It is the purpose of this Article to promote the health, safety
and general welfare of the inhabitants of the Town of Oneonta. It
is further a recognition that the Town of Oneonta is the steward of
the air, water, land and living resources and thereby has an obligation
to protect the environment for the use and enjoyment of this and all
future generations; it is further recognized that the protection and
enhancement of the environment, human and community resources be given
appropriate weight with the social and economic considerations in
public policy, and that those factors be considered in reaching decisions
on proposed activities. It is also recognized that a suitable balance
of social, economic and environmental factors be incorporated into
the planning and decision-making processes of local agencies in the
implementation of the State Environmental Quality Review Act, Article
8 of the Environmental Conservation Law.