This chapter shall be known and may be cited as the "Zoning
Code of the Village of Sag Harbor."
A.
The Village of Sag Harbor enacted its first Comprehensive Zoning
Plan, Zoning Ordinance and Zoning Map on August 2, 1949. It amended
and readopted the Comprehensive Zoning Plan, Zoning Ordinance and
Zoning Map on November 16, 1971. These documents have been the subject
of further amendment since the readoption as a result of the Planning
Study of the Sag Harbor Business District and other comprehensive
planning and zoning studies. The most recent comprehensive plans are
the Planning Strategies for the Incorporated Village of Sag Harbor
(With an Emphasis on the Commercial District) prepared by Inter-Science
Research Associates, Inc. and dated July 21, 2008.
B.
The Board of Trustees finds that there are certain characteristics
of the Village of Sag Harbor which are significant in establishing
its Comprehensive Zoning Plan and guiding future development of the
Village. They are as follows:
(1)
The Village of Sag Harbor is uniquely situated on a navigable
arm of Peconic Bay and tributaries thereof. As a result of its unusually
extensive water frontage development, it is of necessity closely related
to valuable marine environmental resources. Preservation and enhancement
of these marine resources will continue to be important in the Village's
future.
(2)
The Village has a long history beginning with its settlement
in the early 18th century and development soon thereafter as a major
port. It has an unusually rich and varied architecture and an environment
reflecting its development stages.
(3)
The economic base of the Village in recent years has relied
primarily on the tourist and second-home activity that its history
and marine environment generate in the South Fork resort subregion.
It is important to assure the continued availability of this economic
base. Nevertheless, the Village also serves another important role
as a year-round home for families, including young and old householders.
Every effort should be made to maintain the year-round community,
including its community facilities, services and convenience shopping,
service businesses and employment.
(4)
The Village of Sag Harbor's remaining vacant land resource is
limited. The pattern of existing land use is generally well defined.
With the increased awareness of the potential impact of development
on the marine environment and economic resources of the Village, the
control of development and redevelopment will be critical. As a result,
careful consideration must be given to the practices and needs of
established businesses and industries and to the needs of future businesses
and industries, particularly as they relate to appropriate use of
the waterfront for water-dependent uses and to the designation of
other areas for existing and future residential development for those
at various economic levels. To this end, it is important that the
Comprehensive Zoning Plan reflect a balanced, sound and well-ordered
concept for the Village's future environment and private and public
land uses.
(5)
In general, the Comprehensive Zoning Plan is designed to protect
the established character and the social and economic stability of
the Village and to be compatible with the planning and zoning of the
surrounding unincorporated residential areas of the Towns of East
Hampton and Southampton.
This chapter is adopted for the purpose of promoting the health,
safety, morals or the general welfare of the Village of Sag Harbor
and in the furtherance of the following related and more specific
objectives:
A.
To guide and regulate the orderly growth, development and redevelopment
of the Village in accordance with a comprehensive plan and with the
more long-range objectives, principles and standards expressed in
the legislative findings and determinations which are deemed to be
beneficial to the interests and welfare of the people.
B.
To protect the established character and the social and economic
well-being or both private and public property.
C.
To promote, in the public interest, the utilization of land for the
purposes for which it is most appropriate.
D.
To promote, in the public interest, the preservation of natural areas.
E.
To secure the maximum recharge of the Village's fresh groundwater
reservoir to assure both the maintenance of the natural environment
and the ecosystems essential to its continued well-being and the optimum
groundwater resource for the human community through the protection
of such features of the watersheds as the woodlands, streams and ponds,
and to so regulate the ultimate land use and consequent freshwater
consumption that the potential demand for freshwater shall not exceed
the reasonable safe yield of that fresh groundwater reservoir.
F.
To protect and promote the fisheries and the resort industries of
the Village by preserving a healthful biological and chemical balance
in the adjacent bays, estuaries and all tributary watercourses and
drainage lines.
G.
To secure safety from fire, panic, flood, storm and other dangers;
to provide adequate light and air and convenience of access; and to
prevent environmental pollution.
H.
To prevent overcrowding of land or buildings, avoid undue concentration
of population, and provide privacy for families.
I.
To conserve the value of buildings, and to enhance the value of land
throughout the Village.
J.
To provide affordable housing sites for residents of the community
compatible with their economic means.
K.
To lessen and, where possible, to prevent traffic congestion on public
streets and highways.
L.
To eliminate nonconforming uses gradually.
M.
To facilitate the adequate provision of transportation, water, sewerage,
schools, parks and other public requirements.
N.
To conserve and reasonably protect the natural scenic beauty and
cultural and historic resources of the Village and its environs.
O.
To ensure that the distinctive and historical character of the Historic
District of the Village shall not be injuriously affected, that the
value to the Village of these structures having architectural and
historical worth shall not be impaired, and that said Historic District
shall be maintained and preserved to promote its use for the education,
pleasure and welfare of the citizens of the Village and others.
P.
To guide land and water use and development in accordance with the
policies, purposes and projects set forth in the local waterfront
revitalization program.
Q.
To protect against changes in the character of the commercial district
which would threaten the local identity of this area of commerce,
including unexpected changes in the type and size of uses present.
