The Erie Canal Overlay Zone provisions have the following purposes:
A. To preserve natural, scenic and historic values along the Erie Canal.
B. To preserve forests, wetlands and other green space.
C. To protect the public health and safety.
D. To regulate uses and structures along the canal on areas of steep
slope to avoid increased erosion and sedimentation.
E. To encourage compatible land uses along the canal.
F. To recognize areas of significant environmental sensitivity that
should not be intensely developed.
G. To allow reasonable uses of lands while directing more intense development
to the most appropriate areas of the community and the region.
The boundaries of the Erie Canal Preservation Overlay shall include all lands within 400 feet north and south of the canal as it passes east/west through the Town, as measured from the New York State blue line, as defined in §
300-6.
Development otherwise permitted in the underlying zone will
be further regulated in accordance with the provisions of this article.
The following guidelines shall be observed for development in
the canal corridor:
A. Site plans shall reflect an awareness and sensitivity to canal features.
B. Historic and environmentally sensitive areas shall be incorporated
into plans submitted.
C. Development shall not interfere with or in any way prohibit, hinder
or discourage the public use of the canal trail.
D. Front yards shall be designated by the Town during site plan review
and shall be based upon visual aesthetics and impact from canal side
and roadside.
E. Private industrial, commercial or residential development located
along the canal must provide for and incorporate into plans submitted
public, resident and/or employee appreciation, recreation, enjoyment
and use of the lands bordering the canal, as appropriate. Commercial
canal-side front yards must incorporate public access and use as appropriate.
Commercial development on canal-adjacent parcels are encouraged to
develop the parcel to include a visual if not physical flow to the
water's edge.
F. Development at highways/bridge crossings shall be encouraged as canal-related
businesses.
G. A greenway buffer zone of not more than 75 feet nor less than 20
feet as measured from the blue line or trail easement, whichever is
more distant from the water's edge. Vegetation shall be preserved
as much as practical. If no or insufficient preexisting vegetation
exists, developers shall provide a variety of functional and aesthetic
types, heights and densities of plantings.