A.
Whenever any subdivision or resubdivision of land or any land exchange or transfer is proposed, before all or any portion of the subdivision is offered for sale or lease by reference to a plat and before any building permit for the erection of a structure or addition to an existing structure is granted, the subdividing owner or his or her authorized agent or contract vendee shall apply for and secure the approval of the Planning Board of the proposed subdivision and shall then file the approved plat in the office of the County Clerk. The subdivision review procedure includes basically three steps:
B.
If, prior to any negotiation for sale or lease of land or the submission of a sketch or preliminary subdivision plat to the Board, an applicant or his or her representative presents an informal subdivision for discussion to the Board, it shall be accompanied by a discussion fee as required in Appendix A of these regulations.[1]
[1]
Editor's Note: Appendix A is included at the end of these regulations.
C.
Because the location and design of each new road and common driveway created as part of a subdivision must be approved by the Planning Board, the construction of new roads and common driveways should not be started, nor should any activities, except those directly related to obtaining any required approvals, be undertaken that would disturb, remove or relocate any existing features on the site. Such features include but are not limited to stone walls, trees, steep slopes, rock outcroppings, historic and/or archaeological resources, both controlled areas and the minimum activity setback as defined in the Town Freshwater Wetlands Protection and Preservation Ordinance[2] or state designated wetlands as defined in the State Freshwater Wetlands Law.[3]
[3]
Editor's Note: See Article 24, § 24-0101 et seq., of the Environmental Conservation Law.
D.
For a resubdivision, as defined in § 276 of the Town Law, the same procedure, rules and regulations shall apply as for a subdivision.
E.
Procedure for land exchange or transfer. Where an applicant proposes a subdivision representing an exchange or transfer of land with an adjoining property, the Planning Board may waive the public hearing on such proposal where the following conditions are met:
(1)
The area of the proposed land exchange or transfer does not exceed 10% of the minimum required lot area of the zoning district in which the affected lands are located.
(2)
No additional lots will be created.
(3)
Such exchange or transfer of lands does not preclude the proper future development or resubdivision of the affected properties.