A. 
The Planning Board shall review site plans for those uses which, because of their scale, intensity, or potentially disruptive nature, require careful layout, design, and placement on a site. The site plan approval process does not consider the appropriateness of a particular use for the site (which is determined through the special permit process), but only with the suitability of a particular site plan. The principal purpose of site plan review is to ensure compliance of a particular development site with the purposes and performance criteria contained in this chapter.
B. 
Site plan approval shall be required for all special permits for major projects, and for certain minor projects including sign bonuses and advertising signs pursuant to § 245-52, and for uses in the Scenic/Ridgeline/Historic Overlay (SH) District, as described in § 245-28D. Site plan approval shall not be required for other types of minor projects. Site plan approval does not apply to subdivisions containing only single-family or two-family dwellings, unless they are located in the SH or VM Districts.
C. 
Site plan approval shall also be required for the resumption of any use described in § 245-36B above which has been discontinued for more than one year, for the expansion of any such existing use, or for the resumption or expansion of any use for which an approved site plan exists.
An application for site plan approval shall be accompanied by plans and descriptive information sufficient to clearly portray the intentions of the applicant.
A. 
Minor projects. An applicant for minor project site plan approval shall prepare a plot plan drawn to scale with accurate dimensions, providing information sufficient to enable the Planning Board to make an informed decision, including any items listed in § 245-37B which the Planning Board deems necessary, a short-form environmental assessment form (unless the Planning Board determines that the proposed site plan is a Type I action, in which case a long-form environmental assessment form will be required), an agricultural data statement as defined in Article XIV, if required by § 245-45C, and the required minor project fee, as established by the Town Board.
B. 
Major projects. Major project site plans shall be prepared by a registered professional engineer, architect, or landscape architect, and shall include the following:
(1) 
Name of the project, boundaries, date, North arrow, and scale of the plan.
(2) 
Name and address of the owner of record, developer, and seal of the engineer, architect, or landscape architect.
(3) 
Vicinity map drawn at the scale of 2,000 feet to the inch or larger that shows the relationship of the proposal to existing community facilities which affect or serve it, such as roads, shopping areas, schools, etc. The map shall also show all properties, subdivisions, streets, and easements within 500 feet of the property. Such a sketch may be superimposed on a United States Geological Survey map of the area.
(4) 
Site plan drawn at a scale of one inch equals 40 feet or such other scale as the Planning Board may deem appropriate, on standard 24 inches by 36 inches sheets, with continuation on 8 1/2 inches by 11 inches sheets as necessary for written information.
(5) 
The location and use of all existing and proposed structures within the property, including all dimensions of height and floor area, all exterior entrances, and all anticipated future additions and alterations.
(6) 
The location of all present and proposed public and private ways, off-street parking areas, driveways, outdoor storage areas, sidewalks, ramps, curbs, paths, landscaping, walls, and fences. Location, type, and screening details for all waste disposal containers shall also be shown.
(7) 
The location, height, intensity, and bulb type (sodium, incandescent, etc.) of all external lighting fixtures. The direction of illumination and methods to eliminate glare onto adjoining properties must also be shown.
(8) 
The location, height, size, materials, and design of all proposed signage.
(9) 
The location of all present and proposed utility systems, including:
(a) 
Sewage or septic system;
(b) 
Water supply system;
(c) 
Telephone, cable, and electrical systems; and
(d) 
Storm drainage system, including existing and proposed drain lines, culverts, catch basins, headwalls, end walls, hydrants, manholes, and drainage swales.
(10) 
Plans to prevent the pollution of surface water or groundwater, erosion of soil both during and after construction, excessive runoff, excessive raising or lowering of the water table, and flooding of other properties, as applicable.
(11) 
Existing and proposed topography at five-foot contour intervals, or such other contour interval as the Planning Board shall specify. All elevations shall refer to the nearest United States Coastal and Geodetic Bench Mark. If any portion of the parcel is within the 100-year floodplain, the area will be shown and base flood elevations given. Areas shall be indicated within the proposed site and within 50 feet of the proposed site where soil removal or filling is required, showing the approximate volume in cubic yards.
(12) 
A landscape plan showing all existing natural land features that may influence the design of the proposed use, such as rock outcrops, single trees eight or more inches in diameter, forest cover, and water sources, and all proposed changes to these features, including size and type of plant material. Water sources include ponds, lakes, wetlands and watercourses, aquifers, floodplains, and drainage retention areas.
(13) 
Zoning district boundaries within 500 feet of the site's perimeter shall be drawn and identified on the plan, as well as any overlay or floating districts that apply to the site.
(14) 
Traffic flow patterns within the site, entrances and exits, loading and unloading areas, as well as curb cuts on the site and within 100 feet of the site. The Planning Board may, at its discretion, require a detailed traffic study for large developments or for those in heavy traffic areas, which shall include:
(a) 
The projected number of motor vehicle trips to enter or leave the site, estimated for daily and peak-hour traffic levels;
(b) 
The projected traffic flow pattern, including vehicular movements at all major intersections likely to be affected by the proposed use of the site;
(c) 
The impact of this traffic upon existing abutting public and private ways in relation to existing road capacities. Existing and proposed daily and peak-hour traffic levels as well as road capacity levels shall also be given.
(15) 
For new construction or alterations to any structure, a table containing the following information must be included:
(a) 
Estimated area of structure to be used for particular uses such as retail operation, office, storage, etc;
(b) 
Estimated maximum number of employees;
(c) 
Maximum seating capacity, where applicable; and
(d) 
Number of parking spaces existing and required for the intended use.
(16) 
Elevations at a scale of 1/4 inch equals one foot for all exterior facades of the proposed structure(s) and/or alterations to or expansions of existing facades, showing design features and indicating the type and color of materials to be used.
(17) 
For large or environmentally intrusive developments, the Planning Board may request soil logs, percolation test results, and storm runoff calculations.
(18) 
Plans for disposal of construction and demolition waste, either on-site or at an approved disposal facility.
(19) 
Long-form environmental assessment form or draft environmental impact statement.
(20) 
An agricultural data statement as defined in Article XIV, if required by § 245-45C.
C. 
Waivers. In the case of major projects that are likely to have a minimal impact on the surrounding area, the Planning Board may waive information requirements in Subsection B, as it deems appropriate.
A. 
Application.
(1) 
Application for site plan approval shall be made to the Planning Board. An applicant for site plan approval under this section shall file six copies each of the site plan application and required plans, along with the required application fee for a major or minor project application, as established by the Town Board.
(2) 
Prior to filing an application for a major project, and applicant may informally submit a preliminary site plan satisfying the plan requirements for a minor project and may meet with the Planning Board to obtain guidance on the preparation of the major project site plan.
B. 
Meeting with applicant. Upon receipt of the application, the Planning Board shall notify the applicant, in writing, of the place, date, and time of the meeting of the Planning Board at which the application is to be considered, and request the applicant's presence to discuss the application.
C. 
Referral to County Planning Board.
(1) 
The Planning Board shall refer to the Columbia County Planning Board any complete application for site plan approval affecting real property within 500 feet of the boundary of the Town of Hillsdale, or the boundary of any existing or proposed county or state park or other recreational area, or the boundary of any existing or proposed county or state roadway, or the boundary of any existing or proposed right-of-way for a stream or drainage channel owned by the county for which the county has established channel lines, or the boundary of any existing or proposed county- or state-owned land on which a public building or institution is situated, pursuant to General Municipal Law, Article 12-B, §§ 239-l and 239-m, as amended.
(2) 
No action shall be taken on site plans referred to the County Planning Board until its recommendation has been received or 30 days have elapsed after its receipt of the site plan applications, unless the county and Town agree to an extension beyond the thirty-day requirement for the County Planning Board's review.
(3) 
County disapproval. A majority-plus-one vote shall be required to approve any site plan which receives a recommendation of disapproval from the County Planning Board because of the referral process specified above, along with a resolution setting forth the reasons for such contrary action.
D. 
Disposition of application by Town Planning Board.
(1) 
The Planning Board may hold a hearing on a proposed site plan if the Planning Board finds that such a hearing would assist it in achieving the purposes of this chapter and of this article. If the Planning Board decides to hold a hearing, it shall fix a time within 62 days of the date a complete application for site plan approval is received, and shall require the applicant to give public notice thereof by the publication in the official newspaper of such hearing at least five days prior to the date thereof. The Planning Board shall render its decision approving, approving with modifications or conditions, or disapproving the site plan within 62 days of such hearing; provided, however, the time within which the Planning Board must render its decision may be extended by mutual consent of the applicant and the Planning Board.
[Amended at time of adoption of Code (see Ch. 1, General Provisions, Art. I)]
(2) 
If no hearing is held, the Planning Board shall approve, approve with modifications or conditions, or disapprove the site plan within 62 days of the receipt of the complete application and after the applicant has had the opportunity to meet with the Planning Board.
(3) 
The decision of the Planning Board shall be filed in the office of the Town Clerk within five business days after such decision is rendered, and a copy thereof mailed to the applicant.
[Amended at time of adoption of Code (see Ch. 1, General Provisions, Art. I)]
(4) 
A conditional approval shall expire within 180 days if the conditions have not been satisfied; however, the Planning Board may consent to an extension of up to another 180 days.
(5) 
An approved site plan may be amended by the same procedures and standards used in granting the original site plan approval.
(6) 
Site improvements required in connection with a site plan approval shall be installed, or a suitable performance guarantee shall be provided pursuant to § 245-72D, prior to the issuance of a building permit.
The Planning Board, in reviewing site plan applications, shall consider the criteria set forth below:
A. 
Layout and design.
(1) 
The design guidelines in the Appendixes[1] shall be carefully observed for all major projects.
[1]
Editor's Note: The Appendixes are on file in the office of the Town Clerk.
(2) 
All structures in the plan shall be integrated with each other and with adjacent structures, and shall have convenient pedestrian and vehicular access to and from adjacent properties.
(3) 
Individual structures shall be related to each other and to traditional structures in the surrounding area in architecture, design, massing, materials, and placement, to harmonize visually and physically with traditional elements in the architectural fabric of the area.
(4) 
Where appropriate, setbacks shall maintain and continue the existing setback pattern of surrounding properties.
(5) 
The Planning Board shall encourage the creation of landscaped parks or plazas easily accessible by pedestrians.
B. 
Landscaping.
(1) 
Landscaping shall be an integral part of the entire project area and shall buffer the site from and/or integrate the site with the surrounding area, as appropriate.
(2) 
Primary landscape treatment shall consist of shrubs, ground cover, and shade trees, and shall combine with appropriate walks and street surfaces to provide an attractive development pattern. Landscape materials selected should be appropriate to the growing conditions of the Town's environment.
(3) 
Where appropriate, existing trees and other vegetation shall be conserved and integrated into the landscape design plan.
(4) 
If deemed appropriate for the site by the Planning Board, shade trees at least six feet tall shall be planted and maintained at twenty-five-foot to fifty-foot intervals along roads, at a setback distance acceptable to the Highway Superintendent.
C. 
Parking, circulation, and loading.
(1) 
Roads, driveways, sidewalks, off-street parking, and loading space shall be safe and shall encourage pedestrian movement.
(2) 
Vehicular and pedestrian connections between adjacent sites shall be provided to encourage pedestrian use and to minimize traffic entering existing roads. The construction of service roads and new public streets to connect adjoining properties shall be required by the Planning Board, where appropriate.
(3) 
Off-street parking and loading requirements of § 245-51 of this chapter shall be fulfilled.
(4) 
Access from and egress to public highways shall be approved by the appropriate Highway Department, including Town, county, state, and federal, to the extent that said Highway Department or Departments have jurisdiction over such access.
(5) 
All buildings shall be accessible to emergency vehicles.
D. 
Miscellaneous standards.
(1) 
Materials and design of paving, light fixtures, retaining walls, fences, curbs, benches, etc., shall be attractive and easily maintained.
(2) 
The light level at the lot line shall not exceed two-tenths footcandle, measured at ground level. To achieve this, luminaires shall be shielded to prevent light from shining beyond the lot lines onto neighboring properties or public ways. Where residential uses adjoin commercial uses, light standards shall be restricted to a maximum of 20 feet in height.
(3) 
Drainage of the site shall recharge groundwater to the extent practical, and surface waters flowing off-site shall not adversely affect drainage on adjacent properties or public roads.
(4) 
Additional site plan requirements and standards for review set forth in other sections of this chapter shall be fulfilled.
(5) 
Requirements for proper disposal of construction and demolition waste shall be fulfilled, and any necessary permits or agreements for off-site disposal shall be provided to the Planning Board.