[Amended 3-28-2000 by L.L. No. 1-2000]
For the purposes of this chapter, the Town of
Clinton is hereby divided into the following nine districts:
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C
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Conservation Agricultural Residential
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AR5
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Very Low Density Agricultural Residential
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AR3
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Low Density Agricultural Residential
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H
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Hamlet
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RH
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Residential Hamlet
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MR1
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Medium Density Residential
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CR1
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Clustered Residential
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I
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Office-Light Industry
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F
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Floodplain
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RS&H
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Ridgeline, Scenic and Historic Protection Overlay
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[Amended 3-28-2000 by L.L. No. 1-2000]
The location and boundaries of said districts
are shown on the Zoning District, Ridgeline Protection Overlay and
Scenic and Historic Protection Overlay Maps of the Town of Clinton,
which are hereby adopted and declared to be a part of this chapter.
Zoning District Maps shall be kept up-to-date and shall be located
in the Town Clerk's office for public use.
The boundary of the Floodplain District is established
herein as delineated on the most current edition of the appropriate
Federal Insurance Administration Flood Hazard Boundary Map as issued
for the Town of Clinton by the Federal Emergency Management Agency.
Any revisions, amendments or successors thereto are hereby adopted
and made a part of this chapter. The latest edition of the map shall
be kept on file in the offices of the Town Clerk and the Town Zoning
Administrator for public use.
A.
Where district boundaries are indicated as approximately
following streets, highways, public utility easements, rights-of-way,
or watercourses, the center lines thereof shall be construed to be
such boundaries.
B.
Where district boundaries are indicated as approximately
following the Town boundary line, property lines or projections thereof,
said boundaries shall be construed to be coincident with such lines
or projections thereof.
C.
Where district boundaries are so indicated that they
are approximately parallel to the Town boundary line, streets, highways,
public utility easements, rights-of-way, property lines, lot lines,
watercourses or projections thereto, said boundaries shall be construed
as being parallel thereto and at such distances therefrom as indicated
on the Zoning District Map.
D.
Where a district boundary line divides a lot in single
or joint ownership of record at the time such line is established,
the regulations for the less-restricted portion of such lot may, with
the exception of the Floodplain District, extend not more than 35
feet into the more-restricted portion, provided the lot has street
or highway frontage in the less-restrictive district. In the case
of Conservation Agricultural Residential District (C), Very Low Density
Agricultural Residential District (AR5), and Low Density Agricultural
Residential District (AR3), this distance may be extended up to 200
feet into the more restrictive portion by the Planning Board.
E.
If the district classification of any land is in question,
it shall be deemed to be in the most restrictive adjoining district.
F.
In all other cases, where dimensions are not shown
on the Zoning District Map, the location of the boundaries on said
map shall be determined by use of the scale of the map.
A.
Conservation Agricultural Residential (C). This district
is intended to protect an area in north-central Clinton with critical
natural resources. Silver Lake, Mud Pond, and Long Pond have been
included in Dutchess County's Significant Areas because of their unique
geological formation and important habitats. Agriculture, very-low-density
residential development and recreational uses on a limited scale are
allowed in the watershed area of these lakes, but with certain restrictions
to preserve the surface water quality and underlying prime aquifer.
B.
Very Low Density Agricultural Residential (AR5). This
category is the largest district in the Town, covering most of northern
and eastern Clinton. The land is generally characterized by areas
of steep slopes, extremely shallow soils with exposed bedrock, or
soils with poor permeability. Principal uses include agriculture and
single-family dwellings and accessory uses at a density compatible
with the natural limitations of the land and clustered where appropriate.
The relatively rugged topography in this district makes these areas,
for the most part, rural and lightly developed.
C.
Low Density Agricultural Residential (AR3). This district
includes a large portion of south-central Clinton and three smaller
areas in the northern part of Town. Since moderately deep soils are
generally prevalent in these areas, the land is more conducive to
both agriculture and development than most other sections. Uses include
continued agricultural uses and low-density residential development
with clustering and other land conservation techniques encouraged
to protect sensitive natural resources, open space, and farm soils.
D.
Hamlet (H). The hamlet districts reinforce the traditional
land use pattern in Clinton by allowing more concentrated development
in and around existing hamlets. They are designed to have defined
boundaries with greenbelt buffers to maintain a central identity and
to limit sprawl that would overwhelm their historic scale. The principal
residential character of the hamlets will be retained by encouraging
single-family houses on small lots, with some opportunities for small
clusters of residential units, either through development of back
lots or vacant lots, property on the perimeter or conversions of existing
large homes. The current mixed use character of Clinton Corners, Schultzville,
and Clinton Hollow will be enhanced by allowing additional public
uses and small-scale businesses. Strip commercial or highway business
uses are not allowed.
E.
Residential Hamlet (RH). Several of the historic hamlets
(Frost Mills, Pleasant Plains, and Hibernia) are now less amenable
to even small-scale commercial development and, therefore, have been
designated “residential hamlets.” Primary uses are single-family
houses and accessory uses on small lots and, if soil conditions are
suitable and other performance standards are satisfied, small clusters
of residential units. Development of perimeter parcels and vacant
or rear lots is encouraged in conjunction with site plan review where
required.
F.
Medium Density Residential (MR1). This district encompasses
the area between Route 9G and the Town's western border along the
Crum Elbow Creek. With excellent transportation access and relatively
good soils, a variety of housing options at an average density of
one dwelling unit per acre is appropriate. One-family, two-family,
multifamily, and cluster residential development are allowed, as well
as mobile home parks and camping trailer campgrounds. Adequate setback
buffers are required and only a minimum number of driveways are allowed
to protect the safety and capacity of the state highway. In order
to prevent any possibility of strip development, only a few selected
commercial uses are permitted in this district.
G.
Clustered Agricultural Residential (CR1). This designation
is reserved for the southeast corner of the Town, east of Salt Point
Turnpike. With direct access to Salt Point Turnpike and the Taconic
State Parkway and well-drained soils, this district allows moderate
residential densities. The intent is to cluster all development in
this district. Without increasing the overall density, clustering
preserves more open space and agricultural land, allows better site
plans in relation to the interspersed natural constraints, limits
road and other infrastructure costs that contribute to escalating
housing prices, and preserves the long-range option to connect to
future central utilities.
H.
Office-Light Industry (I). This district allows for
expansion of industrial uses in two existing locations. Permitted
uses include light industry, offices, office-research, and nonretail
commercial functions to increase the district's flexibility and encourage
higher standards of site design. Because of the proximity of these
zones to residential uses and nearby hamlets, restrictions on uses
that constitute a fire hazard or emit smoke, noise, or dust are enforced
and high-quality landscaping and wide buffers are required.
I.
Floodplain (F). The floodplain category contains the
low-lying areas and major stream corridors defined on the Federal
Emergency Management Agency's maps as one-hundred-year floodplains.
Uses in the Floodplain District are limited to agriculture, forestry,
recreation, and other uses that would be minimally affected by high
water. Structures, especially those that would house either humans
or livestock, are restricted.
J.
Ridgeline, Scenic and Historic Protection Overlay
District.
[Added 3-28-2000 by L.L. No. 1-2000]
(1)
High ridgelines are found throughout the Town, but
primarily are located in the northern districts designated as AR5
and C. These ridgelines and hilltops are exceptional aesthetic and
ecological resources, visible from many perspectives and distances,
and typify Clinton's rolling, often rugged, rural topography. The
Ridgeline Protection Overlay Area includes lands that are 500 feet
or more above sea level. The Scenic and Historic Protection Overlay
includes the Taconic Parkway Viewshed, the hamlets included on the
Town Zoning District Map and Clinton's seven Critical Environmental
Areas. The Taconic Viewshed is defined as lands in the Town of Clinton
which are within 3,000 feet of the paved surface of the Taconic State
Parkway. This viewshed is a critical part of Clinton's rural scenery,
is the first introduction to Clinton for many travelers, and is frequently
viewed by residents of the Town. Clinton's hamlets have historic value
and are important to the character of the Town. Their location and
boundaries are shown on Clinton's Zoning District Map. Clinton's Critical
Environmental Areas have been designated by the Town Board to have
scenic, environmental, cultural or historic characteristics which
merit special protection. Other areas which offer exceptional viewsheds
frequently enjoyed by residents and visitors and/or contain structures
or sites of historic importance may be designated as part of the Scenic
and Historic Protection Overlay by the Clinton Town Board.
(2)
Ensuring that tree lines are uninterrupted, ridgetops
are free from man-made structures, and new structures are compatible
with surroundings in these overlay areas will prevent the degradation
of the rural, historic character and beauty of the Town. Building
permit and special use permit applicants are encouraged to: [1]
(a)
Site projects off of ridgetops and hilltops,
out of sight lines from valleys, and below tree canopies in Ridgeline
Protection Overlay Areas; and
(b)
Build structures that are compatible in height
and design with other buildings and the surrounding environment in
Scenic and Historic Protection Overlay Areas.
