[Amended 11-27-1990; 11-26-1991 by L.L. No. 1-1991; 11-28-1995 by L.L. No. 6-1995; 2-17-1998 by L.L. No. 1-1998; 2-22-2016 by L.L. No. 2-2016; 2-25-2019 by L.L. No. 1-2019; 11-23-2020 by L.L. No. 10-2020; 4-28-2025 by L.L. No. 6-2025; 7-14-2025 by L.L. No. 8-2025]
A.
Conformance to standards required. All special uses to which conformance to additional standards is required are considered to be permitted uses in their respective districts, subject to the satisfaction of the requirements and standards set forth in this section and §§ 220-33 through 220-43.8 and as may be specified by the approving agency according to the provisions of Subsections D and E herein, in addition to all other requirements of this chapter. All such uses are declared to possess such unique, special and individual characteristics that each specific use shall be considered as an individual case.
B.
Approving agency. Applications for special permit uses shall be reviewed and acted upon as follows:
(1)
The Town Board is hereby designated and authorized to review and take action on applications for the following special uses:
(a)
Tier 3 solar energy systems.
(3)
The Zoning Board of Appeals is hereby designated and authorized to review and take action on applications for the following special uses:
(a)
Temporary storage of contractor's equipment.
(b)
Private kennels.
(c)
Ranching and the raising of field and garden crops.
(d)
Temporary stands for the sale and display of field and garden crops grown on the premises.
(e)
Any use that was established legally as a special permit use and for which a special permit was issued, but for which provisions have since been deleted by amendment from the schedule of permitted principal and accessory uses. If such previously issued permit was in effect at the time of deletion by amendment, it may be continued or renewed upon review in accordance with special permit procedures.
(f)
Construction or placement of an accessory building on a lot located proximate to or across the street from a principal building.
(g)
Agency-operated boarding homes or group homes.
(h)
Construction and use of helipad.
C.
Special permit applications subject to approval by the Town Board, Planning Board or Zoning Board of Appeals shall be reviewed and acted upon as follows:
(1)
Application for issuance of a special permit shall be submitted as required by the Town. It shall include:
(a)
The name and address of the applicant, property owner(s) if other than the applicant and of the professionals engaged to work on the project. Where the applicant or owner is a corporation, the application shall include the names and addresses of all officers, directors and principal stockholders of said corporation. Written authorization from the owner(s) to submit the application shall be required where the applicant is not the owner of the affected property.
(b)
A written statement describing the nature of the proposed special use and how it will serve to implement the intent and purposes of this chapter.
(d)
An application fee in an amount set forth in a fee schedule established by resolution of the Town Board and, as deemed necessary by the approving agency, an escrow account deposit required in accordance with § 220-77C herein to reimburse the Town for the costs of professional review fees charged in connection with the review of the application. If the approving agency shall not deem it necessary to establish an escrow account, the applicant shall still be responsible for reimbursing the Town for charges incurred for professional review services in accordance with § 220-77B.
(2)
Review by other agencies. Upon receipt of a completed application for a special permit, the approving board, where determined appropriate or where required by other law or regulation, shall forward for review and report copies of such application to the Planning Board and, where determined appropriate, one copy each to the Conservation Advisory Council, the Town Engineer, the Superintendent of Highways, the local fire department or district, the Westchester County Soil and Water Conservation District Board and the Westchester County Department of Health; in addition, copies shall be forwarded to the Westchester County Planning Board when such proposed development abuts a state or county highway, park, drainage channel or building site and to the Clerk of any abutting municipality where the property proposed for such development is located within 500 feet of such municipality in accordance with Sections 277.61 and 277.71 of the Westchester County Administrative Code.
(3)
Public hearing. A public hearing on an application for a special permit shall be scheduled and conducted by the approving board within 62 days of the date a complete application is received, as determined by the appropriate Town personnel, unless this time limit is waived by the applicant. Public notice shall be the same as that required in § 220-74C herein.
(4)
Action. Within 62 days of the closure of the public hearing, the board with approval authority shall act by resolution to approve, disapprove or approve with modifications the special permit application. Such board with approval authority shall set forth in detail any conditions or modifications to the approval is subject to or the reasons for denial. The applicant may grant extensions of either of the above-stipulated review periods; provided, however, that any extension of time granted to the Planning Board shall equally extend the time to act for the Zoning Board of Appeals if the Zoning Board of Appeals is the approval authority.
D.
Findings by approving agency. The approving agency shall review, consider and make reference to all previous records that may exist on the proposed special use prior to taking any action. The approving agency shall authorize the issuance of a permit, provided that it finds 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 it 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 and that it complies with all special requirements for such use established in this chapter.
(2)
The location, nature and height of buildings, walls and fences and the nature and extent of existing or proposed plantings 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 more objectionable to nearby properties by reason of noise, fumes, vibration, lighting, traffic, or other characteristics 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 and adequate safety.
E.
Conditions and safeguards. The approving agency shall attach such conditions, including renewal conditions, and safeguards to any approved use and development plan as are, in its opinion, necessary to ensure initial and continual conformance to all applicable standards and requirements.
F.
Action by Building Inspector. Upon receipt by the Building Inspector of such report of the approving agency showing that conditions required by Subsections D and E prevail, and upon compliance by the applicant with all applicable standards, requirements, conditions, safeguards and ordinances, the applicant shall, upon payment of any fees prescribed therefore, be entitled to a building permit or certificate of occupancy, as the case may be, from the Building Inspector. The Building Inspector shall not issue a building permit or certificate of occupancy in the event that the approving agency shall not make a finding that all of the enumerated conditions prevail.
G.
Expiration of special permit. A special permit shall be deemed to authorize only the particular use or uses specified in the permit and, unless other provisions are set forth by the approving agency in connection with the issuance of that permit, shall expire if work is not initiated pursuant thereto within one year, or if said use or uses shall cease for more than one year for any reason or if all required improvements are not completed with two years from the date of issue or if all such required improvements are not maintained and all conditions and standards complied with throughout the duration of the use, except that the approving agency may, upon request, extend the above time periods as determined appropriate by said agency. Notwithstanding the above, the approving agency may provide that its approval of a special permit shall expire on a different time period than set forth in this subsection.