Work Program for the Black River COG Area

Work Program for the River Area COG

Reviewed and Approved by RACOG on June 20, 2000

The following is a proposed work program for staff assistance by the Jefferson County Planning Department and the NYS Tug Hill Commission to the River Area COG communities.

Goal: To improve the uniformity of development controls in the four communities for the following purposes:

Clarify and speed the land development application and review function.

Improve abilities of officials to provide mutual support and assistance to each other.

Ease training of boards and officials.

Improve abilities for outside technical assistance providers to provide efficient services.

Present opportunities for the consolidation of boards and activities.

To enhance communications between boards and officials.

Work Phases: The work would be done in three phases. Work on each successive phase would commence upon the total completion of any prior phase.

Phase 1: Standardization of Procedures

This element would include an inventory, analysis and documentation of aspects of the development review process that might be standardized, including zoning permit, site plan, special permit, zoning enforcement, and subdivision review procedures; application contents; forms; application instructions; fee schedules; and supporting definitions.

Phase 2: Standardization of Development Criteria

This element would include the analysis and documentation of zoning and subdivision review criteria and supporting definitions which might be standardized.

Phase 3: Review of Zoning Districts and Land Uses

This element would include the review of zoning districts, zoning maps, and use charts, and the documentation of aspects that could make land use decisions more coordinated.

Process: The four municipal legislative bodies would establish a working committee, by resolution, which would be representative of development review officials. It is suggested that this committee be composed of a planning board, municipal board, and zoning board representative as well as the municipal code enforcement officer of each community.

In each phase, staff recommendations on local law language would be developed in conjunction with the working committee, and provided to the four municipal legislative boards and their attorneys for their review and comment. Public information meetings would be held by the working committee with staff assistance when requested by municipal boards.

Upon board approval, public hearings would be held by each municipal board on each respective local law recommendation. Staff assistance would be provided, following public hearings, to make any changes that would need to be addressed. Subsequent public hearings may be necessary should issues arise that needed to be addressed by all COG municipalities, to ensure uniformity. When recommendations acceptable to all communities are agreed to, each legislative board will adopt the recommendations prior to the staff and working committee commencing work on the next phase.

Updates: Local legislative boards have received drafts of Town/Village zoning laws with proposed amendments from RACOG Model Zoning Provisions, dated April 29, 2002, for their consideration and adoption.

The Zoning Provisions have been adopted by the Town of Champion, Village of West Carthage, and Village of Carthage and action is pending by the Town of Wilna board.