Pursuant to this article, the Town Board, upon recommendation of the Department of Environmental Resources, shall issue licenses, as the Town Board may deem appropriate, with such rules and regulations as required, to permit aquaculture in the estuary and marine waters that are subject to the Town's jurisdiction. Licenses issued for commercial shellfish aquaculture, shall be in lieu of a commercial permit issued pursuant to Article
II of this chapter. Such licenses, however, shall not interfere with, preclude, or otherwise adversely affect existing users of the underwater land or overlying surface waters. Any person engaged in commercial shellfish operations and who obtains a valid permit under Article
II or has been granted a lease pursuant to §
196-23 is not subject to Article
VI, nor does this article prevent any person from applying for a valid permit or lease under Article
II.
A. Terms and conditions. Licenses may be issued only to residents of the Town or domestic corporations having their principal place of business within the Town and of which the majority of shares are held by residents of the Town.