A.
A special use permit is required to create a single apartment within a single-family dwelling, subject to the following provisions:
(1)
Only one apartment is allowed, and it shall be clearly subordinate and not more than 35% of the one-family dwelling.
(2)
The number of bedrooms in the apartment shall not be more than one.
(3)
The floor area of the apartment shall be greater than 400 square feet and less than 800 square feet.
(4)
The floor area devoted to the apartment shall not exceed 35% of the livable floor area of the entire dwelling.
(5)
The apartment and single-family dwelling must have safe and proper means of entrance. Entrance to the accessory apartment shall be from the side or rear of the structure.
(6)
The applicant shall have a licensed professional engineer attest that the water supply and sewage disposal system are adequate for the two units prior to Planning Board approval. Failure to correct promptly any water quality problems shall result in revocation of the special use permit.
(7)
Stairways leading to any floor or story above the first floor shall be located within the walls of the building wherever practicable. Stairways and fire escapes shall be located on the rear wall in preference to either sidewall. In no instance shall an exterior stairway or fire escape be located on any wall fronting on a street.
(8)
Off-street parking shall be in accordance with § 155-56 of this chapter and shall be on the parcel on which the accessory apartment is located.
(9)
Any legally established apartment within a one-family dwelling that is in existence at the time of the adoption of this chapter shall not be subject to the provisions outlined above.
(10)
Continued compliance with all of these regulations is required. Failure to do so will result in a revocation of the special use permit.
(11)
The owner of the single-family lot upon which the accessory apartment is located shall occupy the principal or accessory dwelling unit on the premises as his primary residence.
(a)
The special use permit shall be issued to the owner of the property and shall include a consent to allow periodic yearly inspections upon reasonable notice to the homeowner. Should there be a change in ownership or a change in residence of the owner, the special use permit and the certificate of occupancy for the accessory apartment shall become null and void in 90 days. Thereafter, should the new owner decide to live in the structure and desire to continue the use of the accessory apartment, within 90 days of the change in ownership, he shall receive from the Planning Board a special use permit.
(b)
The special use permit shall be valid for a period of three years. At the end of such period, the owner-applicant shall request the Zoning Administrator to renew the permit, or the owner shall notify the Zoning Administrator of his intent to discontinue the permit in accordance with the applicable time periods established in § 155-25A. The Zoning Administrator shall renew the permit if all conditions of the original permit are still satisfied; otherwise the Zoning Administrator shall not renew the permit, and the time periods established in § 155-25A(12) for discontinuing the accessory apartment shall apply.
(12)
The property on which the accessory apartment is to be located shall be in conformance with all applicable sections of the zoning provisions of the Town of Beekman Code. Any and all violations of the zoning provisions shall be eliminated prior to consideration by the Planning Board for the special use permit with the following exception: The Planning Board may consider an application which seeks to legalize an existing illegal apartment, provided that there are no additional existing violations.
(13)
An accessory apartment may only be created where the principal and accessory units are within the same structure. No detached accessory apartments are permitted.
(14)
In making its determination on the special use permit, the Planning Board shall also give consideration to the character of the existing and future uses in the immediate vicinity of the proposed accessory apartment, including the exterior appearance of buildings as single-family dwellings and the amount of traffic and parking conditions in the neighborhood.
B.
A special use permit is required to create an apartment that requires an addition to a one-family dwelling. If an addition is requested, it must comply with the following:
C.
A special use permit is required to create an "elderly cottage housing opportunity (ECHO)" unit, a temporary, modular, detached, accessory dwelling for elderly relatives of occupants of the principal single-family dwelling. Each ECHO unit shall contain its own cooking, sanitary and sleeping facilities, accessory and incidental to the principal single-family dwelling.
[Amended 1-7-2015 by L.L. No. 1-2015]
(1)
General requirements.
(a)
ECHO units are permitted by special use permit in the R-135, R-90, R-45 and PH Zoning Districts in accordance with this section and all other applicable sections of this chapter.
(b)
Only one ECHO unit per lot shall be permitted. No special use permit for an ECHO unit shall be issued for a lot where the principal dwelling is other than single-family dwelling, or where a special use permit for an accessory apartment is in force.
(c)
The number of occupants in the ECHO unit shall be limited to two. At least one resident of the ECHO unit shall be infirm or handicapped, and over 60 years of age, and at least one resident shall be related by blood, marriage or adoption to the owner of the principal single-family dwelling. A physician's certification shall verify the need of the occupant for living assistance, except that residents 75 years of age and older do not require said physician's certification.
(d)
At least one of the owners of the principal single-family dwelling must live in one of the dwelling units on the lot.
(e)
The unit shall be constructed in accordance with all applicable laws, regulations, codes and ordinances, including the New York State Uniform Fire Prevention and Building Code.
(f)
An ECHO unit may only be sited on a lot which complies with the minimum lot area requirements of the zoning district.
(g)
The design of the unit shall be compatible with the principal single-family dwelling on the lot and the surrounding neighborhood. The Planning Board may require additional screening, if appropriate.
(h)
The height of the unit shall not exceed 15 feet nor shall it exceed the height of the principal single-family dwelling.
(i)
The minimum floor area of the unit shall be 400 square feet and the maximum floor areas shall not exceed 800 square feet.
(j)
Maximum lot coverage by buildings may be increased to 7%, 9%, and 12% for the R-135, R-90, and R-45 Zoning Districts, respectively. Maximum lot coverage by buildings may be increased to 58% in the PH Zoning District where public water and sewer serves the lot, and 17% in the PH Zoning District where no public water or sewer serve the site.
(k)
The ECHO unit shall comply with all front, side and rear yard requirements for a principal dwelling within the zoning district and shall be located no closer to any front property line than the principal single-family dwelling on the lot or on the directly adjacent lot.
(l)
In addition to the parking required for the principal single-family dwelling, one parking space for the ECHO unit is required, except that the requirement may be waived by the Planning Board if the inhabitant(s) of the ECHO unit does/do not own a motor vehicle.
(m)
The underportion of the ECHO unit shall be properly enclosed within 30 days of installation.
(n)
The ECHO unit shall be constructed so as to be easily removable. The foundation should be of such construction as to provide adequate structural stability while also being capable of easily restoring the lot to its original use and appearance after removal. No permanent fencing, walls or other structures shall be installed that will hinder removal of the ECHO unit from the lot.
(o)
If the water supply is from a private source, the applicant's professional engineer shall certify that the water supply is potable and of adequate flow. No special use permit shall be granted in any case where the Dutchess County Department of Health has determined that the water system is not capable of handling the additional demand the ECHO unit would impose on it.
(p)
If sewage disposal is from a private source, the applicant's professional engineer shall certify that the sewage disposal system is adequate to serve the additional flow generated by the ECHO unit, or provide design and proof of Health Department approval of an upgraded sewage disposal system. No special use permit shall be granted in any case where the Dutchess County Department of Health has determined that the sewage disposal system is not capable of handling the additional demand the ECHO unit would impose on it.
(q)
A unit shall provide ADA accessibility as required.
(r)
Waiver of requirements. The Planning Board may waive the requirements of this chapter if so warranted by the specific characteristics of the particular structures and lot and circumstances of the case, upon showing that the waiver will not negatively affect public health, safety or welfare and that the waiver will be in harmony with and promote the general purpose of this chapter.
(2)
Application process.
(a)
Application for a special permit for an ECHO unit shall be made to the Planning Board in accordance with the standards and procedures set forth in § 155-60 of this chapter. The following additional materials shall be submitted to support the application:
[1]
The names of all owners of record of the lot and ECHO unit. If neither the occupants of the principal dwelling or the occupant(s) of the ECHO unit own the ECHO unit, the lease or other agreement with the owner of the ECHO unit.
[2]
The name(s) of the proposed occupants of the ECHO unit.
[3]
The relationship between the occupants of the principal single-family dwelling and the occupant(s) of the ECHO unit.
[4]
A floor plan of the ECHO unit, including the square footage (may be the manufacturer's or builder's brochure).
[5]
The plan for removal of the ECHO unit at the time the special use permit terminates.
[6]
Evidence from the Building Inspector that a municipal search has been performed and that any and all identified violations have been remediated to his/her satisfaction.
(c)
Special use permit conditions. In addition to any conditions set forth by the Planning Board, the following conditions apply to all special use permits for ECHO units:
[1]
To ensure the removal of the unit once the qualifying occupant(s) no longer reside in the unit, a performance bond in the amount of $15,000 shall be posted for a structure with a permanent foundation, and $10,000 for a structure with a semi-permanent foundations.
[2]
The property owner shall provide an annual report to the Zoning Administrator or Building Inspector that includes statements to the continued adherence to the conditions of the special use permit, maintenance and condition of the ECHO unit, condition of the sewage disposal system, the number of people living in the primary single-family dwelling, the number of occupants living in the ECHO unit, permits entry to the primary single-family dwelling and the ECHO unit by the Zoning Administrator or Building Inspector for purposes of verifying adherence to the conditions of the special use permit, and that the owner understands the terms and conditions of the special use permit.
(3)
Special use permit.
(a)
The special use permit shall be issued to the owner of the principal single-family dwelling on the lot and shall specify by name the occupant(s) of the ECHO unit.
(b)
The special use permit shall be renewed annually by the Zoning Administrator or Building Inspector. The residents of the ECHO unit must be reconfirmed at that time. Failure to comply with this renewal provision or with the continuance of the provisions of this section shall result in the special use permit becoming null and void.
(c)
The special use permit shall terminate 90 days after the death of or permanent change of residence of the original occupant(s) of the ECHO unit. During this ninety-day period, the ECHO unit shall be removed and the site restored (weather permitting) so that no visible element of the ECHO unit and its accessory elements remain. Failure to remove the ECHO unit within 90 days may result in actions to ensure removal, including removal and salvage by the Town with a lien imposed to defray any costs incurred that are above and beyond the posted bond amount.
(d)
The special use permit may be revoked by the Planning Board if it shall reasonably appear to the Planning Board that the ECHO unit is not in compliance with the applicable laws, rules, regulations, codes or ordinances or that the conditions of the special use permit are not satisfied or if any lawful inspection of the ECHO unit or the primary single-family dwelling is refused or prevented by the owner or occupant(s).
(e)
The special use permit shall be null and void upon sale of the property.