City of Schenectady, NY Chapter 33 Development, Department of

[HISTORY: Adopted by the Council of the City of Schenectady 12-15-1986 by Ord. No. 86-76. Amendments noted where applicable.]

GENERAL REFERENCES

Economic Development Zone Administrative Board — See Ch. 35.

Housing Authority — See Ch. 67.

Housing Standards Review Board — See Ch. 68.

Industrial Development Agency — See Ch. 70.

Land Reutilization Corporation of the Capital District — See Ch. 72.

Planning Commission — See Ch. 91.

Heritage Area Advisory Council — See Ch. 96.

Urban homesteading — See Ch. 102.

Urban Renewal Agency — See Ch. 103.

Building code administration — See Ch. 137.

Building, plumbing and electrical standards — See Ch. 138.

Environmental quality review — See Ch. 147.

Housing standards — See Ch. 167.

Subdivision of land — See Ch. 230.

Zoning — See Ch. 264.

§ 33-1 Department established; functions.

There is hereby established a Department of Development with the principal functions of conserving housing, providing housing development planning and assistance and Building and Housing Code enforcement and providing planning for the City, furthering economic and housing development of the City, managing City-owned real property not used for governmental purposes, handling the acquisition and disposition of City-owned real property and administering the City's community development block grant and other state and federal grants received by the City.

§ 33-2 Director.

The Department is to be headed by a Director, who shall be appointed by and serve at the pleasure of the Mayor.

§ 33-3 Specific powers and duties.

A. The Department shall prepare studies, reports and general plans pertaining to housing.

B. The Department is responsible for the development, implementation and administration of City housing maintenance, preservation and improvement programs.

C. The Department, under the direction of the Mayor, shall prepare applications for federal and state assistance in the area of housing and economic development.

D. The Department shall administer and enforce all laws, ordinances and regulations applicable to the construction, alteration, repair, removal and demolition of buildings and structures and their use, occupancy and maintenance, including the City's Housing Code and the New York State Building Code.

E. The Department shall enforce the City's Zoning Ordinance.[1]

[1] Editor's Note: See Ch. 264, Zoning.

F. The Department shall prepare studies, reports and general plans for the City of Schenectady, including land use plans and nonengineering plans for public transportation, public facilities, municipal parking facilities, urban development and redevelopment and conservation.

G. The Department shall study all matters pending before the City Planning Commission and provide such advice to it as the Department finds appropriate.

H. The Department shall provide administrative staff services for the City Planning Commission, the Board of Zoning Appeals, the Historic Commission, the City of Schenectady Industrial Development Agency, the Examining Board of Plumbers and Electrical Licensing Board, the Housing Code Commission, the Multiple Residence Law Review Board and various neighborhood/merchant associations and quasi-public agencies, as deemed necessary by the Director and/or the Mayor to carry out the functions of the Department.

I. The Department shall be responsible for the revision of the Zoning Maps and records. The Department is the custodian of the Zoning Map and shall keep it current. The Department shall provide certified copies of the map to the office of the City Engineer.

J. The Department is the custodian of the various plans comprising the Comprehensive Plan and shall keep them current. The Department shall file certified copies in the offices of the City Engineer and the City Clerk.

K. The Department has custody and control of real property owned by the City and not used for governmental purposes.

L. The Department is responsible for handling the acquisition and disposition of all City-owned real property and shall maintain an inventory of all such real property.

M. The Department is responsible for the annual submission of the City's application for federal community development entitlement funds, for any subsequent amendments to that application and for the administration of the program as required by the applicable federal regulations.

§ 33-4 References deemed to refer to Department.

Any references in the Code or local laws to the Departments of Planning and Economic Development and Housing shall be deemed to refer to the Department of Development.[1]

[1] Editor's Note: Former § 33-5, Schenectady-Glenville Empire Zone established, as amended, which immediately followed this section, was repealed 12-22-2005 by L.L. No. 5-2005. The current boundaries of the Empire Zone are on file in the City offices.