[HISTORY: Adopted by the Town Board of the Town of Irondequoit 1-20-1977
as Ch. 106 of the 1977 Code. Amendments noted where applicable.]
The preservation and improvement of the quality of the natural and man-made
environment within the Town of Irondequoit, in the face of population growth,
urbanization and technologic change, with their accompanying demands on natural
resources, are found to be of increasing and vital importance to the health,
welfare and economic well-being of present and future inhabitants and require
forthright action by the governing body of the Town of Irondequoit. It is
recognized that the biologic integrity of the natural environment on which
man is dependent for survival and the natural and functional beauty of our
surroundings which condition the quality of our life experience cannot be
protected without the full cooperation and participation of all the people
of the town working in partnership with local and state officials and with
various public and private institutions, agencies and organizations. Establishment
of a Conservation Board is a necessary step in fostering unified action on
environmental problems.
This chapter shall be deemed an exercise of the powers of the Town of
Irondequoit to preserve and improve the quality of the natural and man-made
environment on behalf of the present and future inhabitants thereof. This
chapter is not intended and shall not be deemed to impair the powers of any
other public corporation.
The Town Board of the Town of Irondequoit hereby creates a board which
shall be known as the "Irondequoit Conservation Board," hereinafter called
the "Conservation Board."
The Conservation Board shall consist of nine members who shall be appointed
by the Town Board and who will serve at the pleasure of the Town Board. Persons
residing within the Town of Irondequoit who are interested in the improvement
and preservation of environmental quality shall be eligible for appointment
as a member of the Conservation Board. Vacancies on the Conservation Board
shall be filled in the same manner as the original appointment, except that
a vacancy occurring other than by the expiration of term of office shall be
filled only for the remainder of the unexpired term. It is further provided
that members shall hold office for terms of two years.
The Town Board shall designate a member of the Conservation Board to act as Chair thereof. At the first meeting of the Conservation Board, its members shall elect from among themselves a recording secretary. The Conservation Board shall adopt rules and procedures for its meetings. It shall keep accurate records of its meetings and activities and shall file an annual report as provided in § 12-8 of this chapter.
The powers and duties of the Conservation Board shall be to:
A.
Advise the Town Board on matters affecting the preservation,
development and use of the natural and man-made features and conditions of
the town insofar as beauty, quality, ecologic integrity and other environmental
factors are concerned and, in the case of man's activities and developments,
with regard to any major threats posed to environmental quality so as to enhance
the long-range value of the environment to the people of the town.
B.
Develop and, after receiving general approval by resolution
of the Town Board, conduct a program of public information in the community
which shall be designed to foster increased understanding of the nature of
environmental problems and issues and support for their solutions.
C.
Conduct studies, surveys and inventories of the natural
and man-made features within the Town of Irondequoit and such other studies
and surveys as may be necessary to carry out the general purposes of this
chapter.
D.
Maintain an up-to-date inventory or index of all open
spaces in public or private ownership within the municipality, including but
not limited to natural landmarks, glacial and other geomorphic or physiographic
features; streams and their floodplains, swamps, marshlands and other wetlands;
unique biotic communities; scenic and other open areas of natural or ecological
value; and of the ownership, present use and proposed use of such open areas
so as to provide a base of information for recommendations by the Conservation
Board for their preservation and/or use.
E.
Seek to coordinate, assist and unify the efforts of private
groups, institutions and individuals within the Town of Irondequoit in accord
with the purposes of this chapter.
F.
Maintain liaison and communications with public and private
agencies and organizations of local, state and national scope whose programs
and activities have an impact on the quality of the environment or who can
be of assistance to the Conservation Board.
G.
Work in cooperation with the Planning Board, recommend
from time to time to the Town Board features, plans and programs relating
to environmental improvement for inclusion in the Comprehensive Plan of the
Town of Irondequoit and, similarly, recommend to the Town Board appropriate
and desirable changes in existing local laws and ordinances relating to environmental
control or recommend new local laws and ordinances.
H.
Prepare, print and distribute books, maps, charts and
pamphlets in accord with the purposes of this chapter.
I.
Obtain and maintain in orderly fashion maps, reports,
books and other publications to support the necessary researches of the Conservation
Board into local environmental conditions.
J.
When authorized by resolution of the Town Board of the
Town of Irondequoit, accept by gift, grant, devise, bequest or otherwise property,
both real and personal, in the name of the Town of Irondequoit, as may be
necessary to conserve and otherwise properly utilize open spaces and other
land and water resources within the boundaries of the Town of Irondequoit.
Such real property may be accepted in fee for land and water rights or as
any lesser interest, development right, easement, including conservation easement,
covenant or other contractual right, including conveyance with limitations
or reversions.
K.
Further assist the town in the development of sound open
area planning and assure preservation of natural and scenic resources on the
local level pursuant to General Municipal Law § 239-y, as amended
or changed, as follows:
(1)
Review each application received by the Town Board or
by the Building Department, Zoning Board, Planning Board, Board of Appeals
or other administrative body which seeks approval for the use of development
of any open area listed in the open space index.
(2)
Submit a written report to the referral body within 45
days of receipt of such application. Such report shall evaluate the proposed
use or development of the open area in terms of the open area planning objectives
of the municipality and shall include the effect of such use or development
on the open space index. The report shall make recommendations as to the most
appropriate use or development of the open area and may include preferable
alternative use proposals consistent with open area conservation. A copy of
every report shall be filed with the Town Board.
(3)
Make available for public inspection at the office of
the Conservation Board copies of all such reports of the Conservation Board.
(4)
Perform any duties assigned to it by resolution of the
Town Board.
(5)
Exercise any of the functions and responsibilities heretofore
granted to the Conservation Advisory Board as hereinabove stated.
A.
Automatic referral of proposals for development or permits
in areas on the open space index shall be made by the Building Department
to the Conservation Board.
B.
An environmental review questionnaire shall be completed
by the developer when he or she presents his or her application to the Building
Department. Unresolved questions may require subsequent appearance by the
developer's representative at a regular Conservation Board meeting.
The Conservation Board shall submit an annual report to the Town Board
not later than the 31st day of December of each year concerning the activities
and work of the Conservation Board and from time to time shall submit such
reports and recommendations as may be necessary to fulfill the purposes of
this chapter.
The members of the Conservation Board shall receive no compensation
for their services as members thereof but may be reimbursed for reasonable
and necessary expenses incurred in the performance of their duties within
the appropriations made available therefor.
