This chapter shall be known as the "Zoning Law
of the Town of Richmond."
The purpose of this chapter is to promote the
safety and general welfare of the Town of Richmond by regulating and
restricting the height and size of buildings, number of stories and
other structures; the percentage of lot that may be occupied; the
size of yards, courts and other open spaces; the density of population;
and the location and use of buildings, structures and land for trade,
commerce, industry, residence, agriculture or other purposes after
reasonable consideration, among other things, of the character of
the Town and its peculiar suitability for particular uses in order
to conserve and enhance natural resources and land values and to protect
the existing properties. This chapter and Zoning Map are designed to prevent overcrowding of land and to avoid
undue concentration of population and to facilitate the efficient
and adequate provision of public facilities and services, and to establish
penalties for the violation of such regulations. It is the further
purpose of this chapter to conserve and promote wherever possible
the natural beauty of the land, its lakes, streams, forests and hills
to the end that they may be enjoyed to the fullest by this and succeeding
generations of residents and others by encouraging the most appropriate
use of land throughout the Town.
The provisions of this chapter shall be held
to be the minimum standards and requirements for health, safety and
general welfare.
Whenever the requirements of this chapter are
at variance with the requirements of any other lawfully adopted rules,
regulations, ordinances or laws, the most restrictive shall govern.
The Town Board may, on its own motion or on
petition or on recommendation of the Planning Board, after public
notice and hearing, amend, change or repeal the law and/or the Zoning
Map, pursuant to the provisions of the Town Law applicable
thereto. Every such proposed amendment shall be first referred to
the Planning Board for report prior to public hearing thereon.