A.
Creation, appointment and organization of the Zoning Board of Appeals.
(1)
A Zoning Board of Appeals is hereby created. Said Board shall consist of five members and one alternate member appointed by the Town Board, which shall also designate a Chairperson. 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, the 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 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 other than by expiration of a term, it shall be filled by the Town Board by appointment for the length of the unexpired term. The alternate member shall be appointed to a term of one year. If a vacancy shall occur other than by expiration of a term, it shall be filled by the Town Board by appointment for the length of the unexpired term.
(2)
In making such appointments, the Town Board may require Zoning Board of Appeals members to complete training and continuing education courses in accordance with any local requirements for the training of such members.
(3)
The Town Board shall have the power to remove, after public hearing, any member of the Zoning Board of Appeals for cause and may provide by local law for removal, after public hearing, of any Zoning Board of Appeals member for noncompliance with minimum requirements relating to meeting attendance and training as established by the Town Board by local law.
(4)
All meetings of the Zoning Board of Appeals shall be held at the call of the Chairperson and at such other times as such Board may determine. Such Chairperson or, in his or her absence, the Acting Chairperson may administer oaths and compel the attendance of witnesses.
(5)
The Zoning Board of Appeals shall establish such rules and regulations as are required by state and local laws for the transaction of its business and may amend, modify and repeal the same from time to time.
(6)
Whenever the Zoning Board of Appeals, after hearing all the evidence presented upon an application for appeals under the provisions of this chapter, denies or rejects same, said Board may upon motion by any member of the Board hold a rehearing to review any order, decision or determination of the Board not previously reviewed. A unanimous vote of all members of the Board then present shall be required for such rehearing to occur. Such rehearing shall be subject to the same notice provisions as an original hearing. Upon such rehearing the Board may reverse, modify or annul its original order, decision or determination upon the unanimous vote of all members then present, provided that the Board finds that the rights vested in persons acting in good faith in reliance upon the reviewed order, decision or determination will not be prejudiced thereby.
B.
Powers and duties of the Zoning Board of Appeals.
(2)
Review applications for special permitted use permits.
(a)
The Zoning Board of Appeals shall have the authority to review and approve, approve with modifications or disapprove special permitted use permits as specified in this chapter.
(3)
Administrative review.
(a)
The Zoning Board of Appeals shall hear and decide appeals where it is alleged there is error in any order, requirement, decision or determination made by an administrative officer or body in the enforcement of this chapter.
(b)
The Zoning Board of Appeals may reverse or affirm wholly, partly, or may modify the order, requirement, decision or determination appealed from and shall make such order, requirement, decision or determination as in its opinion ought to be made, and to that end shall have all the powers of the officer from whom the appeal is taken.
(c)
The Zoning Board of Appeals shall hear and decide on interpretive matters where the provisions of this chapter, including the determination of exact district boundaries, are not clear.
(4)
Variances.
(a)
The Zoning Board of Appeals is empowered to authorize, upon appeal in specific cases, such variance from the terms of this chapter as will not be contrary to the public interest where, owing to conditions peculiar to the property, and not the result of the action of the applicant, a literal enforcement of the provisions herein would result in unnecessary hardship or practical difficulties.
(b)
As used herein, a variance may be authorized for height, area, size of structure, size of yards and open spaces or establishment or expansion of a use otherwise prohibited.
(c)
A variance shall not be granted solely because of the presence of nonconformities in the zoning district or uses in other zoning districts.
(d)
In granting any variance, the Zoning Board of Appeals shall prescribe any conditions that it deems to be necessary or desirable.
(e)
Variances granted shall be the minimum which would accomplish the purpose of providing for reasonable use of land or buildings.
(f)
Variances granted shall be in harmony with the general purpose and intent of this chapter and shall not be injurious to the neighborhood or otherwise detrimental to the public welfare.
C.
Zoning Board of Appeals office. The office of the Town Clerk shall be the office of the Zoning Board of Appeals. 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 § 267 of the Town Law of the State of New York. The Zoning Board of Appeals shall keep minutes of its proceedings, showing the vote, indicating such fact, and shall keep records of its environmental reviews and determination, its examinations and other official action.
D.
Lapse of authorization. Any variance or modification of this chapter authorized by the Zoning Board of Appeals shall be automatically revoked unless a building permit conforming to all the conditions and requirements established by the Zoning Board of Appeals is obtained within nine months of the date of approval by the Zoning Board of Appeals and construction commenced within 15 months of such date of approval. A site plan approved by the Planning Board conforming to all of the conditions and requirements established by the Zoning Board of Appeals shall be obtained within 12 months of the date of the approval by the Zoning Board of Appeals and construction commenced within 18 months of such date of approval.
E.
Violation of conditions or restrictions. Failure to comply with any condition or restriction prescribed by the Zoning Board of Appeals in approving any appeal for a variance or a modification of regulations shall constitute a violation. Such violation may constitute the basis for revocation of a variance or modification or for imposing penalties and other applicable remedies.