[Amended 10-24-2007 by L.L. No. 4-2007; 7-22-2009 by L.L. No. 2-2009; 5-23-2018 by L.L. No. 6-2018; 6-9-2021 by L.L. No. 2-2021]
A.
All uses listed as special uses in the Schedule of Permitted Uses and Special Permit Uses, § 240-27,[1] are declared to possess characteristics of such unique and distinct form that each specific use shall be considered as an individual case, and they shall conform to, but not be limited to, the following general requirements as well as the pertinent supplementary regulations. Special uses are subject to the requirements of § 240-72, Site plans.
[1]
Editor's Note: Schedules A1, A2 and A3 are attached to this chapter as Appendix A.
B.
General provision. The special uses for which conformance to additional standards is required by this chapter shall be deemed to be permitted uses in their respective districts, subject to the satisfaction of the requirements and standards set forth therein in addition to all other requirements of this chapter.
C.
Preapplication meeting. Applicants are encouraged to meet with the Planning Board prior to submitting a formal application. The preapplication interview can be useful to discuss concepts, clarify procedures, and coordinate all applicable zoning requirements as they appear throughout this chapter.
D.
Application and referral. Application for a special permit shall be made, in writing, to the Planning Board. The Planning Board shall fix a time within 45 days from the receipt of an application deemed complete by the Planning Board for a public hearing. There shall be a special permit application fee. The amount of the fee shall be set forth on the prevailing fee schedule adopted by resolution of the Town Board and as such schedule is modified from time to time by resolution of the Town Board. Public notice shall be given by publication in the newspaper of such hearing at least five days prior to the date of the public hearing. The Secretary of the Planning Board will record in the minutes of the hearing the names of any of the abutting property owners and other nearby residents with a legitimate interest who object to the granting of the special permit and the reasons why, such information to be given consideration in arriving at a permit decision. Within 45 days of said hearing and a determination by the Town Engineer that the application is technically sufficient, the Planning Board shall approve, approve with modifications or disapprove the special permit. The decision of the Planning Board shall be filed in the office of the Town Clerk. No building permit shall be issued for special uses until the provisions of § 240-71 have been met.
E.
Coordination of special permits and site plan review. All land uses granted by special permit will require completion of site plan review requirements. Applicants shall submit, and the Planning Board shall review, related special permit and site plan applications simultaneously. Site plan review requirements are enumerated in § 240-72.
F.
Notice to abutting property owners. At the time an application to the Planning Board has been deemed complete, the applicant shall notify all abutting and adjacent landowners by mail with respect to the application and hearing for a special permit. Proof of such mailing shall be submitted to the Planning Board Secretary prior to the public hearing on the application.
G.
Required plan. A plan for the proposed development of a site for a special use shall be submitted to the Planning Board with an application for a special permit. The plan shall be drawn to a scale of 20 feet to an inch or larger, unless otherwise agreed to by the Planning Board, and shall show:
(1)
The location, proposed use, design and height of all buildings and structures.
(2)
The location and size of all parking and truck loading areas, with access and egress drives thereto.
(3)
The location of outdoor storage and display areas, if any, and the anticipated items to be stored or displayed and their type, bulk, height and schedule of yearly use by month.
(4)
The location of all existing or proposed site improvements, including drains, culverts, retaining walls and fences.
(5)
A description of the method of sewage disposal and the location of such facilities.
(6)
The location, height, size and elevations of all signs.
(7)
The location and proposed development of buffer areas.
(8)
The location and design of lighting, power and communications facilities.
(9)
The amount of building area proposed for retail sale uses, if any.
(10)
Any proposed division of buildings into units of separate occupancy.
(11)
Be accompanied by a stormwater pollution prevention plan consistent with the requirements of Town of LaGrange Town Code Chapter 197 shall be required for the approval of a special use permit. The SWPPP shall meet the performance and design criteria and standards in Chapter 197, Article V. The approved special use permit shall be consistent with the provisions of Chapter 197.
(12)
Any other information the Planning Board may require to act on the special permit application.
H.
Planning Board report, considerations and scope. The Planning Board, after public notice and hearing, may approve the issuance of a permit, provided that it shall find that all of the following conditions and standards have been met:
(1)
The location and size of the use, the nature and intensity of the operations involved in or conducted in connection with it, the size of the site in relation to it and the location of the site with respect to streets giving access to it are such that it will be in harmony with the appropriate and orderly development of the district in which it is located.
(2)
The location, nature and height of buildings, walls and fences and the nature and extent of the landscaping on the site are such that the use will not hinder or discourage the appropriate development and use of adjacent land and buildings.
(3)
Operations in connection with any special use will not be offensive, potentially dangerous, destructive of property values and basic environmental characteristics or detrimental to the public interest of the Town and not be more objectionable to nearby properties by reason of noise, fumes, vibration, electromagnetic radiation, the flashing of lights and similar nuisance conditions than would be the operations of any permitted use not requiring a special permit.
(4)
Parking areas will be of adequate size for the particular use, properly located and suitably screened from adjoining residential uses, and the entrance and exit drives shall be laid out so as to achieve maximum safety.
(5)
The use conforms in all respects to all the regulations of this chapter and particularly to the specific supplementary regulations that may apply to such use.
(6)
The Planning Board shall require such additional conditions and safeguards to the special permit as may be necessary to assure continual conformance to all applicable standards and requirements.
I.
If the Planning Board indicates that all applicable requirements have been met and approves the special use permit, it shall approve issuance of the permit for which application has been made, including such conditions and safeguards to the permit as have been required. The Zoning Administrator shall not issue the permit for which the application has been made until receipt of a written permit approval from the Planning Board.
J.
Expiration of special permits. A special permit shall be void if construction is not started within one year and completed within two years of the date of the final site plan approval, except that such special permit approval may be renewed by the Planning Board at its discretion.
K.
Waiver. The terms and conditions of a special permit may be modified by application to the Planning Board in the same manner as an application for a new special permit. In the event that the modification sought is deemed insubstantial by the Planning Board, it may waive one or more of the requirements of this section.
L.
Revocation of special permits. Special permits may be revoked by the Planning Board in the event of substantial deviation from approved special permit conditions, and the use allowed by special permit shall terminate immediately.
M.
Existing violations. No permit shall be issued for a special use for a property upon which there is an existing violation of this chapter.
N.
Performance bonds. The applicant will be required to post performance bonds pursuant to this chapter in sufficient amounts and duration to assure that all streets or other public places shown on the site plan shall be suitably graded and paved and that street signs; sidewalks; streetlighting standards; curbs; gutters; street trees; required improvements to existing streets and intersections; water mains; fire alarm signal devices, including necessary ducts and cable or other connecting facilities; sanitary sewers and storm drains or combined sewers shall all be installed in accordance with standards, specifications and procedures acceptable to the appropriate Town departments.
P.
In residential district, the adaptive reuse of structures shall be performed in such a way so as to complement the character of the existing neighborhood and is no more harmful or objectionable to the neighborhood than the nonconforming use from which it has changed.
Q.
For uses involving an adaptive reuse conversion of a nonresidential structure, the Planning Board is hereby expressly authorized to require such additional front, side, and rear yard setbacks as may be required to ensure that the nonresidential use is consistent with the guidelines in the subsection above.