The purpose of this article is to convey expectations of applicants
who intend to develop in the Town. As such, this article seeks to
1) strike an appropriate balance between private expectations and
the public interest, while protecting the public health, safety, and
welfare of the Town of Tusten and 2) recognize the concept of vested
rights and the terms under which such rights exist when an applicant
undertakes to complete the development and use of property under the
terms and conditions of an approved site plan in the Town of Tusten.
The approval of a site plan results in a two-year vested right
commencing upon issuance of a valid building permit by the applicant
within the required time frame after governing board approval of the
project (i.e., Planning Board and/or Zoning Board). As such, a two-year
vested right shall exist only if the following conditions are met:
A. The applicant secures approval from the appropriate governing board
(Planning Board and/or Zoning Appeals Board) following public notice,
public hearing, and Board review.
B. The applicant secures the required variance relevant to the use and/or
bulk requirements of the proposed project if required.
C. Upon governing board approval, the applicant shall secure a valid
building permit within the required time period set forth by the Town
after governing board approval and the applicant shall maintain a
valid permit that shall not expire.
D. If Subsections
A through
C are met, upon application by the landowner of the property with a vested right at the end of the two-year vested right term to the local governing body that approved the site plan, the term shall be extended on an annual basis for up to four annual extensions, provided there have been no amendments to this article which precludes or prohibits any aspect of the site plan and/or subdivision plat plan.
E. A zoning vested right is not a personal right, but shall attach to and run with the applicable property/parcel based on the requirements in Subsections
A to
D.
A zoning right that has been vested as provided in this article
shall terminate or be revoked:
A. At the end of the applicable vesting period with respect to buildings
and uses for which no valid building permit applications have been
filed or where said building permit is not renewed;
B. With the written consent of the affected landowner;
C. Upon findings by the appropriate governing body, by ordinance after
notice and a public hearing, that natural or man-made hazards on or
in the immediate vicinity of the property, if uncorrected, would pose
a serious threat to the public health, safety, and welfare if the
project were to proceed as contemplated in the site specific development
plans;
D. Upon findings by the governing board after notice and a hearing,
that the applicant or applicant's representative intentionally
supplied inaccurate information or made material misrepresentations
which made a difference in the approval by the approval authority
of the site specific development plan; or
E. Upon the enactment or promulgation of a state or federal law or regulation
that precludes development as contemplated in the site plan in which
case the approval authority may modify, after notice and a hearing,
the affected provisions, upon a finding that the change in state or
federal law has a fundamental effect on such plans.