[HISTORY: Adopted by the Town Board of the Town of Chautauqua 5-12-2008 by L.L. No. 4-2008. Amendments noted where applicable.]
This chapter will be known as the "Town of Chautauqua Waterfront Consistency Law."
A. 
This chapter is adopted under the authority of the Municipal Home Rule Law § 10 and the Waterfront Revitalization of Coastal Areas and Inland Waterways Act of the State of New York (Article 42 of the Executive Law).
B. 
The purpose of this chapter is to provide a framework for agencies of the Town of Chautauqua to consider the policies and purposes contained in the Chautauqua Lake Local Waterfront Revitalization Program when reviewing applications for actions or undertaking direct agency actions in the waterfront area, and to assure that such actions are consistent therewith.
C. 
It is the intention of the Town of Chautauqua to preserve, enhance and use the natural and man-made resources of the unique waterfront areas of the Town in a coordinated and comprehensive manner, to ensure a proper balance between such natural resources and the accommodation of population growth and economic development. This chapter is intended to achieve such a balance, permitting the beneficial use of waterfront resources while preventing loss of fish and wildlife, diminution of open space areas or public access to the waterfront, erosion of shoreline, losses due to flooding, erosion and sedimentation, impairment of water quality, impairment of scenic, cultural or historic resources, and permanent adverse changes to ecological systems.
D. 
The substantive provisions of this chapter shall only apply while there is in existence a local waterfront revitalization program that has been adopted in accordance with Article 42 of the Executive Law of the State of New York.
As used in this chapter, the following terms shall have the meanings indicated:
ACTION
All of the following, except minor actions, that are undertaken by an agency:
A. 
Projects or physical activities, such as construction or other activities that may affect the environment by changing the use, appearance or condition of any natural resource or structure, that are:
(1) 
Directly undertaken by an agency;
(2) 
Involve funding by an agency; or
(3) 
Require one or more new or modified approvals from an agency or agencies;
B. 
Agency planning and policy-making activities that may affect the environment and commit the agency to a definite course of future decisions;
C. 
Adoption of agency rules, regulations and procedures, including local laws, codes, ordinances, executive orders and resolutions that my affect the environment; and
D. 
Any combination of the above.
AGENCY
Any board, agency, department, office, other body, or officer of the Town of Chautauqua.
CONSISTENT
Consistent with the LWRP policy standards and conditions and, whenever practicable, advancing one or more of them.
DIRECT ACTION
An action planned and proposed for implementation by an agency, such as, but not limited to, a capital project, rule-making, procedure-making and policy-making.
ENVIRONMENT
The physical conditions that will be affected by a proposed action, including land; air; water; minerals; flora; fauna; noise; resources of agricultural, archaeological, historic or aesthetic significance; existing patterns of population concentration, distribution or growth; existing community or neighborhood character; and human health.
LOCAL WATERFRONT REVITALIZATION PROGRAM (LWRP)
The Chautauqua Lake Local Waterfront Revitalization Program in which the Town of Chautauqua is included, approved by the Secretary of State pursuant to the Waterfront Revitalization of Coastal Areas and Inland Waterways Act (Executive Law, Article 42), a copy of which is on file in Town Clerk's office.
MINOR ACTION
Includes the following:
A. 
Maintenance or repair involving no substantial changes in an existing structure or facility.
B. 
Replacement, rehabilitation or reconstruction of a structure or facility, in kind, on the same site, including upgrading buildings to meet building or fire codes, except for structures in areas designated by the Coastal Erosion Hazard Area (CEHA) law where structures may not be replaced, rehabilitated or reconstructed without a permit.
C. 
Repaving or widening of existing paved highways not involving the addition of new travel lanes.
D. 
Street openings and right-of-way openings for the purpose of repair or maintenance of existing utility facilities.
E. 
Maintenance of existing landscaping or natural growth, except where threatened or endangered species of plants or animals are affected, or within significant coastal fish and wildlife habitat areas.
F. 
Granting of individual setback and lot-line variances, except in relation to a regulated natural feature, a bulkhead or other shoreline defense structure.
G. 
Minor temporary uses of land having negligible or no permanent impact on coastal resources or the environment.
H. 
Installation of traffic-control devices on existing streets, roads and highways.
I. 
Mapping of existing roads, streets, highways, natural resources, land uses and ownership patterns.
J. 
Information collection, including basic data collection and research, water quality and pollution studies, traffic counts, engineering studies, surveys, subsurface investigations and soils studies, that do not commit the agency to undertake, fund or approve any action.
K. 
Official acts of a ministerial nature involving no exercise of discretion, including building permits where issuance is predicated solely on the applicant's compliance or noncompliance with the relevant local building code.
L. 
Routine or continuing agency administration and management, not including new programs or major reordering of priorities that may affect the environment.
M. 
Conducting concurrent environmental, engineering, economic, feasibility and other studies and preliminary planning and budgetary processes necessary to the formulation of a proposal for action, provided those activities do not commit the agency to commence, engage in or approve such action.
N. 
Collective bargaining activities.
O. 
Investments by or on behalf of agencies or pension or retirement systems, or refinancing existing debt.
P. 
Inspections and licensing activities relating to the qualifications of individuals or businesses to engage in their business or profession.
Q. 
Purchase or sale of furnishings, equipment or supplies, including surplus government property, other than the following: land, radioactive material, pesticides, herbicides, storage of road deicing substances, or other hazardous materials.
R. 
Adoption of regulations, policies, procedures and local legislative decisions in connection with any action on this list.
S. 
Engaging in review of any part of an application to determine compliance with technical requirements, provided that no such determination entitles or permits the project sponsor to commence the action unless and until all requirements of this chapter have been fulfilled.
T. 
Civil or criminal enforcement proceedings, whether administrative or judicial, including a particular course of action specifically required to be undertaken pursuant to a judgment or order, or the exercise of prosecutorial discretion.
U. 
Adoption of a moratorium on land development or construction.
V. 
Interpreting an existing code, rule or regulation.
W. 
Designation of local landmarks or their inclusion within historic districts.
X. 
Emergency actions that are immediately necessary on a limited and temporary basis for the protection or preservation of life, health, property or natural resources, provided that such actions are directly related to the emergency and are performed to cause the least change or disturbance practicable under the circumstances to coastal resources or the environment. Any decision to fund, approve or directly undertake other activities after the emergency has expired is fully subject to the review procedures of this chapter.
Y. 
Local legislative decisions such as rezoning where the Town Board determines the action will not be approved.
WATERFRONT AREA
The waterfront revitalization area delineated within the Town of Chautauqua in the Chautauqua Lake Local Waterfront Revitalization Program.
WATERFRONT ASSESSMENT FORM (WAF)
The form used by an agency to assist it in determining the consistency of an action with the local waterfront revitalization program.
A. 
Whenever a proposed action is located in the waterfront area, an agency shall, prior to approving, funding or undertaking the action, make a determination that it is consistent with the LWRP policy standards and conditions set forth in § 141-5 hereof. No action in the waterfront area shall be approved, funded or undertaken by that agency without such a determination.
B. 
Whenever an agency receives an application for approval or funding of an action or as early as possible in the agency's formulation of a direct action within the waterfront area, the applicant, or in the case of a direct action, the agency, shall prepare a waterfront assessment form (WAF) to assist with the consistency review.
C. 
The agency shall refer a copy of the completed WAF to the Town Zoning Board of Appeals within 10 days of its receipt and, prior to making its determination, shall consider the recommendation of the Town Zoning Board of Appeals about the consistency of the proposed action.
D. 
Upon receiving a referral from an agency, the Town Zoning Board of Appeals shall consider whether the proposed action is consistent or inconsistent with the LWRP policy standards and conditions set forth in § 141-5 hereof, as follows:
(1) 
The Zoning Board of Appeals shall render a written recommendation to the agency within 30 days following referral of the WAF from the agency, unless such time is extended by mutual agreement of the Board and the applicant or, in the case of a direct action, the agency.
(2) 
The Zoning Board of Appeals may require the applicant to submit all completed applications, WAFs and any other information deemed necessary for such consideration.
(3) 
The recommendation shall indicate whether the proposed action is consistent or inconsistent with one or more of the LWRP policy standards or conditions and the basis of the opinion.
(4) 
The Zoning Board of Appeals also shall make any suggestions to the agency concerning modification of the proposed action to make it consistent with the LWRP policy standards and conditions or to greater advance them.
(5) 
If the Zoning Board of Appeals does not timely render its recommendation, the referring agency may make its determination without the benefit of the Board's recommendation.
E. 
If the agency and the Zoning Board of Appeals concur in the consistency of the proposed action, the agency may proceed with the action. If the agency disagrees with the recommendation, the agency shall within 10 days prepare and transmit to the Zoning Board of Appeals a written finding detailing its position. The Board and the agency shall meet to resolve their differences within 15 days of the Board's receipt of the agency's finding.
F. 
If the Board and the agency cannot reach a mutually agreeable determination of consistency, the matter will be referred to the Town Board for a finding of consistency. The agency shall take no action until the Town Board has made a determination and finding of consistency with the LWRP.
(1) 
Where the Zoning Board of Appeals is the agency, this subsection shall not apply, but the Zoning Board of Appeals shall make a consistency finding when reviewing and considering an application for a variance or special use permit.
(2) 
Where the Town Board is the agency, this subsection shall not apply, but the Town Board shall consider the consistency recommendation of the Zoning Board of Appeals and policy standards when making its final determination.
G. 
Where an action involves the preparation of an environmental impact statement (EIS) for purposes of environmental review, the draft EIS shall identify applicable LWRP policy standards in § 141-5 and thoroughly discuss the effects of the proposed action on such policy standards.
H. 
The Town Clerk shall maintain a file for each action subject to a consistency determination which shall include any recommendation received from the Zoning Board of Appeals, and such files shall be kept open for public inspection upon request.
Actions to be undertaken within the waterfront area shall be evaluated for consistency in accordance with the following LWRP policy standards and conditions, which are derived from and further explained and described in Section III of the Chautauqua Lake LWRP, a copy of which is on file in Town Clerk's office and available for inspection during normal business hours. In the case of direct actions, the agency shall also consult with Section IV of the LWRP in making its consistency determination. The action shall be consistent with policies to:
A. 
Foster a pattern of development in the waterfront area that enhances community character, preserves open space, makes efficient use of infrastructure, makes beneficial use of a waterfront location, and minimizes adverse effects of development (Policy 1).
B. 
Preserve historic resources of the waterfront area of Chautauqua Lake (Policy 2).
C. 
Enhance visual quality and protect scenic resources in the Chautauqua Lake area (Policy 3).
D. 
Minimize loss of life, structures, and natural resources from flooding and erosion (Policy 4).
E. 
Protect and improve water resources (Policy 5).
F. 
Protect ecological resources around Chautauqua Lake, including important fish habitats, wetlands, and rare ecological communities (Policy 6).
G. 
Protect and improve air quality in the Chautauqua Lake area (Policy 7).
H. 
Minimize environmental degradation in the Chautauqua Lake communities from solid waste and hazardous substances and wastes (Policy 8).
I. 
Provide for public access to and recreational use of waterfront, public lands, and public resources of the waterfront area (Policy 9).
J. 
Protect Chautauqua Lake's water-dependent uses and promote siting of new water-dependent uses in suitable locations (Policy 10).
K. 
Promote the sustainable use of fish resources in Chautauqua Lake (Policy 11).
L. 
Protect existing agricultural lands in and adjacent to the Chautauqua Lake waterfront revitalization area (Policy 12).
M. 
Promote appropriate use and development of energy and mineral resources (Policy 13).
No action within the waterfront area that is subject to review under this chapter shall proceed until a written determination has been issued from a Town agency that the action is consistent with the Town's LWRP policy standards. In the event that an activity is being performed in violation of this chapter or any conditions imposed thereunder, the Code Enforcement Officer or any other authorized official of the Town shall issue a stop-work order and all work shall immediately cease. No further work or activity shall be undertaken on the project so long as a stop-work order is in effect. The Town Code Enforcement Officer and Town Attorney shall be responsible for enforcing this chapter.
A. 
A person who violates any of the provisions of or who fails to comply with any condition imposed by this chapter shall have committed a violation punishable by a fine not exceeding $250 for a conviction of a first offense and punishable by a fine of $500 for a conviction of a second or subsequent offense. For the purpose of conferring jurisdiction upon courts and judicial officers, each week of continuing violation shall constitute a separate additional violation.
B. 
The Town Attorney is authorized and directed to institute any and all actions and proceedings necessary to enforce this chapter. Any civil penalty shall be in addition to and not in lieu of any criminal prosecution and penalty.