A.
A Planning Board shall be appointed by the Town Board, which shall
consist of such number of members as the Town Board has heretofore
determined or shall hereafter determine. The members shall be appointed
by the Town Board in such manner and for such terms as provided by
the Town Law and any amendments thereto.
B.
The Planning Board shall have the authority to prepare and, from
time to time, recommend a change to the Comprehensive Plan for the
development of the Town of Bristol; to recommend approval or disapproval
the laying out, closing off, abandonment or changes in lines of streets,
highways and public areas; to recommend plans showing new streets
and highways and to confirm or make reasonable changes in the zoning
regulations pertaining thereto, as provided in § 281 of
the Town Law; and to make investigations and reports relating to the
planning and development of the Town of Bristol, changes in boundaries
or districts, changes in the provisions of this chapter and as to
any matter referred to it by the Town Board. It shall have the power
to adopt rules and regulations with respect to the procedure before
it and with reference to any matter over which it has jurisdiction
and to hold public hearings. It shall have such other powers and duties
as provided by the Town Law and any amendments thereto, and all such
powers as are conferred upon Town planning boards by the provisions
of the Town Law as now or hereafter in effect. The Planning Board
is also responsible for consideration of site plan applications, minor
subdivision applications and major subdivision applications.
A.
A Zoning Board of Appeals is hereby created. Said Board shall consist
of five members appointed by the Town Board, which shall also designate
a Chairman. No person who is a member of the Town Board shall be eligible
for membership on such Zoning Board of Appeals. Of the members of
the Board first appointed, one shall hold office for the term of one
year, one for the term of two years, one for the term of three years,
one for the term of four years, and one for the term of five years,
from and after his/her appointment. Their successors shall be appointed
for the term of five years from and after the expiration of the terms
of their predecessors in office. If a vacancy shall occur otherwise
than by the expiration of the term, it shall be filled by the Town
Board by appointment for the unexpired term.
B.
The Zoning Board of Appeals shall have all the powers and duties
prescribed by the Town Law of the State of New York and by this chapter,
which are more particularly specified as follows:
(1)
Upon appeal from a decision by an administrative official, to decide
any question involving the interpretation of any provision of this
chapter, including determination of the exact location of any district
boundary if there is uncertainty with respect thereto.
(2)
To hear and decide upon applications for permits as specified in
this chapter (e.g., area variance, use variance, special use permit,
administrative appeal).
(3)
To vary or adopt the strict application of any of the requirements
of this chapter in accordance with the provisions of the Town Law
of the State of New York.
(4)
In granting any variance, the Zoning Board of Appeals shall prescribe
any conditions that it deems to be necessary or desirable.
C.
The Zoning Board of Appeals shall act in strict accordance with the
procedure specified by law and by this chapter. All forms for appeals
and applications made to the Board are available from the Code Enforcement
Officer. Every appeal or application shall refer to the specific provision
of the local law involved and shall exactly set forth the interpretation
that is claimed, the use for which the special permit is sought, or
the details of the variance that is applied for and the grounds on
which it is claimed that the variance should be granted, as the case
may be.
D.
The office of the Town Clerk shall be the office of the Zoning Board
of Appeals, and every rule, regulation, amendment or repeal thereof
and every order, requirement, decision or determination of the Board
shall immediately be filed in said office as required by the Town
Law of the State of New York.
E.
The Board shall affix a reasonable time for the hearing of an appeal
and shall give due notice of the time set for the public hearing of
the application. Such notice shall be served upon the applicant. Public
notice shall be by the publication of a notice in the official newspaper
of the Town of Bristol and shall briefly describe the nature of the
appeal and the time and place of the hearing.
