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Town of West Seneca, NY
Erie County
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Table of Contents
Table of Contents
[HISTORY: Adopted by the Town Board of the Town of West Seneca as indicated in article histories. Amendments noted where applicable.]
GENERAL REFERENCES
Environmental Conservation Commission — See Ch. 10.
Subdivision of land — See Ch. 103.
Zoning — See Ch. 120.
[Adopted 6-4-1952]
Pursuant to the provisions of Section 271 of the Town Law, a Planning Board to consist of seven members is hereby created in the name and style of "Planning Board, Town of West Seneca." The members first appointed shall be appointed for terms of one, two, three, four, five, six and seven years as designated in their appointments. The Planning Board shall have all the powers granted by the Town Law, and the members thereof shall elect their own Chairman.
[Added 2-14-1961; amended 6-20-2022 by L.L. No. 9-2022]
Members of the Planning Board who are absent from three consecutive Planning Board meetings or greater than 30% of the total number of meetings in any calendar year may be removed by the Town Board after notice and a public hearing.
[Added 2-14-1961]
Pursuant to Article 16 of the Town Law, the Town Board does hereby delegate to the Planning Board, which is also the Zoning Commission of the Town of West Seneca, all of the powers that it is possible to so delegate pursuant to said Article 16 of the Town Law, including but not limited to the following powers:
A. 
To adopt rules and regulations in respect to procedure before it and in respect to any subject matter over which it has jurisdiction under Article 16 or any other statute. Said rules and regulations may be adopted only after public hearing by the Planning Board and subject to approval of the Town Board.
B. 
To make necessary reports on an Official Map or changes therein.
C. 
To take under advisement all matters pertaining to zoning or planning which shall be referred to it by the Town Board for its recommendation, and to report back to the Town Board within 30 days. No action shall be taken by the Town Board until such report of the Planning Board has been received.
D. 
To approve or disapprove changes in the lines of existing streets, highways or public areas shown on subdivision plats or maps filed in the Erie County Clerk's office. Said Planning Board shall report back to the Town Board within 30 days.
E. 
To approve or disapprove the laying out, closing off or abandonment of streets, highways or public areas under the provisions of the Town and Highway Laws. Said Planning Board shall report back to the Town Board within 30 days.
F. 
To make investigations, maps and reports and recommendations in connection therewith relating to the planning and development of the town as to it seems desirable, provided the total expenditures of said Board shall not exceed the appropriation for its expenses.
G. 
To approve or disapprove plats showing lots, blocks or sites with or without streets or highways.
H. 
To pass on and approve or disapprove the development of plats already filed in the office of the Clerk of the County of Erie if such plats are entirely or partially undeveloped; provided, however, the Planning Board complies with the requirements of Article 16 of the Town Law as amended.
I. 
To adopt subdivision regulations after a public hearing on due notice and subject to the approval of said regulations by the Town Board.[1]
[1]
Editor's Note: See Ch. 103, Subdivision of Land.
J. 
Simultaneously with the approval of a subdivision plat, either to confirm the zoning regulations[2] of the land so platted, as shown on the Official Zoning Maps of the town, or to make any reasonable change therein, and such Planning Board is hereby empowered to make such change. Before the Planning Board shall make such change in the zoning regulations, there shall be a public hearing preceded by the same notice as in the case of the approval of the plat itself. The Planning Board shall notify the Town Board, Engineering Department, Building Inspector, Assessors and Town Clerk of any rezoning done pursuant to this subsection.
[2]
Editor's Note: See Ch. 120, Zoning.
[Added 2-14-1961]
No power granted hereby shall be deemed to supersede the power of the Town Board granted by relevant sections of the Real Property Law of the State of New York.
[Adopted 5-14-2007]
Pursuant to the provisions of Town Law §§ 267 and 271, all Planning Board and Zoning Board of Appeals members shall be required to complete at least four hours of suitable training per year.
Pursuant to the provisions of Town Law §§ 267 and 271, the authority to determine suitable training is hereby delegated from the Town Board of the Town of West Seneca to the respective Planning and Zoning Board Chairs, who shall note annually in Board minutes the selected training.
A. 
The training requirement may be satisfied by educational activities substantially devoted to planning, zoning, the site plan approval process or other land use issues such as:
(1) 
Attending conferences, seminars or workshops;
(2) 
Participating in online training or tutorials;
(3) 
Attending college courses;
(4) 
Reading journal articles or books; or
(5) 
Any other educational activities considered acceptable by the respective Board Chair.
B. 
Training may be offered by a municipality, regional or county planning office or commission, county, regional or state planning federation, state agency, statewide municipal association, college or university or other similar entity.
A record of annual completion of training shall be maintained by the Town Clerk and a copy provided to the Town Board of the Town of West Seneca prior to considering a Planning Board or Zoning Board member for reappointment. Eligibility for reappointment to these Boards shall be conditioned upon completion of training prior to the end of each calendar year.
Suitable training in excess of four hours per year may be accumulated and carried over into the succeeding year for the purpose of satisfying these training requirements.