Recognizing that compliance with the State Solid
Waste Management Plan and the increased commitment to reuse and recycle
solid waste, both in the Town of Bethlehem (hereafter the "Town")
and throughout the state, has encouraged, and will encourage in the
future, the construction and operation of solid waste management facilities
designed to collect, sort, process, treat, reuse in manufacturing
new products and/or dispose of solid waste; and being desirous of
maintaining a clean, wholesome and attractive environment within the
Town while protecting the health, safety and welfare of its inhabitants;
and further recognizing the inherent dangers arising from the unrestricted
or unsafe siting, design, construction or operation of solid waste
management facilities and the need for proper planning, siting, design,
construction and operation of such facilities to protect the inhabitants
of the Town and its vital environmental resources, the Town declares
that the general public interest shall be served by implementing the
following requirements for the permitting of solid waste management
facilities to be sited, constructed or operated on land within the
Town.
[Added 12-22-1993 by L.L. No. 11-1993]
A. Upon a written verified application by an owner, and
by an operator if different from the owner, the Town Board may, in
its sole discretion, grant a variance from one or more provisions
of this article.
B. An original and 10 copies of an application for a
variance pursuant to this section shall be filed with the Town Clerk.
An application for a variance must include evidence that:
(1) Identifies the specific provision(s) of this article
from which a variance is sought;
(2) Demonstrates that strict compliance with the provisions
identified creates practical or operational difficulties for the applicant
which are substantial in nature and would impose an unreasonable economic
or technological burden on the applicant or demonstrates that unusual
circumstances exist, unique to the applicant, that should excuse the
applicant from strict compliance with this article's provisions;
(3) Demonstrates that the variance sought is the minimum
variance necessary; and
(4) Demonstrates that the facility, with the variance,
shall not have an adverse impact on the public health, safety or welfare
or the environment or natural resources of the Town and shall be consistent
with the intent, provisions and policies of this article and the Town
Code.
C. In making its determination, the Town Board shall
take into consideration the following:
(1) The benefit to the applicant(s) if the variance is
granted.
(2) The detriment to the health, safety and welfare of
the neighborhood, community and/or the Town if a variance is granted.
(3) Whether the benefit sought by the applicant(s) can
be achieved by any feasible method other than a variance.
(4) Whether the variance is substantial.
(5) Whether adverse impacts or effects may be reasonably
expected if the variance is granted and whether such impacts can be
mitigated by applicant(s).
(6) Whether the applicant(s) was or should have been aware
of the actual or potential difficulty or condition at the time of
the acquisition of land, operation or business for which the variance
is sought and whether the applicant(s) caused or created or contributed
to any condition or difficulty on which the variance application is
based.
(7) Whether the variance is the minimum variance necessary.
(8) Whether the denial of the variance will deprive the
applicant of all economic use or benefit from the property in question.
D. In making a determination to grant a variance, the
Town Board may grant only the minimum variance which is necessary
and adequate and, at the same time, which preserves and protects the
character of the neighborhood and the health, safety and welfare of
the neighborhood, community and the Town. The Town Board may impose
any and all conditions and restrictions related to and/or incidental
to the siting, construction and/or operation of the facility with
the variance. Such conditions shall be consistent with the provisions
and policies of this article and shall minimize any adverse impact
or effect said variance may have on the neighborhood, community or
the Town. The burden of demonstrating the need and appropriateness
of the requested variance is solely that of the applicant(s).
E. Application; hearing; determination.
(1) Within 45 days of the date that an application is
filed with the Town Clerk, the Town Board shall review the application
and make a determination as to whether it is complete and contains
all of the information required under this section.
(2) If the application is determined to be incomplete,
written notice shall be given to the applicant(s) containing a brief
statement identifying material and information required to complete
the application. The Town Board may require the submission of additional
information before reaching a determination under this section.
(3) When an application is determined to be complete,
the Town Board shall schedule a public hearing on said application.
Such hearing shall be held within 60 days of the date on which the
Board shall determine the application to be complete. The applicant
shall be responsible for all costs of any hearing(s), including but
not limited to the cost of advertising and the cost of transcribing
the minutes of said hearing.
(4) The Town Board shall make a determination to approve
or approve with conditions or deny the application for a variance
within 30 days of the date on which the hearing transcript is accepted
by the Board at a meeting of the Board or from that date when additional
documentation requested at the hearing is accepted and determined
to be complete by the Board.
F. There shall be no right to a variance under this section.
Upon consideration of the criteria set forth herein, the issuance
of any variance shall be in the sole discretion of the Town Board.
A claim that compliance with this article will cause additional cost
or expense for the construction or operation of a solid waste facility
or, further, that compliance with this article shall require changes
or modifications in an existing facility or its method of operations
shall not constitute a basis for the granting of a variance pursuant
to the provisions of this article.
G. The applicant(s) shall be liable to the Town for any
costs incurred by the Town for the investigation, processing or analysis
of an application for a variance, including the Town's legal fees,
if any. Payment by the applicant(s) of all such costs shall be a condition
precedent to the effective date of any variance granted pursuant to
the terms of this section.
H. This section shall take effect immediately upon filing
with the Secretary of State.
If any clause, sentence, paragraph, section,
article or part of this article shall be adjudged by any court of
competent jurisdiction to be invalid, such judgment shall not affect,
impair or invalidate the remainder thereof but shall be confined in
its operation to the clause, sentence, paragraph, section, article
or part thereof directly involved in the controversy in which such
judgment shall have been rendered.
This article shall take effect when the appropriate
certified copies hereof are filed with the Secretary of State pursuant
to the applicable provisions of the Municipal Home Rule Law.