[Amended 2-15-1989 by L.L. No. 2-1989; 8-4-2004 by L.L. No. 5-2004; 5-26-2010 by L.L. No. 1-2010]
A. Administration and enforcement.
(1) General provisions. This chapter shall be administered
by the Code Enforcement Officer, the Town Clerk and such agencies
as the Town Board shall direct and shall be enforced by the Code Enforcement
Officer. Those departments and agencies shall be provided with the
assistance of such persons as the Town Board may direct.
(2) Enforcement. This chapter shall be enforced by the
Code Enforcement Officer. The Code Enforcement Officer or his staff
may enter any premises or building at a reasonable time to determine
whether or not the same is in violation of this chapter. He shall
order discontinuance of uses of land, buildings or structures or construction
of buildings, structures or additions, alterations or other structural
changes which are in violation of this chapter or any other law. Nothing
herein contained shall limit or restrict any other procedure provided
for the enforcement of this chapter or other applicable law.
B. Building permits.
(1) No person shall commence the erection, construction, enlargement, alteration, or improvement of any agricultural building or structure or any portion thereof or a fence without first having obtained a permit from the Code Enforcement Officer. The fee for the same shall be as set by resolution of the Town Board and as set forth in Chapter
106, Fees. No permit shall be required for:
(a)
Necessary repairs which do not materially affect
structural features.
C. Determination of similar uses.
(1) The Code Enforcement Officer may determine that a
use not specifically listed in any districts established by this chapter
is a similar use to those uses enumerated in a specific district.
In making a determination that a use is similar, the Code Enforcement
Officer shall first determine that:
(a)
The use is not listed in any other classification
of permitted buildings or uses;
(b)
The use is appropriate and conforms to the basic
characteristics of the classification to which it is to be added;
(c)
The use does not create dangers to health and
safety and does not create offensive noise, vibration, dust, heat,
smoke, odor, glare or other objectionable influences to an extent
greater than that resulting from other uses listed in the classification
to which it is to be added; and
(d)
Such a use does not create traffic to a greater
extent than the other uses listed in the classification to which it
is to be added.
(2) The determination as to whether a use is similar to
uses permitted by right shall be considered as an expansion of the
use regulations of the district and not as a variance applying to
a particular situation. Any use found similar shall thereafter be
included in the enumeration of uses permitted by right.
D. Certificate of compliance.
(1) A certificate of compliance shall be applied for by
the owner or his agent and shall be issued by the Code Enforcement
Officer as a condition precedent to the occupancy and/or use of an
agricultural building or structure and land as follows:
(a)
Occupancy of an agricultural building or structure
erected or altered. A certificate of compliance shall be required
before occupancy of a new agricultural building or structure or before
occupancy or use of an existing structure which has been altered,
moved, changed in use or increased in off-street parking, loading
or stacking requirements. The certificate shall only be issued after
the erection or alteration of said structure or a component thereof
or after required accessory use and all approved site plan requirements
have been completed and found, by inspection, to be in conformity
with the provisions of the applicable laws and the approved site plan.
(b)
Change in use of conforming agricultural building,
structure, or land. A certificate of compliance shall be required
before occupancy of a conforming agricultural building, structure,
or land where the specific use has been changed and where, by reason
of the provisions of this chapter or other applicable law, increased
public or private facilities or modification of the structure is required.
The certificate shall be issued when found, by inspection, to be in
conformity with the provisions of all applicable laws.
(c)
Change in use of nonconforming agricultural
building, structure, or land. A certificate of compliance shall be
required whenever the specific use of a nonconforming agricultural
building, structure, or land is changed.
(2) Record of existing agricultural building or structure
and land use. Upon application by the owner or his agent, the Code
Enforcement Officer shall inspect an agricultural building, structure,
or tract of land existing on the effective date of this chapter and
shall issue a certificate of compliance therefor certifying:
(a)
The present use of the building or land;
(b)
If such use conforms to all the provisions of
this chapter; or
(c)
If it is a lawfully existing nonconforming use.
(3) Application for certificate of compliance.
(a)
Application for a certificate of compliance
shall contain accurate information furnished by the owner or his agent
as to size and location of the lot, buildings or structures occupying
the lot, the dimensions of all yards and open spaces, the use of land
or structures and all additional documents as may be required by the
Code Enforcement Officer.
(b)
A record of all applications and certificates
issued shall be kept on file in the office of the Code Enforcement
Officer.
E. Interpretations,
orders, etc. The Code Enforcement Officer shall interpret this chapter.
Any interpretation or order, requirement, decision or determination
in connection with this chapter shall be final except as otherwise
provided by law.
F. Records
and reports. The Code Enforcement Officer shall keep or cause to be
kept a record in his department, suitably indexed, in regard to any
decision or determination reached by him in connection with the interpretation
or enforcement of this chapter.
[Amended 5-17-2000 by L.L. No. 5-2000]
Unless otherwise provided specifically in this
chapter, special use permits authorized by this chapter shall only
be issued by the Town Board after a public hearing advertised in the
same manner as for an amendment to this chapter and after a report
and recommendation from the Planning Board as to whether the proposed
use is in compliance with the conditions and limitations of this chapter,
which report shall be delivered to the Town Board within a reasonable
time, or within such specific time as may be authorized and directed
by resolution of the Town Board.
A. The Town Board shall hear and decide, in accordance
with the provisions of this chapter, all applications for special
use permits or for modifications of provisions of this chapter in
all such cases upon which the Town Board is specifically authorized
to pass or shall make any other determination required by this chapter.
B. In authorizing any special use permit or modification
or in making any required determination, all required findings shall
be made, and, in the case of special use permits or renewals thereof
or modifications, the Town Board may prescribe appropriate conditions
to minimize adverse effects on the character of the surrounding area
and to safeguard the public health, safety or general welfare.
C. No special use permit or renewal or modification thereof
shall be authorized by the Town Board unless, in addition to other
findings specified in this chapter, it finds that such special use
permit or renewal or modification:
(1) Will be in harmony with the general purposes and intent
of this chapter.
(2) Will not tend to depreciate the value of adjacent
property.
(3) Will not create a hazard to health, safety or the
general welfare.
(4) Will not alter the essential character of the neighborhood
nor be detrimental to the residents thereof.
(5) Will not otherwise be detrimental to the public convenience
and welfare.
D. It shall be the responsibility of the applicant for a special use permit to prove to the satisfaction of the Town the items in Subsection
C, above. There shall be no presumption that a listed use is a permitted use where a special use permit is required.
E. The special use permit shall be valid for a period
of two years or such other term as may be set by the Town Board upon
the issuance or upon any renewal of such special use permit.
F. The following provisions shall apply:
[Amended 7-16-2014 by L.L. No. 3-2014]
(1) A fee shall be paid at the time of the making of any application
for any special use permit required by this chapter.
(2) If an amendment to the special use permit is required, the permit
holder shall submit a new application and pay a special use permit
amendment fee.
(3) The fees required upon the application for the issuance of any special
use permit or the amendment thereof, shall be those set for such purposes
by resolution of the Town Board from time to time made and adopted.
G. Revocation of a special use permit.
(1) Upon receipt of information that a condition or requirement
established upon the issuance of a special use permit has been violated,
or has not been met or that, for any reason, the premises, or use,
for which such special use permit has been issued, is not in compliance
with any rule, regulation, ordinance, statute or law, the Building
Inspector shall cause an investigation of such issue to be undertaken
and a report shall be submitted and filed in said Building Inspector's
office.
(2) After the report is filed in the Building Inspector's
office, and if the report shall confirm the existence of such violation
or noncompliance, the Building Inspector shall cause a notice to be
served upon the person or party to whom such special use permit had
been issued, either personally or by certified mail, specifying the
violations or noncompliance found, and such notice shall order that
such violation be cured and such noncompliance corrected forthwith.
(3) Such notice shall also provide that any person or
party holding such special use permit shall be granted a hearing on
the matter before the Town Board; provided, however, that such person
or party shall file a written request for the same with the Town Clerk
within 10 days of the service of such notice. Such written request
shall contain a brief statement setting forth the grounds for the
requested hearing and the allegations of such notice which the person
or party requesting such hearing controverts. Upon receipt of the
same, the Town Clerk shall set a time and place for said hearing and
shall give the person or party requesting said hearing 10 days' written
notice thereof. At such hearing, the person or party requesting the
same shall be given an opportunity to be heard and to give reasons
why the special use permit should not be revoked. The hearing shall
be commenced not later than 20 days after the day upon which the request
was filed, provided that, upon application of any interested party,
the Town Clerk may postpone the date of the hearing for any reasonable
time beyond the twenty-day period if, in the judgment of the Town
Clerk, the person or party requesting such adjournment has submitted
good and sufficient reason for such adjournment. In no event shall
the hearing be postponed for a period longer than 60 days.
(4) After the hearing is closed, if the same has been
requested as above, the Town Board shall make an order either confirming
the report of the Building Inspector and revoking such special use
permit, granting any relief requested by the person or party requesting
such hearing or granting such other and further relief as is deemed
appropriate by the Town Board under the circumstances.
(5) In the event that a written request for a hearing,
as above provided, has not been received, within the time specified,
the Town Board may make such additional inquiry, if any, as it deems
appropriate and may, by resolution, and without the necessity of a
hearing, make an order either confirming the report of the Building
Inspector and revoking such special use permit or granting such other
and further relief as is deemed appropriate by the Town Board, under
the circumstances.
(6) A copy of the order issued by the Town Board, upon
completion of said hearing and consideration of the evidence presented
at such hearing, if such hearing shall be conducted, shall be filed
with the Town Clerk. A copy of such order shall thereafter be served
upon the person or party to whom said special use permit was issued
in a manner hereinafter set forth.
(7) Service of notice.
(a)
Service of any notice or order under the terms
and provisions of this section shall be made:
[1]
By any of the methods provided for service in
Article 3 of the New York State Civil Practice Law and Rules, as amended,
or any legislation replacing or superseding the same, from time to
time; or
[2]
By registered or certified mail, deposited in
a Post Office or official depository under the exclusive care and
custody of the United States Postal Service within the state, addressed
to the last known address of the person or party to whom such notice
or order is to be given or delivered, in which case a copy of said
notice or order shall be posted in a conspicuous place on the premises
to which it relates. Such service by registered or certified mail
shall be complete 10 days after the later of the mailing and posting
and shall be deemed adequate service.
(b)
Said notice or order shall be deemed to have
been received by the person or party upon whom, or upon which, such
notice or order is served, as above, upon the completion of such service
by any of the methods above referenced or set forth.
[Amended 9-5-1990 by L.L. No. 13-1990; 5-15-1991 by L.L. No.
10-1991; 2-19-1997 by L.L. No. 2-1997]
No application or appeal shall be accepted until all applicable fees, charges and expenses have been paid in full. Prior to the issuance of a permit, applicants shall pay to the Town Clerk a fee as set by resolution of the Town Board and as set forth in Chapter
106, Fees.
In the interpretation, application and enforcement
of the provisions of this chapter, the provisions thereof shall be
held to be the minimum requirements necessary for the protection and
promotion of the health, safety and general welfare of the town.
[Amended 10-16-1996 by L.L. No. 14-1996]
A. No new applications shall be issued and no applications
or permits, licenses or approvals shall be granted by any officer,
department, board or agency of the Town of Evans with respect to the
erection, establishment, siting, location, construction or development
of any communication towers or antennas or related wireless telecommunications
facilities or structures within the Town of Evans for a period of
five months from the effective date of this section, unless earlier
terminated by other local law, duly adopted.
B. The Town Board of the Town of Evans shall have the
power to vary or modify the application of the provisions hereof by
resolution of the Town Board, duly passed, upon the Town Board's determination,
in its absolute and sole discretion, that such variance or modification
is consistent with the town's Comprehensive Master Plan, from time
to time existing, and with the health, safety, morals and general
welfare of the town.