[HISTORY: Adopted by the Town Board of the
Town of East Hampton 7-14-2005 by L.L. No. 22-2005. Amendments noted
where applicable.]
This local law will be known as the "Town of
East Hampton Local Waterfront Revitalization Program Consistency Review
Law."
This local law is adopted as a local law pursuant to the authority conferred in Article IX of the New York State Constitution; § 10 of the New York Statute of Local Governments; Article 2, § 10, of the Municipal Home Rule Law and Article 42 of the Executive Law, Waterfront Revitalization of Coastal Areas and Inland Waterways Act of the State of New York. Section 150-50H is hereby adopted using the supersession authority under New York State Town Law and § 23 of the Municipal Home Rule Law.
A.
The purpose of this local law is to provide a framework
for agencies of the Town of East Hampton to incorporate the policies
and purposes contained in the Town of East Hampton Local Waterfront
Revitalization Program (LWRP) when reviewing applications for actions
or direct agency actions within the coastal area; and to assure that
such actions and direct actions by the Town are consistent with the
LWRP policies and purposes.
B.
It is the intention of the Town of East Hampton that
the preservation, enhancement and utilization of the unique coastal
area of the Town take place in a coordinated and comprehensive manner
to ensure a proper balance between protection of natural resources
and the need to accommodate population growth and economic development.
Accordingly, this local law is intended to achieve such a balance,
permitting the beneficial use of coastal resources while preventing
loss of living coastal resources and wildlife; diminution of open
space areas or public access to the waterfront; disruption of natural
coastal processes; impairment of scenic or historical resources; losses
due to flooding, erosion and sedimentation; impairment of water quality;
or permanent adverse changes to ecological systems.
C.
The substantive provisions of this Local Law shall
only apply while there is in existence a Town of East Hampton Local
Waterfront Revitalization Program which has been adopted in accordance
with Article 42 of the Executive Law of the State of New York.
As used in this chapter, the following terms
shall have the meanings indicated:
Includes all of the following, except minor actions:
Projects or physical activities, such as construction
or any other activities that may affect natural, man-made or other
resources in the coastal area or the environment by changing the use,
appearance or condition of any resource or structure, that:
Agency planning and policy-making activities
that may affect the environment and commit the agency to a definite
course of future decisions;
Adoption of agency rules, regulations and procedures,
including local laws, codes, ordinances, executive orders and resolutions
that may affect coastal resources or the environment; and
Any combination of the above.
Any board, agency, department, office, other body, or officer
of the Town of East Hampton.
That portion of New York State coastal waters and adjacent
shorelands, as defined in Article 42 of the Executive Law, which is
located within the boundaries of the Town of East Hampton, as shown
on the coastal area map on file in the office of the Secretary of
State and as delineated in the Town of East Hampton Local Waterfront
Revitalization Program (LWRP).
The form, a sample of which is appended to this local law,[1] used by an agency to assist in determining the consistency
of an action with the Local Waterfront Revitalization Program.
The action will fully comply with the LWRP policy standards,
conditions and objectives and, whenever practicable, will advance
one or more of them.
Actions planned and proposed for implementation by an agency,
such as but not limited to a capital project, rule-making, procedure-making
and policy-making.
All conditions, circumstances and influences surrounding
and affecting the development of living organisms or other resources
in the coastal area.
The Local Waterfront Revitalization Program of the Town of
East Hampton, approved by the Secretary of State pursuant to the Waterfront
Revitalization of Coastal Areas and Inland Waterways Act (Executive
Law, Article 42), a copy of which is on file in the office of the
Clerk of the Town of East Hampton.
Includes the following actions, which are not subject to
review under this chapter:
Maintenance or repair involving no substantial
changes to an existing structure or facility;
Replacement, rehabilitation or reconstruction
of a structure or facility, in kind, on the same site, including upgrading
buildings to meet building or fire codes, except for structures in
areas designated by local coastal erosion hazard area law where structures
may not be replaced, rehabilitated or reconstructed without a permit;
Repaving of existing paved highways not involving
the addition of new travel lanes;
Street openings and right-of-way openings for
the purpose of repair or maintenance of existing utility facilities;
Maintenance of existing landscaping or natural
growth, except where threatened or endangered species of plants or
animals are affected, or in nature preserves or within the Harbor
Protection Overlay District (HPOD);
Granting of individual setback and lot line
variances, except in relation to a regulated natural feature;
Minor temporary uses of land having negligible
or no permanent impact on coastal resources or the environment;
Installation of traffic control devices on existing
streets, roads and highways;
Mapping of existing roads, streets, highways,
natural resources, land uses and ownership patterns;
Information collection, including basic data
collection and research, water quality and pollution studies, traffic
counts, engineering studies, surveys, subsurface investigations and
soils studies that do not commit the agency to undertake, fund or
approve any action;
Official acts of a ministerial nature involving
no exercise of discretion, including building permits and historic
preservation permits where issuance is predicated solely on the applicant's
compliance or noncompliance with the relevant local building or preservation
code(s);
Routine or continuing agency administration
and management, not including new programs or major reordering of
priorities that may affect the environment;
Conducting concurrent environmental, engineering,
economic, feasibility and other studies and preliminary planning and
budgetary processes necessary to the formulation of a proposal for
action, provided those activities do not commit the agency to commence,
engage in or approve such action;
Collective-bargaining activities;
Investments by or on behalf of agencies or pension
or retirement systems, or refinancing existing debt;
Inspections and licensing activities relating
to the qualifications of individuals or businesses to engage in their
business or profession;
Purchase or sale of furnishings, equipment or
supplies, including surplus government property, other than the following:
land, radioactive material, pesticides, herbicides, or other hazardous
materials;
Adoption of regulations, policies, procedures
and local legislative decisions in connection with any action on this
list;
Engaging in review of any part of an application
to determine compliance with technical requirements, provided that
no such determination entitles or permits the project sponsor to commence
the action unless and until all requirements of this part have been
fulfilled;
Civil or criminal enforcement proceedings, whether
administrative or judicial, including a particular course of action
specifically required to be undertaken pursuant to a judgment or order,
or the exercise of prosecutorial discretion;
Adoption of a moratorium on land development
or construction;
Interpreting an existing code, rule or regulation;
Designation of local landmarks or their inclusion
within historic districts;
Emergency actions that are immediately necessary
on a limited and temporary basis for the protection or preservation
of life, health, property or natural resources, provided that such
actions are directly related to the emergency and are performed to
cause the least change or disturbance, practicable under the circumstances,
to coastal resources or the environment. Any decision to fund, approve
or directly undertake other activities after the emergency has expired
is fully subject to the review procedures of this part;
Local legislative decisions, such as rezoning,
where the Town Board determines the action will not be approved.
The Waterfront Advisory Committee of the Town of East Hampton,
as created pursuant to this chapter.
[1]
Editor's Note: The sample coastal assessment
form is on file in the Town offices.
A.
The Town Supervisor shall be responsible for overall
management and coordination of the LWRP. In performing this task,
the Supervisor shall:
(1)
Inform the Town Board, Town Trustees and other Town
agencies or boards on implementation, priorities, work assignments,
timetables, and budgetary requirements of the LWRP.
(2)
Make applications for funding from state, federal,
or other sources to finance projects under the LWRP.
(3)
Coordinate and oversee liaison between Town agencies
and departments, including but not limited to the Town Board, Town
Trustees, Planning Board, Zoning Board of Appeals, and Planning, Natural
Resources and Harbormasters Departments of the Town, and with other
nongovernmental bodies, to further implementation of the LWRP.
(4)
Prepare an annual report on progress achieved and
problems encountered in implementing the LWRP, and recommend actions
necessary for further implementation to the appropriate Town agency
or the Town Board.
(5)
Perform other functions regarding the coastal area
and direct such actions or projects as are necessary, or as the Town
Board may deem appropriate, to implement the LWRP.
B.
In order to foster a strong relationship and maintain
an active liaison among the Town agencies responsible for implementation
of the LWRP, the Town Supervisor shall convene at least annually a
Town LWRP coordinating council, including but not limited to representatives
of the Town Board, Town Trustees, Planning Board, Zoning Board of
Appeals, Waterfront Advisory Committee, and such other Town departments
or individuals charged with LWRP implementation as the Senior Harbormaster,
Highway Superintendent, Natural Resources Director, Planning Director,
Director of Parks and Recreation, Director of the Town Shellfish Hatchery,
Director of Emergency Services and Civil Defense Coordinator.
A.
A Committee is created and shall be hereafter known
as the "Waterfront Advisory Committee of the Town of East Hampton
(WAC)." The WAC shall meet at least annually to review the Supervisor's
annual progress report and shall advise the Town Board on LWRP implementation
and on policy, project and budget priorities, as well as on amendments
to the LWRP. The WAC may also perform other functions regarding the
coastal area as the Supervisor or Town Board may assign to it from
time to time.
B.
The Town Board of the Town of East Hampton is hereby
authorized to appoint five persons to said Committee, all of whom
shall be residents of the Town of East Hampton. Of the members of
the Committee first appointed, one shall hold office for a term of
one year, one for a term of two years, one for a term of three years,
one for a term of four years and one for a term of five years from
and after the expiration of the terms of their predecessors in office.
Thereafter, all members shall be appointed for terms of five years.
Vacancies shall be filled by the Town Supervisor by appointment for
the unexpired term. Members may be removed by the Town Board for cause
and after public hearing.
C.
The Town Board shall annually appoint one Committee
member to serve as Chairperson of the Committee. Upon failure of the
Town Board to appoint a Chairperson, the members of the Committee
shall elect a Chairperson.
D.
The Committee may employ such persons as may be needed,
as authorized by the Town Board, and shall have the power to adopt
rules of procedure for the conduct of all business within its jurisdiction.
A.
Whenever a proposed action is located in the Town's coastal area, a Town agency shall, prior to approving, funding or undertaking the action, make a determination that it is consistent with the LWRP policy standards summarized in Subsection I herein. No action in the coastal area shall be approved, funded or undertaken by an agency without such a determination.
B.
The Town Planning Department shall be responsible
for coordinating review of actions in the Town's coastal area for
consistency with the LWRP and will advise, assist and make consistency
recommendations for other Town agencies in the implementation of the
LWRP, its policies and projects, including physical, legislative,
regulatory, administrative and other actions included in the program.
The Planning Department will also coordinate with NYSDOS regarding
consistency review for actions by state or federal agencies.
C.
The Planning Department will assist each agency with
preliminary evaluation of actions in the coastal area and with preparation
of a coastal assessment form (CAF). Whenever an agency receives an
application for approval or funding of an action, or as early as possible
in the agency's formulation of a direct action to be located in the
coastal area, the agency shall refer to the Planning Department for
preparation of a CAF, a sample of which is appended to this local
law.[1] The Planning Department staff will coordinate their preliminary
evaluation with permitting or other review by each agency or the agencies
considering an action.
[1]
Editor's Note: The sample coastal assessment
form is on file in the Town offices.
D.
The Planning Department shall require the applicant
to submit all completed applications, EAFs, and any other information
deemed necessary to its consistency recommendation. The recommendation
shall indicate whether, in the opinion of the Planning Department,
the proposed action is consistent with or inconsistent with one or
more of the LWRP policy standards and objectives and shall elaborate
in writing the basis for its opinion. The Planning Department shall,
along with its consistency recommendation, make any suggestions to
the agency concerning modification of the proposed action, including
the imposition of conditions, to make it consistent with LWRP policy
standards and objectives or to greater advance them.
E.
If an action requires approval of more than one agency,
decision-making will be coordinated between agencies to determine
which agency will conduct the final consistency review, and that agency
will thereafter act as designated consistency review agency. Only
one CAF per action will be prepared. If the agencies cannot agree,
the Planning Director shall designate the consistency review agency.
F.
Upon recommendation of the Planning Department, the agency shall consider whether the proposed action is consistent with the LWRP policy standards summarized in Subsection I herein. Prior to making its determination of consistency, the agency shall consider the consistency recommendation of the Planning Department. The agency shall render a written determination of consistency based on the CAF, the Planning Department recommendation and such other information as is deemed necessary to its determination. No approval or decision shall be rendered for an action in the coastal area without a determination of consistency. The designated agency will make the final determination of consistency.
G.
Where an EIS is being prepared or required, the draft EIS must identify applicable LWRP policies and standards and include a discussion of the effects of the proposed action on such policy standards. No agency may make a final decision on an action that has been the subject of a final EIS and is located in the coastal area until the agency has made a written finding regarding the consistency of the action with the local policy standards referred to in Subsection I herein.
H.
In the event the Planning Department's recommendation
is that the action is inconsistent with the LWRP, and the agency makes
a contrary determination of consistency, the agency shall elaborate
in writing the basis for its disagreement with the recommendation
and state the manner and extent to which the action is consistent
with the LWRP policy standards. No agency, except the Town Board or
Town Trustees, shall issue such an overruling determination without
a majority plus one vote of all members qualified to vote.
I.
Actions to be undertaken within the coastal area shall
be evaluated for consistency in accordance with the following summary
of LWRP policies, which are derived from and further explained and
described in the Town of East Hampton LWRP, a copy of which is on
file in the Town Clerk's office and available for inspection during
normal business hours. Agencies which undertake direct actions shall
also consult with the Town of East Hampton LWRP, Section XIV, Projects
of the LWRP, in making their consistency determination. The action
shall be consistent with the policies to:
(1)
Revitalize deteriorated and under-utilized waterfront
areas (Policy 1).
(2)
Retain and promote recreational water-dependent uses
(Policy 2).
(3)
Strengthen the economic base of small harbor areas
by encouraging traditional uses and activities (Policy 4).
(4)
Ensure that development occurs where adequate public
infrastructure is available to reduce health and pollution hazards
(Policy 5).
(5)
Streamline development permit procedures (Policy 6).
(6)
Protect significant and locally important fish and
wildlife habitats from human disruption and chemical contamination
(Policies 7 and 8).
(7)
Maintain, promote and expand commercial fishing opportunities
(Policies 9 and 10).
(8)
Minimize flooding and erosion hazards through nonstructural
means, carefully selected, long-term structural measures and appropriate
siting of structures (Policies 11, 12, 13, 14, 16 and 17).
(9)
Safeguard economic, social and environmental interests
in the coastal area when major actions are undertaken (Policy 18).
(10)
Maintain and improve public access to the shoreline
and to water-related recreational facilities while protecting the
environment (Policies 2, 19, 20, 21 and 22).
(11)
Protect and restore historic and archeological
resources (Policy 23).
(12)
Protect and upgrade scenic resources (Policy
25).
(13)
Conserve and protect agricultural lands (Policy
26).
(14)
Site and construct energy facilities in a manner
which will be compatible with the environment, which are dependent
upon the need for a waterfront or water location (Policies 27, 29
and 40).
(15)
Prevent ice management practices which could
damage significant fish and wildlife and their habitats (Policy 28).
(16)
Protect surface and groundwaters from direct
and indirect discharge of pollutants and from overuse (Policies 30,
31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37 and 38).
(17)
Perform dredging and dredge spoil disposal in
a manner protective of natural resources (Policies 15 and 35).
(18)
Handle and dispose of hazardous wastes and effluent
in a manner which will not adversely affect the environment (Policies
8, 30, 36 and 39).
(19)
Protect air quality (Policies 41, 42 and 43).
(20)
Protect tidal and freshwater wetlands (Policy
44).
J.
Inconsistency with policies; written findings.
(1)
If the agency determines that an action will be inconsistent
with one or more LWRP policy standards or objectives, such action
shall not be undertaken unless the agency makes a written finding
that:
(a)
No reasonable alternative exists to the proposed
action which will not substantially hinder the achievement of such
LWRP policy standards or objectives; and
(b)
The action will be undertaken in a manner which
will minimize all adverse effects on such LWRP policy standards or
objectives; and
(c)
The action will advance one or more other LWRP
policy standards or objectives; and
(d)
The action will result in a benefit to the project
sponsor that is greater than any detriment to the Town.
(2)
Such a finding shall constitute a determination that
the action is consistent with the LWRP policy standards.
K.
Each agency shall maintain a file for each action
made the subject of a consistency determination, including any recommendations
received from the Planning Department. Such files shall be made available
for public inspection upon request.
[Amended 9-6-2012 by L.L.
No. 13-2012]
The Town building inspectors, Town Attorney,
code enforcement officers, marine patrol personnel, Sanitation Inspector
and Natural Resource Director shall be responsible for enforcing this
chapter. No action in the coastal area which is subject to review
under this chapter shall proceed until a written determination has
been issued from the designated agency that the action is consistent
with the Town's LWRP policy standards. In the event that an activity
is being performed in violation of this chapter or any conditions
imposed thereunder, the Building Inspector or any other authorized
official of the Town shall issue a stop-work order, and all work shall
immediately cease. No further work or activity shall be undertaken
on the project so long as a stop-work order is in effect.
A.
A person who violates any of the provisions of, or
who fails to comply with any condition imposed by, this chapter shall
have committed a violation, punishable by a fine not exceeding $500
for a conviction of a first offense and punishable by a fine of $1,000
for a conviction of a second or subsequent offense. For the purpose
of conferring jurisdiction upon courts and judicial officers, each
week of continuing violation shall constitute a separate additional
violation.
B.
The Town Attorney is authorized and directed to institute
any and all actions and proceedings necessary to enforce this local
law. Any civil penalty shall be in addition to and not in lieu of
any criminal prosecution and penalty.
The provisions of this local law are severable.
If any provision of this local law is found invalid, such finding
shall not affect the validity of this local law as a whole or any
part or provision hereof other than the provision so found to be invalid.
This local law shall take effect immediately
upon its filing in the office of the Secretary of State in accordance
with § 27 of the Municipal Home Rule Law.
