[HISTORY: Adopted by the Board of Trustees of the Village of Croton-on-Hudson
4-2-1979 by L.L. No. 4-1979. Section 60-2A amended at time of adoption of
Code; see Ch. 1, General Provisions, Art. I. Other amendments noted where
applicable.]
The Board of Trustees finds that the economy and quality of life of
the Village of Croton-on-Hudson are affected by its visual environment. The
general welfare of residents and of property owners, as well as property values
and the tax base, are enhanced by natural and man-made features and structures
of visual or historic value. They are, conversely, depressed by buildings,
streets, neighborhoods, municipal works, public spaces and land developments
of unattractive or inappropriate appearance. It is the purpose of this chapter
to safeguard the beneficial effects of such existing natural and man-made
features and structures and to prevent the harmful effects of future unattractive
or inappropriate projects and thus to promote and protect the economy, quality
of life and general welfare of the Village of Croton-on-Hudson.
A.
To carry out the purpose of this chapter, there is hereby
created an Advisory Board on the Visual Environment, hereinafter called the
"Board" consisting of five members appointed by the Mayor. The members shall
serve without compensation. Except as provided elsewhere in this Code, all
members of the Board shall be village residents[1] and shall be qualified by reason of training or experience in
architecture, community planning, landscape architecture, real estate or other
relevant activity or by reason of civic interest and sound judgment. Insofar
as suitably qualified people can be found within the village, the Board shall
include an architect, a landscape architect, a community planner and a person
with experience in village government.[2]
B.
Of the persons first appointed, one shall serve until
the start of the next official year of the village, two until the start of
the second ensuing official year and two until the start of the third ensuing
official year. Thereafter, each person shall serve for a term of three years.
Vacancies shall be filled by the Mayor for the unexpired term of any member
whose place has become vacant.
C.
The Board shall choose its Chairperson from among the
members and shall have full power to make rules and regulations concerning
the conduct of its meetings, the processing of referrals and the issuing of
reports.
A.
The Board shall be available in an advisory capacity
to the Board of Trustees, the Planning Board, the Board of Appeals and the
Village Engineer for all projects and proposals under consideration by these
bodies, in order to review those aspects of such projects and proposals which
affect the visual environment of the village.
B.
The Planning Board shall make available to the Board
all site development plans submitted to it. The Board of Trustees shall make
available to the Board for its advisory report available information on municipal
projects. The Planning Board or the Board of Trustees as the case may be,
shall establish procedures so as to be able to provide the Board with one
copy of the plans or relevant portions thereof, for all such site developments
or municipal projects.
C.
The Board of Trustees shall also make available to the
Board information on other municipal projects affecting the visual environment,
including but not limited to the demolition or exterior alteration of existing
municipal buildings and other structures, the clearing or landscaping of land,
the layout and the appearance of streets and the choice of equipment and apparatus
to be used out of doors.
D.
The Board shall advise the Board of Trustees and Planning
Board on proposals for changes in the Master Plan, the Zoning Map and the
zoning of specific plots of lands and may itself develop and propose such
changes.
E.
The Board shall identify and prepare a list describing
natural and manmade features and structures within the village which enhance
the visual environment and whose preservation should be a purpose of village
policy. Such list shall be filed by the Board with the Board of Trustees and
with the Planning Board and shall be reviewed at least once every two years.
F.
The Board may issue reports concerning and recommend
programs and legislation to preserve or improve the visual environment, including
but not limited to the appearance of buildings, neighborhoods, commercial
areas, vacant land, plazas, playgrounds, streets and thoroughfares, and assist
in the identification of funding sources and in the securing of funding for
such programs.
G.
The Board may initiate and support educational and informational
activities to develop public awareness of visual environmental values.
H.
The Board shall not be required to render an advisory
report on all matters referred to it but shall be empowered to decide which
such matters may, in its discretion, affect the visual environment and are,
therefore, appropriate for its consideration.
A.
The Board shall render its advisory report upon referrals
which it deems appropriate for its consideration as promptly as feasible,
but no other village body or board shall be required to withhold any official
determination or action because the Board has not yet rendered a report. The
Board shall maintain liaison with the Board of Trustees, the Planning Board,
the Board of Appeals and the Village Engineer in order to permit coordination
in the processing of projects and proposals which may affect the visual environment
of the village.
B.
The Chairperson of the Board or any other member delegated
by the Board shall have the right to present the views of the Board at any
public hearing of the Board of Trustees, the Planning Board or the Board of
Appeals.
C.
The Board shall report annually to the Board of Trustees
on the state of the visual environment of the village and make such recommendations
as it deems advisable.
