Except as hereinafter provided, the following
general provisions shall apply to land use and development in the
Village of Groton.
No land or building shall hereafter be used
or occupied and no building or part thereof shall hereafter be enlarged
or its use altered unless such action is in conformance with all the
regulations specified for the land use control area in which said
action occurs.
A.
Minimum lot sizes specified in this chapter shall
be subject to approval and modification by the Tompkins County Health
Department to meet applicable Health Department regulations. In areas
where public sewer and/or water facilities are not available, the
Health Department standards for minimum lot size shall take precedence
over any less restrictive provisions of this chapter.
B.
In areas where public sewers are likely to be provided within five years, the lot regulations for areas with public sewers available (see § 200-24, Restrictions on lots with public sewers available) will be permitted in the subdivision design if at least every other lot is left vacant until sewers are installed and if the subdivider has obtained County Health Department approval for such a delayed development proposal.
No lot shall hereafter be reduced or altered
so as to result in a lot that does not meet the minimum area or yard
requirements prescribed by this chapter.
[Amended 7-18-2011 by L.L No. 4-2011[2]]
Any lot existing on the effective date of this chapter that
does not conform to the requirements of this chapter as to minimum
lot area and minimum lot width may be used for a permitted use; however,
all construction on any such lot shall comply with all other requirements
of this chapter, including requirements as to front, side and rear
yards and percentage lot coverage; if such compliance is not possible,
an appeal shall be made to the Zoning Board of Appeals for an area
variance which, if granted, shall be the minimum variance that is
deemed necessary and adequate by the Zoning Board of Appeals.
[Amended 2-19-1979 by L.L. No. 1-1979]
No yard or off-street parking space provided
for or adjacent to any building for the purpose of complying with
provisions of this chapter shall be considered as providing a yard
or off-street parking space for any other building.
[Amended 7-18-2011 by L.L. No. 4-2011]
In determining the percentage of open space
required or the size of yards for the purpose of this chapter, porches
or covered terraces open at the sides, but roofed, shall be considered
a part of the building.
[Amended 9-19-1994 by L.L. No. 7-1994]
The provisions of this chapter shall not apply to fences or walls less than six feet high above the natural grade, except as specified in § 200-15 below, nor to steps, unroofed porches or terraces or other similar features. Fences and walls over six feet high shall comply with yard and setback regulations applicable to accessory structures.
For safety reasons, no structure, fence or planting
over three feet in height and no branches less than 10 feet from the
ground shall be permitted on any corner lot within a triangle area
formed by the lot lines along the streets to the points on such lines
a distance of 20 feet from their intersection and a line connecting
such points. Any fence or planting that does not conform to the requirements
of this section and which results in an obstruction to the vision
of motorists shall be made to conform within one year from the effective
date of this chapter. The lot line shall be the line as shown on the
map of said lot or of the adjacent street or a line 25 feet from the
center line of the adjacent street, whichever is the greater distance
from the center line of the traveled portion of said street.
The height limitations of this chapter shall
not apply to church spires, belfries, cupolas, chimneys, skylights,
mechanical equipment, water tanks, monuments, flagpoles, utility lines
and similar features.
[Amended 12-10-1990 by L.L. No. 10-1990]
Within one year after work on any excavation
for a building has begun, such excavation shall be covered over or
filled by the owner to the normal grade. Any excavation or cellar
hole remaining after the demolition or destruction of a building from
any cause shall be fenced in immediately and covered over or filled
within one year. If the owner fails to cover over or fill such excavation
after 30 days' notice by the Code Enforcement Officer, the Village
Board may order said excavation to be covered or filled, and the owner
of said property shall pay any and all costs connected therewith,
including reasonable attorney's fees.
[Amended 2-17-1992 by L.L. No. 3-1992]
A.
Lots in all zoning districts shall be kept free from
abandoned or inoperable vehicles, discarded building material, appliances
and furniture and all forms of rubbish and junk; provided, however,
that such limitations shall not apply to real property owned, leased,
legally occupied or used by a corporation, firm, association or individual
engaged in the business of collection and/or hauling of garbage, trash
or refuse and used in connection with such business, provided that
the following conditions are met:
[Amended 7-18-2011 by L.L. No. 4-2011]
(1)
The property subject to the exception set forth herein must be owned, leased, legally occupied or used by a corporation, firm, association or individual engaged in the business of collection and/or hauling of garbage, trash or refuse holding a currently valid license in accordance with the provisions of Chapter 119 of this Code for the location and/or operation of such a business within the Village of Groton;
(2)
Such real property does not contain any residential
units; and
(3)
The primary use of such real property is in connection
with the operation of the business of collection and/or hauling of
garbage, trash or refuse.
B.
In such a case, the use of the property subject to the exception provided herein and the operation of the business of collection and/or hauling of garbage, trash or refuse shall be regulated under the provisions of Chapter 119 of this Code and such other laws, rules and regulations of the County of Tompkins, State of New York or United States of America as may apply to and affect the operation of such business or the use of such property.
C.
The exception set forth herein shall terminate immediately
upon the failure to meet any of the conditions set forth above or
upon the termination of the use of the real property for the purposes
of such collection and/or hauling business, and in such case the provisions
hereof shall apply to such property and shall be deemed to be in full
force and effect and fully enforceable as hereinafter provided.
[Added 7-18-2011 by L.L. No. 4-2011]
A.
It shall
be unlawful for any person, firm or corporation to establish, maintain,
operate, or conduct within the Village of Groton, commercial storage
facilities within the one-hundred- and five-hundred-year floodplain,
or on Department of Environmental Conservation wetlands.
B.
Storage
trailers accessory to uses permitted in the High Intensity zoning
district, when located in the rear yard, are permitted for no more
than a six-month period. Only one storage trailer is permitted per
lot during any six-month period.
C.
Storage
trailers accessory to uses permitted in zoning districts other than
the High Intensity zoning district, are allowed when located in the
rear yard, and are not allowed for more than a three-month period.
Only one storage trailer is permitted per lot during any three-month
period.
[Added 2-18-2014 by L.L. No. 2-2014]
Recreational and/or utility vehicles, as defined in this chapter,
may be parked in the Village, provided that the following conditions
are met:
A.
Recreational and/or utility vehicles shall not be parked so as to
intrude into the public rights-of-way, obstruct sight visibility from
neighboring driveways, otherwise create an unsafe environment for
vehicles entering onto or exiting a public area of road or for the
use of the public sidewalk, not impede safe entry to or exit from
any house and not impede emergency access to and from any property
or structure.
B.
Recreational and/or utility vehicles shall not be parked in the front
building setback unless there is no reasonable access to the building
side yards or rear yards because of topography or other physical conditions
of the site. If the vehicle is to be parked in the front yard, the
vehicle shall be located in a designated driveway construction of
stone base, pavement or other like material. Recreational and/or utility
vehicles not parked or stored in a garage, carport or other building
shall be located at least five feet from all property boundaries.
C.
Recreational and/or utility vehicles shall be maintained in a clean,
well-kept state which does not detract from the appearance of the
surrounding area and neighborhood. Inoperable, dismantled or unregistered
vehicles are not allowed to be placed in any residential zoning districts.
D.
Recreational and/or utility vehicles are prohibited from being used
as a storage facility, play structure or an accessory building or
structure of any kind.
E.
At no time shall parked or stored recreational and/or utility vehicles be used as a permanent or temporary dwelling unit except that, provided the recreational and/or utility vehicle is properly designed and equipped to provide temporary residential accommodations, guests may reside in a recreational and/or utility vehicle properly located, in accordance with this section, on the host's property on a temporary basis, not to exceed 30 days. The residential use of a parked or stored recreational and/or utility vehicle for periods of time in excess of 30 days shall require a special use permit (Article X, § 200-52N, Storage trailers).
[Added 1-20-2003 by L.L. No. 3-2003]
A.
Any lights used to illuminate the exterior of a nonresidential
structure or nonagricultural lot or parcel, including buildings, signs
and other structures, parking and pedestrian areas and landscaping,
shall be designed and installed such that:
(1)
Any luminaire with a lamp or lamps rated at a total
of more than 1,800 lumens, and all floods or spot luminaires with
a lamp or lamps rated at a total or more than 900 lumens, shall not
emit any direct light above a horizontal plane through the lowest
direct-light-emitting part of the luminaire; and
(2)
Any luminaire with a lamp or lamps rated at a total
of more than 1,800 lumens, and all flood or spot luminaires with a
lamp or lamps rated at a total of more than 900 lumens, shall be mounted
at a height equal to or less than the value of 3 + (D/3), where D
is the distance in feet to the nearest property boundary; and
(3)
The maximum height of the luminaire may not, in any
event, exceed 25 feet.
B.
There shall be excepted from the above requirements:
(1)
Any luminaire with a lamp or lamps rated at a total
of 1,800 lumens or less, and all flood or spot luminaires with a lamp
or lamps rated at a total of 900 lumens or less, may be used without
restriction to light distribution or mounting height, except that
if any spot or flood luminaire rated at a total of 900 lumens or less
is aimed, directed, or focused, such as to cause direct light from
the luminaire to be directed toward residential buildings on adjacent
or nearby land, or to create glare perceptible to persons operating
motor vehicles on public ways, the luminaire shall be redirected or
its light output controlled as necessary to eliminate such conditions;
or
(2)
Luminaires used for public roadway illumination may
be installed at a maximum height of 25 feet and may be positioned
at that height up to the edge of any bordering property.
[Amended 7-18-2011 by L.L. No. 4-2011[1]]
All fences in any zoning district shall meet the following design
standards:
A.
Any
fence shall be constructed and maintained to withstand a wind load
of no less than 15 pounds per square foot. All material shall be treated
against infestation or corrosion.
B.
No fence
shall be constructed with barbed wire, broken glass or other similar
high-risk injury-causing materials on any surface.
C.
No electrified
fence shall be allowed.
D.
All
fences shall be maintained by the property owner and meet the original
design specification.
E.
Poultry
netting (chicken wire) used as a boundary line fence is prohibited.
F.
All
fences must be constructed in such a manner that the side of the fence
from which the structural supports are most readily observable face
inward on all sides and not toward the outside portion of the lot
upon which the fence is erected.
