapproval of special permits submitted for approval. Any such waiver may be allowed only when such requirements are found not to be requisite in the interest of the public health, safety or general welfare or inappropriate to a particular special permit application.
E.
Public hearing. The Planning Board shall hold a public hearing within 62 days from the day an application is received on any matter referred to it under this section. Public notice for the hearing shall be printed in a newspaper of general circulation in the Village at least five days prior to the date of such hearing. The Planning Board shall decide upon the application within 62 days after the hearing. The time within which the Planning Board must render its decision may be extended by mutual consent of the applicant and the Board.
F.
Notice to applicant and County Planning Board. At least 10 days before any hearing, the Planning Board shall mail notices of the hearing to the applicant and to the Rensselaer County Planning Board or agency, as required by General Municipal Law § 239-m. The notice for this referral shall be accompanied by a full statement of the application under consideration, as defined in GML § 239-m. If the Rensselaer County Planning Board fails to report within 30 days after receipt of a full statement of such referred material, the Planning Board may act without such report. If the Rensselaer County Planning Board disapproves the proposal or recommends modifications thereof, the Planning Board shall not act contrary to such disapproval or recommendation except by a vote of a majority plus one of all the members thereof and after the adoption of a resolution setting forth the reasons for the contrary action. The Board shall file a report of its final action taken with the County Planning Board within 30 days after its decision has been made.
G.
SEQR. The Planning Board shall comply with the provisions of the State Environmental Quality Review Act under Article 8 of the Environmental Conservation Law and its implementing regulations.
H.
Court review. Any person aggrieved by a decision of the Planning Board may apply to the Supreme Court for review by a proceeding under Article 78 of the Civil Practice law and rules. Such proceedings shall be instituted within 30 days after the filing of a decision by the Planning Board in the office of the Village Clerk. The court may take evidence or appoint a referee to take such evidence as it may direct, and report the same, with findings of fact and conclusions of law, if it shall appear that testimony is necessary for the proper disposition of the matter. The court shall itself dispose of the matter on the merits, determining all questions which may be presented for determination.
I.
Costs. Costs shall not be allowed against the Planning Board or other administrative body designated by the Village Board of Trustees unless it shall appear to the court that it acted with gross negligence, in bad faith, or with malice in making the decision appealed from.
J.
Expenses. The applicant shall be responsible for the total cost of environmental reviews determined to be necessary to meet requirements of SEQRA as per 6 NYCRR Part 617.13. The Planning Board may also incur other extraordinary expenses to properly review documents or conduct special studies in connection with the proposed application, including but not limited to the reasonable costs incurred by the Planning Board for private consultation fees, fees for technical and engineering services, legal fees, or other expenses in connection with the review of a special permit application. All reasonable fees shall be charged to the applicant. The Planning Board shall make a reasonable estimate of the amount of expenses that it expects to incur during the course of each application for a special permit. The amount so determined by the Planning Board shall be deposited by the applicant in escrow with the Village Clerk prior to the Planning Board's commencing any review of the application. If the amount so deposited is exhausted or diminished to the point that the Planning Board determines that the remaining amount will not be sufficient to complete the review of the application, then the Planning Board shall notify the applicant of the additional amount that must be deposited with the Village Clerk. If the applicant fails to replenish the escrow account or there are unpaid amounts for which the applicant is responsible, the Planning Board, in its discretion, may cease review of the application until such amounts are paid or deny the application. In no event, however, shall any special permit be approved until such sums have been paid in full.
K.
Other permits. The Planning Board shall require proof that all permits required by other agencies have been applied for prior to final approval. The Planning Board may approve a special permit application contingent upon final approval of such application by other agencies. The Code Enforcement Officer shall ensure that all other agency approvals have been received and all conditions required by the Planning Board are met prior to issuing a building permit.