TOWN OF CHAMPION

ZONING LAW

 

 

JEFFERSON COUNTY, NEW YORK

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

LOCAL LAW #3 OF 1997

Amended by

Local Law #3 of 1998

Local Law #5 of 1998

Local Law #1 of 2002

Local Law #1 of 2005

Local Law #3 of 2005

Local Law #4 of 2006

 


TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

ARTICLE 1 INTRODUCTION

Section 100 Enacting Clause................................................................................................1

Section 105 Short Title.........................................................................................................1

Section 110 Purpose and Authority......................................................................................1

Section 115 Application of this Local Law..........................................................................1

Section 120 Prior Local Laws or Ordinances.......................................................................1

 

ARTICLE 2 DEFINITIONS..............................................................................................1

 

ARTICLE 3 ESTABLISHMENT OF DISTRICTS

Section 305 Types of Districts..............................................................................................3

Section 308 District Purposes................................................................................................3

Section 310 Adoption of Zoning Map...................................................................................3

Section 315 Interpretation of District Boundaries.................................................................4

 

ARTICLE 4 DISTRICT REGULATIONS

Section 405 Use Control Schedule........................................................................................14

Section 410 Area Regulation Schedule.................................................................................15

Section 411 Hamlet Zone Supplementary Regulations.........................................................16

Section 412 Rural Corridor Zone Supplementary Regulations.............................................16

Section 415 Planned Development Districts..........................................................................16

Section 420 Industrial Districts..............................................................................................19

 

ARTICLE 5 PLANNING BOARD REVIEW

Section 505. Purpose...............................................................................................................19

Section 510. Site Plan Review................................................................................................20

Section 515. Special Use Permits............................................................................................20

Section 520. Application Requirements..................................................................................20

Section 525. Procedure............................................................................................................21

Section 528 General Criteria for all Special Use Permits........................................................23

Section 530 General Review Criteria.......................................................................................23

Section 535 Specific Site Plan Review Criteria.......................................................................26

 

ARTICLE 6 SUPPLEMENTAL REGULATIONS

Section 605 Fences, Walls, and Shrubbery...............................................................................30

Section 610 Parking..................................................................................................................31

Section 612 Drive-in Uses........................................................................................................32

Section 615 Off-Street Loading Requirements.........................................................................32

Section 620 Manufactured homes.............................................................................................33

Section 630 Roads.....................................................................................................................34

Section 635 Signs......................................................................................................................34

Section 640 Fuel Storage Tanks................................................................................................36

Section 650 Commercial Architectural Standards – H and RC Zones......................................36

Section 652 Commercial Use Standards – H Zone....................................................................36

Section 654 Commercial Use Standards RC Zone...................................................................36

Section 656 Large Scale Commercial Development – Business and RC Zones......................37

Section 658 Large Scale Commercial Development Standards – RC Zone.............................37

Section 670 Outdoor Storage....................................................................................................37

Section 680 Driveway Regulations...........................................................................................37

Section 690 Maintenance of Site Plan Criteria..........................................................................38
Section 692 Minor Wind Power Generating Facilities and Wind Test Towers.........................38

 

ARTICLE 7 ADMINISTRATION AND ENFORCEMENT

Section 705. Enforcement Officer..............................................................................................38

Section 710. Zoning Permits.......................................................................................................38

Section 715. Zoning Permit Exceptions......................................................................................39

Section 720. Application Process................................................................................................39

Section 725. Application Fee.......................................................................................................39

Section 730. Display of Zoning Permit........................................................................................39

Section 735. Measurements..........................................................................................................39

Section 740. Expiration of Zoning Permit....................................................................................40

Section 745. Certificate of Compliance........................................................................................40

Section 750. Zoning Board of Appeals.........................................................................................40

Section 755. Planning Board.........................................................................................................41

Section 760. Violations..................................................................................................................41

Section 765. Penalties....................................................................................................................41

Section 770 Amendments..............................................................................................................42

Section 775 Nonconforming Use and Structures...........................................................................42

Section 780 Interpretation and Separability...................................................................................43

Section 785 Effective Date.............................................................................................................43

 

ARTICLE 8 TELECOMMUNICATIONS FACILITIES

Section 820 Telecommunication Facilities....................................................................................43

 


ARTICLE 1.  INTRODUCTION

 

Section 100.  Enacting Clause

Pursuant to the authority conferred by Article 2 and 3 of Municipal Home Rule Law and Article 16 of Town Law, the Town Board of the Town of Champion, in the County of Jefferson, State of New York, hereby ordains and enacts this local law.

 

Section 105.  Short Title

These regulations shall be known and may be cited as "The Town of Champion Zoning Law".

 

Section 110.  Purpose and Authority

The Town of Champion Zoning Law is established for the purpose of promoting the public health, safety and welfare, and the most desirable use for which the land in each district may be adapted; for conserving the value of buildings and for enhancing the value of land throughout the Town.  Reasonable consideration is given to the best planned use of each district and its peculiar suitability for the particular uses for which it is intended.

 

Section 115.  Application of this Local Law.

A.        No building, structure, or land shall hereafter be used or occupied, and no building or structure or part thereof shall hereafter be erected, constructed, reconstructed, moved or altered unless used, occupied, erected, constructed, reconstructed, moved or altered in conformity with all of the regulations herein specified for the district within which said building, structure or land is located.

 

B.        The regulations of this local law shall not apply to buildings, structures, land or the uses thereof, in existence prior to the effective date of this local law.  Any physical alteration of existing buildings, structures or land, or any change in the uses thereof occurring after the effective date of this local law shall be subject to and may only be undertaken and continued to the extent said building, structure, land or the use thereof is in conformity with all of the regulations herein specified for the district within which said building, structure, land or use is located.

 

Section 120.  Prior Local Laws or Ordinances.

A.        This local law supersedes and REPEALS in its entirety Local Law #2 of 1984 the Town of Champion Zoning Law, as amended by Local Law #3 of 1985, Local Law #3 of 1986, Local Law # 1 of 1988, Local Law # 1 of 1994, and Local Law #1 of 1997.

 

B.        Said repeal shall not in any respect revive any local laws or ordinances enacted prior to and dealing with the subject matter of the above enumerated and repealed local laws and ordinances.

 

 

ARTICLE 2.  DEFINITIONS

 

Construction of Words

When used in this law, words in the present tense include the future and words of one gender include all genders.  The singular number includes the plural and the plural includes the singular.  The term "shall" is intended to be mandatory.  Whenever a word or term is defined to "include" certain items or matters, such inclusion is intended to be by way of specification and not of limitation.  If interpretation or clarification of any word used in this law is needed it shall be provided by the Zoning Board of Appeals in accordance with such powers granted to them.

 

Accessory Building, Use or Structure:  A building, use or structure which is customarily incidental to that of a principal building or use and which is located on the same lot as that occupied by the principal building or use.

 

Adult Bookstore:  A business, whether retail or wholesale, having more than 10% of its net floor space set aside for, or 10% of the value of, its stock in trade, recordings, books, magazines, periodicals, films, video tapes/cassettes or other viewing materials for sale or viewing on or off the premises, which are distinguished or characterized by their emphasis on matter depicting, describing or relating to sexual activities or specified anatomical areas.

 

Adult Motion Picture Theater:  An enclosed or unenclosed building, structure, or portion thereof used for presenting materials distinguished or characterized by an emphasis on matter depicting, describing, or relating to sexual activities or specified anatomical areas for observation by patrons.

 

Adult Entertainment Uses:  Any business, including but not limited to those specifically enumerated in this law, which has more than 10% of its net floor space set aside for, or 10% of the volume of its stock in trade, devoted to the display, viewing or dissemination of material distinguished or characterized by an emphasis on matter depicting, describing, or related to sexual activity or specified anatomical areas, including, but not limited to, any establishment that allows or promotes dancers, performers, or employees, whether male or female, to display specified anatomical areas.  Such uses shall include, but not be limited to, Adult Bookstores, Adult Motion Picture Theater, Massage Establishments, or other similar uses.

 

Agri-Business Operation:  A business that supplies farms and agricultural operations with needed supplies, implements and other products.

 

Agricultural Operation:  The raising and production for compensation of crops, livestock, poultry, dairy products, fish or other wildlife, trees, maple syrup products, and other similar pursuits.  Tree growing and harvesting, animal husbandry, horticultural operations, forestry operations, and the sale, at wholesale or retail, of farm products upon the premises where the same are grown or produced shall be considered agricultural operations.

 

Air Strip:  A runway used for the landing and taking off of aircraft.  This use may include hangers or maintenance sheds as accessory uses.

 

Alter/Alteration:  To change or rearrange any exterior structural part of the existing facilities of a building or structure, by enlarging the building or structure, whether by extending any side or increasing the height thereof, or to move the same from one location or position to another.  It shall not be considered an alteration if there is not expansion of exterior dimensions.  For instance: replacement of windows, doors, siding, roofing, etc., as well as interior alterations shall not be considered an alteration for the purposes of this law.

 

Alteration of Land Surface:  The grading, filling or excavation of land in connection with a site plan review use.

 

Animal Care Facility:  A commercial use which is primarily concerned with the care and/or breeding of animals.  This is to include kennels and animal hospitals.

 

Antenna:  A system of electrical conductors that transmit or receive radio frequency waves.  Such waves shall include but not be limited to radio navigation, radio, television, Personal Communication Systems, cellular, paging, and microwave communications.

 

Bed And Breakfast:  A house, or portion, thereof, where short-term lodging rooms are provided.  Meals may also be provided to guests only.  The operator of the inn shall live in the premises or in adjacent premises.

 

Building:  Any structure having a roof supported by columns or by walls which is used or occupied for the shelter, housing or enclosure of animals, persons or property. The term, unless specified, includes both principal and accessory buildings.

 

Building Height:  The vertical distance measured from the average elevation of the main grade to the highest point of the roof of the building or structure.

 

Building Line:  The line formed by the face of the building/structure, or the attached part of the building/structure, nearest the lot line.  This shall include measurement from such structures as uncovered porches, patios, terraces, open areaways, roof overhangs, cornices, eaves and other similar protrusions.

 

Building Permit:  Written permission issued by the proper municipal authority, or its contractor, for the construction, repair, alteration or addition to a structure.

 

Buffering:  Open spaces, landscaped areas, fences, walls, berms, or any combination thereof used to physically separate or screen one use or property from another so as to visually shield or block noise, lights, or other nuisances.

 

Business:  Any person, firm, association, partnership, corporation, or other entity for profit.

 

Camouflaging:  The construction of facilities to house or support telecommunication towers so that the towers blend readily with the landscape, neighborhood and adjacent architectural features.  Examples of camouflaging that could be used are: silo and barn, windmill, and simulated tree.

 

Campground:  Any lot or area used or occupied by one or more tents, recreation trailers or vehicles which are used for part-time living or sleeping purposes for economic gain.  Generally determined to be used by transients on vacation trips.

 

Certificate of Compliance:  A document issued by the proper municipal authority certifying that the structure or use has been constructed or will be used in compliance with all the applicable local laws.

 

Change of Use:  Any use that substantially differs from the previous use of a building or land. Uses covered under the same definition shall not be considered a change of use.

 

 

 

 

 

Commercial Agricultural Feed Lot:  Those agricultural operations where cattle, pigs or other livestock over 200 head are kept on lot and in relatively small contained area (usually several acres or less) indoors or outside.  The purpose of such operations is to fatten livestock prior to processing.

 

Commercial: An activity characterized by the direct on-premise sale of goods and/or services to the ultimate consumer.

 

Commercial, Large Scale: An activity characterized by the direct on-premise sale of goods and/or services to the ultimate consumer, with a sales area or an on-premise manufacturing, processing and servicing area of over 12,000 square feet.

 

Commercial, Small:  An activity characterized by the direct on-premise sale of goods and/or services to the ultimate consumer, with a sales area or an on-premise manufacturing, processing and servicing area of not more than 2,000 square feet.

 

Commercial Storage Facilities: The storing or warehousing of property. To include but not limited to self storage buildings and warehouses.

 

Community Facilities:  A building, structure or use operated for the benefit of the general well-being, health, safety, welfare, and enjoyment of the public.  This shall include but not be limited to fire stations, libraries, community owned buildings, schools, hospitals, nursing homes and religious facilities.

 

Comprehensive Plan:  The materials, written and/or graphic, including but not limited to maps, charts, studies, resolutions, reports and other descriptive material that identify the goals, objectives, principles, guidelines, policies, standards, devices and instruments for the immediate and long-range protection, enhancement, growth and development of the town.

 

Construction Equipment and Supplies Storage Yard:  A lot or portion thereof, which is used for the outside storage of heavy construction equipment and related building supplies, including, but not limited to, back hoes, bulldozers, cranes, graders and dump trucks.  The term shall not include the temporary storage of such equipment at a construction site during the period of construction.

 

Dissemination:  The transfer or possession, custody, control, or ownership of, or the exhibition or presentation of any performance to a customer, member of the public, or business invitee of any material distinguished or characterized by an emphasis on matter depicting, describing, or relating to sexual activities or specified anatomical areas.

 

Drive-in Use:  An establishment which by design, physical facilities, service or by packaging procedures encourages or permits customers to receive services, obtain goods, or be entertained while remaining in the motor vehicles.

 

Dwelling Unit:  A building or portion thereof, used or occupied as living quarters for one family.

 

Dwelling, Single-Family:  A detached building, designated for or occupied exclusively by one family and containing not more than one dwelling unit.

 

Dwelling, Two-Family:  A detached building where not more than two individual families live, or where two dwelling units, with separate cooking, sanitary, living and sleeping facilities, exist.

 

Dwelling, Multi-Family:  A building or portion thereof used or designed as a residence (including cooking, sanitary, living or sleeping facilities) for each of the three or more families who reside therein.

 

Easement:  A grant of one or more of the property rights by the owner to and/or for the use by the public, a corporation or another person or entity.

 

Enforcement Officer:  A person appointed by the Town Board to carry out the regulations of this law.

 

Erect:  To construct, build, re-erect, reconstruct, rebuild or excavate for a building or structure.

 

Essential Facilities:  The operation or maintenance by municipal agencies or public utilities of telephone dial equipment centers; electrical or gas substations; water treatment, storage and transmission facilities; pumping stations; and similar facilities.  The definition of essential services shall not include minor or major wind power generating facilities.

 

Family:  One or more persons living together as a single housekeeping unit.

 

Fence:  Same definition as wall.

 

Floating District:  An unmapped zoning district where all the zone requirements are contained in the law and the zone is fixed on the map only when an application for development, meeting the zone requirements, is approved.

 

Floor Area:  The total horizontal area of all floors of a building, excepting the basement and attic thereof, measured along the faces of the interior walls.

 

Gross Density:  The quotient of the total number of dwelling units divided by the gross site area.

 

Gross Floor Area (GFA):  The gross size of the total floor area of the outside dimensions of a building.  These dimensions shall include the length and width of the facility.

 

Gross Leasable Area (GLA):  The gross size of the floor area of a commercial/retail facility which is leasable.

 

Gross Site Area:  The total amount of contiguous land in a project.

 

Home Occupation:  Any accessory use of a service character customarily conducted within a dwelling by the resident thereof which is clearly secondary to the use of the dwelling for living purposes and does not substantially change the character thereof or have an exterior evidence of such use, other than an approved advertising sign, and parking requirements associated therewith.

 

Hotel/Motel:  A facility offering transient lodging accommodations to the general public and that may provide additional services such as restaurants, meeting rooms, entertainment and recreational facilities.

 

Impervious Surfaces:  Surfaces which do not absorb water.  They consist of all buildings, parking areas, driveways, roads, sidewalks, and any areas of concrete or asphalt.

 

Industrial Uses:  A facility which manufactures a product for wholesale or retail use.

 

Inoperative Motor Vehicle:  Any motor vehicle which is unregistered and inoperative for a period of six successive months or more.

 

Junk Vehicle:  Any motor vehicle, whether automobile, bus, trailer, truck, tractor, motor home, motorcycle motor bicycle, mini-bicycle, or snowmobile, or any other device originally intended for travel on the public highways which (1) is unlicensed, wrecked, stored, discarded or dismantled or partly dismantled, which is not intended or in any condition for legal use upon the public highway, and (2) is in such condition as to cost more to repair and place in operating condition than its reasonable market value at that time before such repair.  With respect to any motor vehicle not required to be licensed or motor vehicle not usually used on public highways, the fact that such motor vehicle has remained unused for more than six months and is not in condition to be removed under its own power shall be presumptive evidence that such motor vehicle is a junk motor vehicle.

 

Junkyard:  An area of land, with or without buildings, used for the storage outside of a completely enclosed building, of used and discarded materials, including but not limited to waste paper, rags, metal, building materials, house furnishing, machinery, vehicles or parts thereof, including junk, with or without the dismantling, processing, salvage, sale or other use of disposition of the same.  The deposit or storage of two or more inoperative motor vehicles, or the major parts of two or more such vehicles, shall be deemed to make the lot a junkyard.

 

Kennel:  See Animal Care Facility

 

Landscaping:  Improvements to land, including but not limited to, the contouring of land, planting of flowers, shrubs, or trees, the use of decorative features, including sculptures, patterned walks, fountains and ponds.

 

Large Product Retail: The sale or display of large consumer items outside of a fully enclosed structure including, but not limited to, cars, trucks, boats, recreational vehicles, trailers, home appliances, lumber yards and manufactured homes.

 

Lot:  A parcel of land used or occupied, or capable of being used or occupied, by a building or structure and the accessory buildings, structures or uses customarily incidental to it including such yards as are required by this law.

 

Lot, Corner:  A lot of land at the junction of and fronting on two or more intersecting roads.

 

Lot Coverage:  That portion of a lot that is covered by buildings or structure.  It is usually expressed as a percentage of the lot area.

 

Lot Depth:  The mean horizontal distance between the front and rear lot lines, measured in the general direction of the side lot lines.

 

Lot Line:  A line dividing one lot from another lot, a road or a waterway.  On a road, public or private, where there is not an established road right-of-way line, the lot line shall be considered to be 25 feet from the center of the road.

 

Lot Line, Front:  The lot line adjoining any road right of way line or the waterfront lot line.  If a lot adjoins two or more roads, it shall be deemed to have a front lot line respectively on each and all remaining lot lines shall be considered rear lot lines.

 

Lot Line, Rear:  The lot line opposite and most distance from the front lot line.

 

Lot Line, Side:  Any lot line other than the front or rear lot lines.

 

Lot Line, Waterfront:  Along the front yards of waterfront property, the waterfront lot line shall be determined as the high water level elevation.

 

Lot of Record:  Any lot which individually or as a part of a subdivision has been recorded in the county clerk's office or for which proof can be given that the lot was intended for development prior to adoption of this law.

 

Lot Width:  The horizontal distance between the side lot lines measured at the road right of way lines.

 

Major Arterial:  A road characterized by high speeds and traffic volumes with restricted parking whose function is to collect traffic from other roads and move it over greater distances.

 

Manufactured Home:  Manufactured housing built on a chassis bearing a seal issued by the Federal Department of Housing and Urban Development.  A manufactured home shall be construed to remain a manufactured home, subject to all regulations applying thereto, whether or not wheels, axles, hitch, or other appurtenances of mobility are removed and regardless of the nature of the foundation provided.  A manufactured home shall not be construed to be a travel trailer or other form of recreational vehicle.

 

Manufactured Home, Double-Wide:  Manufactured housing built on a chassis bearing a seal issued by the Federal Department of Housing and Urban Development.  A double-wide manufactured home is manufactured in two or more sections off-site and transported individually to the placement site and assembled there.

 

Manufactured Home, Single-Wide:  Manufactured housing built on a chassis bearing a seal issued by the Federal Department of Housing and Urban Development and which is sixteen feet or less in width.

 

Manufactured Home Park:  Any lot under single ownership on which three or more manufactured homes are located regardless of whether or not rent is charged for such lot accommodations.

 

Manufactured Housing:  A building designed for long-term residential use having the following characteristics: (1) Constructed or produced in a factory for transportation to a site for installation and use when connected to required utilities; (2) Either an independent, individual building or a module for combination with other elements to form a building on the site.

 

Marginal Access Road:  A public or private roadway that runs parallel to a major arterial with the express purpose of providing low speed access to several abutting properties without entering the arterial.

 

Massage:  A method of treating the external parts of the human body by rubbing, stroking, kneading, tapping, or vibrating with the hand or any instrument.

 

Massage Establishment:  Any establishment having a fixed place of business where massages are administered.  This definition shall not be construed to include a hospital, nursing home, medical clinic, or the office of any health care practitioner duly licensed by the State of New York, nor barber shops or beauty salons in which massages are administered only to the scalp, the face, the neck, or the shoulders.  This definition shall not include a volunteer fire department, a volunteer rescue squad, or a nonprofit organization operating a community center, swimming pool, tennis court, or other educational, cultural, recreational, or athletic facilities, and facilities for the welfare of the residents of the area.

 

Massage Technician:  Any individual who administers a massage to another individual at a massage establishment.  This definition shall not include any health care practitioner duly licensed by the State of New York.

 

Mining Operation Local:  Any mining operation that does not meet the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation's definition of a mining operation.

 

Mining Operation, N.Y.S. Department of Environmental Conservation Regulated:  An area of land where more than one thousand tons or seven hundred and fifty cubic yards, which ever is less, of minerals is being excavated or proposed to be excavated from the earth within twelve successive calendar months or an area of land adjacent to any body of water not subject to the jurisdiction of Article 15 of the Environmental Conservation Law or successor statue to the public lands law where more than one hundred cubic yards of minerals is excavated or proposed to be excavated.

 

Modular Home:  A housing unit which is manufactured in one or more sections off-site, meeting the State Building Codes applicable to modular housing, transported to the placement site and assembled there, and designed to be permanently anchored to a foundation to become a fixed part of the real estate.

 

Motel / Hotel:  A facility offering transient lodging accommodations to the general public and that may provide additional services such as restaurants, meeting rooms, entertainment and recreational facilities.

 

Motor Vehicle Service Station:  Any building, land area or other premises, or portion thereof, used or intended to be used for motor vehicle repair, rental, painting, washing and/or the retail dispensing of vehicular fuels, lubricants, tires, batteries and similar accessories.

 

Net Floor Area:  That portion of the building devoted to display, whether for viewing or dissemination, of a business's stock in trade.  This shall not include entry areas, stockrooms, closets, storage areas, cash register areas, or any area from which the public is excluded or restrooms whether public or private.

 

Nonconformity:  A lot, building, structure, or use of land legally and substantially existing prior to the enactment of this law which does not conform to the regulations of the district in which it is situated.

 

Off-Street Parking Facilities:  A space for parking off the public roads and places in the town.

 

Open Storage: The displaying, storing or depositing of goods outside of a fully enclosed structure other than during the hours of operation of the commercial use.

 

Outdoor Storage:  The keeping, in an unroofed area, of materials associated with the principal commercial or industrial use permitted on the lot.  Such storage shall conform to Section 670 of this Law.

 

Parcel:  That amount of contiguous land falling under a single tax map identification.

 

Permitted Uses:  Any use permitted under the provisions for the district in which the land, building or structure is located.

 

Planned Development:  An area which is, or is proposed to be, developed according to a plan as a single entity and containing one or more structures with appurtenant common areas.  It may, or may not, contain a variety of different land uses and is subject to the requirements of Article IV, Section 415 of this Zoning Law.

 

Planning Board:  A five member board appointed by the Town Board and authorized to review site plans, amendments, industrial district and planned development district requests.

 

Principal Building:  A building in which is conducted the main or principal use of the lot on which such building is located.

 

Principal Use:  The main or principal purpose for which any land, building or structure is used or occupied.

 

Professional Offices:  One or more office spaces for the use of delivering professional services.  Occupants of these offices can include doctors, dentists, lawyers, architects, engineers, real estate brokers or other such professionals.

 

Public Utilities:  A privately or publicly owned structure or facility that serves the general public or some of the public.  Such facilities shall include, but not be limited to, sewage treatment plants, landfills, water supply facilities, power generating and distribution facility, radio transmitting centers, etc.

 

Recreational Facility:  A commercial use established by a private concern for the purpose of providing recreation.  This shall include, but not be limited to, theaters, skating rinks, video arcades, bowling alleys, rifle ranges, tennis courts, ski slopes, boat launches, golf courses, swimming pools, riding stables, and other similar uses.

 

Recreational Vehicles:  (For Part-Time Living Purposes) Shall include motor homes, truck campers and camping trailers less than 48 feet in length and used for recreational purposes.  This definition includes truck campers, camping trailers, travel trailers, motor homes, "pop-up" trailers, and similar vehicles.

 

Religious Facilities:  Includes church, temple, parish house, convent, seminary, and retreat house.

 

Residential Use:  A use whose primary purpose is a dwelling. Residential uses include single-family dwellings, two-family dwellings, multi-family dwellings, modular home and manufactured homes.

 

Restaurant:  A commercial establishment where food and drink is prepared, served, sold, and consumed by the public primarily on the premises.

 

Road:  A thoroughfare for motor vehicles which affords the primary means of access to private property.

 

Road Right-of-Way Line:  The dividing line between a lot and a road.  Where there is no established road right-of-way line, the road right-of-way line shall be considered to be 25 feet from the center of the road.

 

Schools:  Include parochial, private, public and nursery school; college, university and accessory uses; and shall exclude commercially operated school of beauty culture, business, dancing, driving, music and similar establishments.

 

Setback:  The distance between a lot line and a building line. The term is used to refer to front, side or rear distances.

 

Sexual Activities:  Any act of masturbation, fellatio, sadomasochism, homosexuality, sexual intercourse, or physical contact with a person's clothed or unclothed genitals, pubic area, buttocks, or, if such person be female, breast.

 

Sign:  Any kind of billboard, sign board, pennant, or other shape or device or display, used as an advertisement, announcement, or direction. Such a notice may be incorporated on to a building surface, free standing or attached.

 

Site Plan Review:  The process by which the Planning Board reviews those uses stated in this law that require site plan review. (see Section 405, Use Control Schedule)

 

Slaughter House:  A use established for the purpose of processing animals for consumption.

 

Special Use Permit:  A permit for special uses which must be approved by the planning board, granting permission to the enforcement officer to issue a zoning permit.

 

Specified Anatomical Areas:  Human male or female genitals, pubic area or buttocks with less than a full opaque covering, or female breast with less than a fully opaque covering of any portion thereof below the top of the nipple or covered male genitals in a discernibly turgid state.

 

Structure:  Anything constructed or erected, the use of which requires location on the ground or attachment to something having location on the ground.  The term includes dwelling units, buildings, swimming pools, platforms, towers, billboards, satellite dish antennae, signs, fences, and walls.

 

Telecommunication Facility:  Towers and/or antennas, accessory structures and any equipment used in conjunction with the provision of cellular telephone service, personal communications services (PCS), paging services, radio and television broadcast services and similar broadcast services.  A telecommunication facility shall include mono-pole, guyed, latticework towers, and other similar structures, as well as antennae, switching stations, principle and accessory telecommunication equipment and supporting masts, wires, structures and buildings.  The following types of telecommunications facilities are not subject to the provisions of this law:

1.         Antennae used solely for residential household reception.

2.         Satellite antennae measuring two meters or less in diameter and located in commercial districts and satellite antennas one meter or less in diameter, regardless of location.

3.         Law enforcement, fire control, E911 and medical emergency facilities.

 

Telecommunication Tower:  A structure on which transmitting and/or receiving antennae are located. It includes, without limit, freestanding towers, guyed towers, mono-poles and similar structures which may employ camouflaging.

 

Town Enforcement Officer:  The enforcement officer is the person appointed by the Town Board to carry out the regulations of this law.

 

Trucking Terminal:  A lot, building or structure thereon used principally for the transient storage of registered and licensed trucks, truck cabs, tractor trailers, vans or other motor vehicles used for bulk transport and including any refueling, cleaning or repairs associated therewith.

 

Use:  The specific purpose of which any land, building or structure is used, designed, arranged, intended, or occupied.

 

Variance, Area:  The authorization by the zoning board of appeals for the use of land in a manner which is not allowed by the dimensional or physical requirements of this law.

 

Variance, Use:  A relief from the allowed use requirements of this law.

 

Wall:  A structure of wood, stone or other materials or combination thereof intended for defense, security, screening, partitioning, or enclosure; or for the retention of earth, stone, fill or other materials as in the case of retaining walls or bulkheads. A fence shall be considered a wall.

Wind Test Tower:  A structure that is erected for the purpose of measuring wind speed and strength.

Wind Power Generating Facilities, Minor:  Wind generating facilities which generate original power on site that are erected and used for private use.

 

Wind Power Generating Facilities, Major:  Wind generating facilities which generate original power on site to be transferred to a transmission system for distribution to customers.  The definition of wind power generating facilities shall not include minor wind power generating facilities.

 

Yard:  Generally determined to mean that unoccupied open space (from the ground upward) between the building line and the nearest lot line or right of way line.  A yard may also be established by measuring the required yard distance away from the building line.  This approach shall be utilized, for instance, when there is more than one principal structure permitted on the lot.

 

Yard, Front:  The yard between the front building line and the front lot line and extending the full width of the lot.  For the purpose of this law, the front yard of waterfront property shall be the yard between the front building line and the waterfront lot line.

 

Yard, Rear:  The yard between the rear building line and the rear lot line and extending the full width of the lot.  For the purpose of this law, the rear yard of waterfront property shall be the yard between the rear building line and the road right of way line.

 

Yard, Side:  An unoccupied space extending from the front yard to the rear yard between the required side setback line and the nearest side lot line.

 

Wholesale Trade:  Establishments or places of business primarily engaged in selling merchandise to retailers; to industrial, commercial, institutional, or professional business users, or to other wholesalers; or acting as agents or brokers and buying merchandise for, or selling merchandise to, such individuals or companies.

 

Zoning Board of Appeals:  A five member board appointed by the Town Board whose principal duties, in Town Law Section 267, are to consider requests for variances from this zoning law.

 

Zoning Permit:  A permit issued under this law allowing the establishment of a new use or the construction, placement or alteration of a building or structure.

 

 


ARTICLE 3.  ESTABLISHMENT OF DISTRICTS

 

Section 305.  Types of Districts

For the purpose of promoting the health, safety, and general welfare of the community, the Town of Champion is hereby divided into the following zoning districts:

 

AGRICULTURAL RESOURCE DISTRICT                           AR

ONE & TWO FAMILY RESIDENTIAL DISTRICT              R-1

MULTI-FAMILY RESIDENTIAL DISTRICT                        R-2

BUSINESS DISTRICT                                                           B

INDUSTRIAL DISTRICT                                                       I (floating)

PLANNED DEVELOPMENT DISTRICT                              PD (floating)

HAMLET DISTRICT                                                              H

RURAL CORRIDOR DISTRICT                                            RC

 

Section 308.  District Purposes

 

AR - Agricultural Resource: The purpose of this district is to promote agriculture and other open space uses, as well as rural residence.

                             

R-1 - Single & Two-Family Residential:  The purpose of this district is to promote and enhance single and two-family dwellings, residential neighborhoods.

 

R-2 - Manufactured Housing:  The purpose of this district is to promote multi-family dwellings and allow for the placement of single-wide mobile homes.

 

B – Business:  The purpose of this district is to promote commercial establishments and enhance the business environment.

 

I – Industrial:  The purpose of this district is to promote the industrial sector and economy of the Town.

 

PD – Planned Development:  The purpose of this district is to provide for a mixed-use development project that is consistent with the comprehensive plan for the community.

 

H – Hamlet:  The purpose of this district is to encourage a walkable, mixed use human scale hamlet area.

 

RC - Rural Corridor:  The purpose of this district is to create an aesthetically pleasing, rural mixed-use travel corridor.

 

Section 310.  Adoption of Zoning Map

A.        The boundaries of the above named districts are shown on a map entitled "Town of Champion Zoning Map" dated 2005, which is filed in the Town Clerk's office, a copy of which is hereby made a part of this law.

 

B.        Any changes in district boundaries shall be promptly made on the maps as directed by the Town Board.

 

Section 315.  Interpretation of District Boundaries

 

A.        Where uncertainty exists with respect to the exact boundaries of districts as shown on the maps, the final decision as to where they lie will be made by the Town Zoning Board of Appeals.

 

B.        Whenever a single lot is located within two or more different zoning districts, each portion of that lot shall be subject to all the regulations applicable to the district in which it is located.

 

C.        District boundary lines generally follow or parallel, at set distances, edges of road rights-of-way, existing lot lines, and other man-made and natural features.  The Enforcement Officer shall be given the authority to scale these districts from the map and relate them to accurate ground points.

 


ARTICLE 4.  DISTRICT REGULATIONS

 

Section 405.  Use Control Schedule

Use                                                                District >

AR

R-1

R-2

B

I

H