[Added 8-19-2009 by L.L. No. 8-2009; amended 10-7-2020 by L.L. No. 2-2020; 7-21-2021 by L.L. No. 6-2021]
The purpose of this Article VIIA is to provide special regulations with respect to the approval of farm operations and agricultural buildings on properties located in agricultural districts created under Article 25-AA of the New York State Agriculture and Markets Law and § 283-a of the New York State Town Law, in recognition of § 305-a, Subdivision 1, of the Agriculture and Markets Law.
As used in this article, the following terms shall have the
meanings indicated:
Shall be those properties designated by the County of Putnam
as included within the Putnam County Agricultural District under Article
25-AA of the New York State Agriculture and Markets Law for so long
as such properties remain within the Agricultural District.
Shall be farm operations (including farm buildings and structures)
as defined in NYS Agriculture and Markets Law § 301, Subdivision
11, as same may be amended from time to time.
A.
Farm operations on County Agricultural District properties located
in the Town of Putnam Valley shall comply with the following setback
and bulk requirements:
(1)
All farm buildings other than fences and walls shall be no closer
than 50 feet to any lot line; all structures designed for the housing,
care and/or feeding of livestock shall be no closer than 100 feet
to any lot line; and no structure (except for silos) shall exceed
35 feet in height. The applicant may appeal to the Zoning Board of
Appeals from the above setback and bulk requirements. If the appeal
is denied, the applicant may seek an AML § 305-a review
from the Department of Agriculture.
B.
Site development plan review: Farm operations on County Agricultural District properties located in the Town of Putnam Valley shall be subject to the site development plan approval procedures outlined in Subsections C and D, rather than § 165-16 or § 165-21 of this Code. A proposal for a new structure with a footprint of less than 800 square feet or for an addition that expands the existing footprint by no more than 800 square feet and is used for farm operations shall be exempt from this section in its entirety.
C.
Site development plan submission requirements:
(1)
Application form with required reasonable fees and escrow.
(2)
A sketch plan drawing of the site and location map showing boundaries
and dimensions and identifying contiguous properties and any recorded
easements and roadways.
(3)
Existing contours showing elevations at ten-foot intervals;
a United States Geologic Survey (USGS) topographic quadrangle map
is acceptable.
(4)
Illustration of regulated wetlands, wetland buffers, water bodies
and/or watercourses and buffers associated with the water bodies and/or
watercourses.
(5)
A description and Illustration of existing and proposed water
supply and sewage disposal systems and their location on the property.
(6)
Existing and proposed location and arrangement of buildings
and structures on site, including means of ingress and egress, parking,
circulation of traffic, signage, and exterior dimensions of buildings
and structures, along with any available blueprints, plans or drawings.
(7)
A description of the farm operation and its location on the
property, including the particular crops, livestock and livestock
products to be produced on the property, the intended use of the land
and proposed buildings, structures, signs and any anticipated changes
in the existing topography and natural features of the site to accommodate
the changes.
(8)
A soil erosion and sediment control plan shall be prepared in
conformance with state permit thresholds and requirements.
(9)
A stormwater pollution prevention plan and wetlands plan shall
be prepared in conformance with state permit thresholds and requirements.
(10)
Additional information as required by the Planning Board.
D.
Procedure:
(1)
Application shall be submitted to the Planning Board and shall
be placed on the next available agenda.
(2)
An application will be deemed complete when all the information and documentation required under Subsection C above has been received and reviewed by the Planning Board.
(3)
The Planning Board may require a public hearing for applications
in which there is substantial public interest. The public hearing
shall be conducted at the Planning Board's next regular meeting following
the day it deems the application complete. The Planning Board shall
mail a notice of said hearing to the applicant, all abutting property
owners, and those property owners within 200 feet of the subject site
at least 10 days prior to said hearing and shall give public notice
of said hearing in a newspaper of general circulation in the Town
at least five days prior to the date thereof.
(4)
The Planning Board shall approve the proposed farm operation
and/or farm buildings and structures upon the applicant's demonstrating
that:
(a)
The property and proposed farming operation have been admitted
into the Putnam County Agricultural District, which shall be substantiated
by producing a copy of the application for admission into the Agricultural
District and the county approval for same.
(b)
The proposed project use and structures shall constitute farm
operations as authorized by the Agricultural District;
(c)
The proposed project does not pose a threat to public health
or safety, or unnecessary degradation to streams, wetlands, water
bodies, and/or groundwater, or other environmental impacts in violation
of applicable state standards.
(d)
The requirements set forth above have been met to the satisfaction
of the Planning Board.
(e)
The Planning Board shall issue its decision at its next meeting
after it deems an application complete. If the Planning Board requires
a public hearing under this section, it shall issue its decision no
later than 30 days after such public hearing.
E.
All other uses and structures located in the Putnam County Agricultural
District that do not constitute farm operations shall comply with
the requirements of the zoning district in which such properties are
located, and the approval process otherwise applicable to the proposed
use.
This article shall not apply to excavation or removal of material
in connection with farm operations on County Agricultural District
properties located in the Town of Putnam Valley to the extent that
the excavation and/or removal of material is exempt from permitting
requirements of the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation
("DEC") under 6 NYCRR 420.1(k).
Future subdivisions of all lots now or hereafter included within
the Putnam County Agricultural District shall be subject to the following
criteria and shall require Planning Board approval under the procedures
applicable to lots not located in the Putnam County Agricultural District:
A.
The maximum number of lots into which any property located or formerly
located in the Putnam County Agricultural District may not be subdivided
in a manner that exceeds that number of lots into which the lot could
have been subdivided prior to that lot's inclusion in the Putnam County
Agricultural District.
Properties that have withdrawn or been removed from the Putnam
County Agricultural District are required to comply with the zoning
uses and Town Code requirements in which the parcel is located at
the time of withdrawal/removal.
