This chapter shall be known as the "Town of
Victor Zoning Code, as amended."
The following general regulations shall govern
the use of land in the Town of Victor.
A. Limitations of land use. Except as provided in this
chapter, no building or part thereof or other structure shall be erected,
altered, added to or enlarged nor shall any land, building, structure
or premises be used, designated or intended to be used for any purpose
other than as for uses hereinafter listed as permitted in the district
in which such building and/or premises is located.
B. Nonconforming use. Any lawful use existing at the
time of the passage of this chapter or its amendments may be continued
though not conforming to the regulations of the district in which
it is maintained, subject to the following regulations:
(1) No structural alterations shall be permitted.
(2) Enlargement of the structure is prohibited.
(3) Such use may be continued on the premises and in the
structure where it exists at the time of the adoption hereof.
(4) Where such nonconforming use is upon the land itself
and not enclosed within a structure or where such use involves the
removal of soil or minerals or the excavation of gravel or rock or
other material, such use may be continued upon the land so used at
the time of the adoption hereof. Any such nonconforming use of land
may be extended or expanded to include any part of the plot or parcel
of land now being used or held in reserve for future use; however,
such extension or expansion of such nonconforming uses shall not be
permitted within 200 feet of any boundary line of such plot or parcel.
(5) Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this section
prior nonconforming single and two-family dwelling uses in Commercial,
Commercial/Light Industrial, and Light Industrial Districts shall
be entitled to customary accessory uses and structures as follows:
[Amended 7-25-2016 by L.L. No. 2-2016]
(a) Customary accessory uses and structures, such as garages and storage sheds, as set forth in §
211-19. Any proposed accessory uses or structures must comply with the requirements of Chapter
83, where applicable, and must comply with current dimensional area and height requirements of the district in which the property is located.
(6) Any structure destroyed by fire or other calamity
may be restored within 12 months of such destruction and the former
use continued, provided that the reconstruction shall not exceed the
dimensions of the destroyed property.
[Amended 7-25-2016 by L.L. No. 2-2016]
(7) Failure to exercise any nonconforming use for a period of 12 months
or more shall terminate such nonconforming use of the structure or
premises, and thereafter such structure or premises shall be used
only in conformity with the provisions of this chapter.
[Added 7-25-2016 by L.L.
No. 2-2016]
C. Building permits.
(1) No building or structure shall be constructed, structurally
altered, reconstructed, moved or demolished until a building permit
has been secured from the Building Department.
(2) A building permit or special use permit shall become
void after six months from the date of issue unless construction,
alteration or use requested in the application shall be commenced.
All construction or alteration which may be commenced upon the issuance
of a permit shall be completed within two years from the date of the
issuance of the permit. Upon application to the Zoning Board of Appeals
and upon showing good cause, such building permit may be extended
on a year-to-year basis.
D. Certificate of occupancy. Upon the completion of any
construction, alteration or conversion of any premises, the Code Enforcement
Officer shall, upon request, upon determining that such construction,
alteration or conversion conforms to the provisions of this chapter,
issue a certificate of occupancy to the applicant. Such certificate
of occupancy shall be issued without charge to the applicant.
E. Certificate of compliance.
(1) The Code Enforcement Officer may, upon receiving adequate
proof upon inspection of the premises, issue a certificate of compliance
to the applicant or to whom it may concern. Such certificate of compliance
shall set forth the general location of the premises, the zone in
which said premises are located, the principal use of the premises
and whether such use conforms to the district or is a nonconforming
use and, further, a general description of any structures or buildings
upon the premises and whether such structures or buildings conform
to the requirements herein or, in the alternative, are established
nonconforming uses.
(2) In the event that the Code Enforcement Officer refuses
to issue a certificate of compliance, such matter may be taken upon
appeal to the Zoning Board of Appeals, and after hearing the applicant
or other interested persons and the Code Enforcement Officer, the
Zoning Board of Appeals shall affirm or reverse the decision of the
Code Enforcement Officer as the facts in each case may require.
F. The provisions contained herein shall apply to all
land within the limits of the Town of Victor, excluding the Village
of Victor.
G. Applications shall be referred to the Ontario County
Planning Board for review as required by state law.
[Amended 9-25-1995 by L.L. No. 6-1995]
Whenever the Planning Board or Zoning Board
of Appeals, after hearing all the evidence presented upon application,
denies that application, the Board shall refuse to hold further review
of the same substantially similar application for appeals related
to the same property for a period of one year. Notwithstanding the
foregoing, the Board may, in its discretion, agree to rehear any prior
application upon a finding that a material and substantial change
in circumstances has occurred; substantial new evidence is available;
or a mistake of law or fact significantly affected the prior denial.
Such rehearing may be granted only upon the unanimous vote of the
Board.
[Amended 12-11-1995 by L.L. No. 12-1995]
A. Administration and enforcement. This chapter shall
be administered by the Code Enforcement Officer, who shall be appointed
and may be removed by the Town Board and who shall serve at the pleasure
of the Town Board. It shall be the duty of the Code Enforcement Officer
to assure the enforcement of this chapter, subject to the rules, regulations
and resolutions of the Zoning Board of Appeals, Planning Board and
the Town Board and to issue all permits or certificates required by
this chapter.
B. Powers and duties.
(1) It shall be the duty of the Code Enforcement Officer
to issue permits and certificates to all applicants who fully comply
with the provisions of this chapter.
(2) Issuance of orders.
(a)
If the Code Enforcement Officer shall find that
any of the provisions of this chapter are being violated, he or she
shall notify, in writing, the persons responsible for such violations,
indicating the specific nature of the violation, and order action
to correct it. He or she shall order the following:
[1]
Discontinuance of illegal uses of land, buildings
or structures.
[2]
Removal of illegal buildings or structures.
[3]
Removal of illegal additions, alterations or
structural changes.
[4]
Discontinuance of any illegal work being done.
(b)
The Code Enforcement Officer also shall take
any other action authorized by this chapter to ensure compliance with
or to prevent violation of its provisions.
(3) The Code Enforcement Officer shall maintain a permanent
and current record of all applications for building permits and certificates,
his or her action upon the same, any conditions relating thereto and
any other matters considered and action taken by him or her.
(4) The Code Enforcement Officer shall provide the Zoning
Board of Appeals, in writing, with all facts pertaining to his or
her refusal to issue permits and certificates whenever such information
shall be requested by said Board.
(5) Whenever the Code Enforcement Officer denies a certificate
or permit, he or she shall, in writing, inform the applicant of the
specific reasons for denial and instruct the applicant concerning
the proper methods and the right to apply for relief.
(6) The Code Enforcement Officer is authorized and empowered
to issue appearance tickets pursuant to § 150.20 of the
New York State Criminal Procedure Law.
C. Right to inspect. The Code Enforcement Officer, or
other Town officials designated by the Town Board shall have the right
to enter upon the property and premises of any business, in accordance
with law, to inspect for compliance with provisions of this chapter.
Further, any applicant, upon being granted any permit and/or site
plan approval requested under the provisions of this chapter, grants
to the Town of Victor, its officers or designed representatives, a
license to enter upon the property and premises governed by said permit
and/or site plan approval to determine that the provisions of this
chapter are being fulfilled, and to require such work to be done as
may be necessary to meet the conditions of said permit and/or site
plan approval.
[Added 12-11-1995 by L.L. No. 12-1995; amended 4-28-1997 by L.L. No. 9-1997]
D. Technical inspections. The Town Engineer or other
designated Town representative or consultant shall, as part of any
permit granted under this chapter, have a license to enter upon the
property and premises governed by said permit to make such technical
inspections as the Town in its discretion considers necessary to ensure
compliance with the provisions of this chapter.
[Added 12-11-1995 by L.L. No. 12-1995]
E. Right to restore. If the applicant fails to restore
any property governed by site plan approval, the Town shall have the
right, after providing notice of violation and an opportunity to cure,
to provide for the restoration of the property. For grading site plans
this may include, but is not limited to, the replacement of topsoil
in an amount of not more than six inches throughout the property,
correct drainage problems and replace vegetation.
[Added 4-28-1997 by L.L. No. 9-1997]
F. Complaints. Any person having knowledge of any violation
of this chapter may file a complaint in writing, with the Town Clerk,
and the Code Enforcement Officer shall thereupon make an investigation
and report his findings to the Town Board.
[Added 4-28-1997 by L.L. No. 9-1997]
[Amended 1-22-1996 by L.L. No. 1-1996; 8-27-2012 by L.L. No. 15-2012]
A. Enforcement
official. It shall be the duty of the Code Enforcement Officer to
enforce this chapter and to bring to the attention of the Town Board
any violations or lack of compliance herewith.
B. Enforcement
of open space, natural resource and landscaping requirements. All
open space, natural resource and landscaping requirements, including
conservation easements and deed restrictions required by the Town,
are enforceable by the Town Code Enforcement Officer. Failure to comply
with said requirements shall be a violation of this chapter, subject
to penalties as set forth herein.
C. Violations.
Any person, firm or corporation who or which fails to comply with
or violates any of the provisions of this chapter shall be guilty
of an offense and subject to the penalties for that offense or offenses.
D. Penalties.
For each violation, any person, firm, company or corporation who or
which neglects or refuses to do any act required by this chapter shall
be guilty of an offense and shall be punishable as follows:
(1) For
the first offense: a fine of up to $350 or imprisonment for up to
six months, or both.
(2) For
the second offense within five years: a fine of $350 to $700 or imprisonment
for up to six months, or both.
(3) For
the third offense within five years: a fine of $700 to $1,000 or imprisonment
for up to six months, or both.
E. Civil
enforcement. Appropriate actions and proceedings may be taken by law
or in equity proceedings to prevent any violation of this chapter,
to prevent unlawful construction, to recover damages, to restrain,
correct or abate a violation and to prevent illegal occupancy of a
building, structure or premises. These remedies shall be in addition
to the penalties described above. Consequently, the Town Board may
institute any appropriate action or proceeding to prevent and to restrain,
correct or abate such violation or to prevent any illegal act, conduct,
business or use in and about such premises.