The purpose of this article is to establish the procedure for
Planning Board review and action on applications for subdivisions
and lot line adjustments. Whenever any subdivision of land is proposed
and before any contract for the sale or lease of, or any offer to
sell or lease, any proposed lots in such subdivision or any part thereof
is made, and before any permit for the erection of any structure in
such proposed subdivision shall be granted, the applicant shall apply
for and secure approval of such proposed subdivision in accordance
with the following procedures. An applicant other than the property
owner must provide written verification to the Planning Board that
the property owner has authorized him or it to act on the property
owner's behalf. This written verification shall include the property
owner's written consent to the subdivision application.
At the request of the applicant, an optional preapplication
conference for application information may be scheduled with the Town
Planning Board Chairperson or a representative of the Planning Board.
If sufficiently complex, it may be desirable for the applicant to
request placement on the agenda of a Planning Board meeting for an
informational conference. The applicant shall not be bound by the
determination of the preapplication conference. Preapplication conferences
are strongly recommended for all major subdivisions and for any application
requiring preparation of a conservation analysis under the Zoning
Law.
The Planning Board shall initiate the New York State Environmental
Quality Review Act (SEQR) process, as defined in Article 8 of the
Environmental Conservation Law and Part 617 of the New York Codes,
Rules and Regulations, upon completion of the sketch plan stage of
the application process. The Planning Board shall review the short
or full environmental assessment form, or, as applicable, the draft
environmental impact statement submitted by the applicant with the
plat application materials, and shall make a preliminary determination
as to the type of action that is being proposed (Type I, Type II or
unlisted action, as defined by SEQR). Once the Planning Board has
made a SEQR classification and a determination of significance, the
applicant shall be informed by the Board as to whether the application
will be subject to additional environmental review as specified in
the SEQR regulations, including, without limitation, scoping and preparation
of an environmental impact statement. All requirements of SEQR shall
be completed prior to any action on the preliminary or final plat
by the Planning Board.