For the purpose of these regulations, certain words and terms used herein are defined as follows:
ACCESS
Refers to the following road hierarchy terms:
A. 
PUBLIC ACCESSAny street, road, intersection, curb cut or other location that offers the general public a way or means of approach to provide vehicular or pedestrian physical entrance to a property.
B. 
SHARED ACCESS WAYA means of physical approach for vehicular or pedestrian traffic into or out of a location that is shared and used by one or more different parcels of land.
APPLICANT
The person(s), corporation, agency, or other legal entity submitting an application for subdivision approval. See also '"subdivider."
BASEMENT
The floor of a building which is partly or entirely below ground level.
BLOCK
An area bounded by streets.
BOARD SECRETARY
That person who shall be designated to perform the duties of the Board Secretary for all purposes of these regulations.
BOND
An obligation, in writing, under seal, issued by a surety company satisfactory to the Town Board, binding the obligor to pay a sum of money to the Town if the obliged fails to satisfactorily install and/or maintain improvements as required under § 277, Subdivision 1, of the New York State Town Law, as amended.
BOUNDARY LINE ADJUSTMENT
Also known as a "lot line adjustment," it is the changing, altering or moving of the boundary or property line between two or more parcels where no additional parcel(s) is(are) created, where land is taken from one parcel and added to an adjacent parcel, and where there is no requirement for the construction of, nor the extension of, a public street or public utility.
BUFFER AREA
An undeveloped part of a property or an entire property specifically intended to separate and thus minimize the effects of a land use activity (e.g. noise, dust, visibility, glare, etc.) on adjacent properties.
BUILDING
Any structure which is affixed to the land, or has one or more floors, walls and a roof for the shelter, support or enclosure of persons, animals, equipment, materials, or property of any kind. Accessory structures to a building, such as, but not limited to decks and pools, shall also be considered a part of such building.
BUILDING ENVELOPE
The space within which a structure and its supporting infrastructure is permitted to be built on a lot and that includes the building, driveway, and any lands disturbed for well and septic systems.
BUILDING FOOTPRINT
The area encompassed by a building's outer wall at ground level.
BUILDING INSPECTOR
The individual designated by the Town to enforce the provisions of the New York State and local building codes. The Building Inspector may also be designated by the Town as the Code Enforcement Officer to enforce provisions of the Town of Waterford zoning law, subdivision law, and other local laws.[1]
CLERK OF THE PLANNING BOARD
Synonymous with "Board Secretary."
COLLECTOR STREET
A street, including the principal entrance street of a residential development, which carries traffic from minor streets to major streets.
COMMON DRIVEWAY
A driveway serving five or more lots; designed, built or regulated by the Town of Waterford, Saratoga County, or State of New York driveway specifications; and that is maintained by a private entity through an agreement of all interested parties.
COMPLETE APPLICATION
An application for development that includes all required documents and submittals pursuant to this law, has been reviewed under SEQRA Part 617[2] and has received either a negative declaration by the reviewing board or a draft environmental impact statement has been accepted by such board.
COMPREHENSIVE PLAN
A Comprehensive Plan, prepared by the Planning Board pursuant to § 272-a of the Town Law, which indicates the general locations recommended for various functional classes of public works, places and structures and for general physical development of the Town, and includes any unit or part of such plan separately prepared and any amendment to such plan or parts therein.
CONDITIONAL APPROVAL
The approval of a final plan subject to conditions set forth by the Planning Board in a resolution conditionally approving such plan.
CONSERVATION EASEMENT
A grant of a property right stipulating that the described land will remain in its natural or agricultural state and precluding future or additional development.
CONSERVATION SUBDIVISION
A residential subdivision where the dwelling units that would result on a given parcel under a conventional subdivision plan are allowed to be placed on the parcel in a flexible manner, where lot sizes, road frontages, and other bulk dimensions are allowed to be relaxed and where a majority of the remaining land is left in its natural open space condition in perpetuity. Conservation development results in a flexibility of design and development to promote the most appropriate use of land, to facilitate the adequate and economical provisions of streets and utilities, and to preserve the natural and scenic qualities of open lands.
CONSTRUCTION
Refers to the erection of any structure, pavement, utility, signs, fences and other development on private property, public property or in a right-of-way regardless of whether a building permit is required or not.
CONTIGUOUS
When at least one boundary line of one lot touches a boundary line or lines of another lot.
CUL-DE-SAC
A street or a portion of a street with a single common ingress and egress and with a turnaround at the end.
DEAD-END STREET
A street with a single common ingress and egress.
DESIGN CRITERIA
Standards that set forth specific improvement requirements.
DRIVEWAY
An entrance and exit used by vehicular traffic to and from lands abutting a state, county, or Town road, whether public or private as defined herein, built according to Town, county or state driveway specifications; where it is possible to park completely off the street; and which is open only for private use except by permission of the owner of such private property. A driveway remains private property.
DWELLING
A building designed or used as the living quarters for one or more families. The terms "dwelling," "one-family dwelling," "multiple dwelling," "two-family dwelling" or "dwelling group" shall not be deemed to include automobile courts, rooming houses or tourist homes.
A. 
DWELLING, ONE-FAMILYA detached building containing one dwelling unit only.
B. 
DWELLING, TWO-FAMILYA detached building containing two dwelling units.
C. 
DWELLING, MULTIPLEA building or portion thereof containing three or more dwelling units.
DWELLING UNIT
A room or group of rooms providing complete housekeeping facilities for one family and occupied by a single family unit plus not more than three lodgers.
EASEMENT
The right to use the land of another, obtained through the purchase or acquisition of use rights from a landowner.
ENGINEER or LICENSED PROFESSIONAL ENGINEER
A person licensed as a professional engineer by the State of New York.
EROSION AND SEDIMENTATION CONTROL PLAN
A plan used to control erosion and stormwater discharges during construction.
ESCROW
A deposit of cash with the Town to secure the promise to perform some act required by the Planning Board.
FINAL PLAT
The map of a subdivision to be recorded after approval by the Planning Board and any accompanying material as described in these regulations.
FINAL PLAT APPROVAL
The signing of a plat in final form by a duly authorized officer of a planning board pursuant to a planning board resolution granting final approval to the plat or after conditions specified in a resolution granting final approval to the plat or after conditions specified in a resolution granting conditional approval of the plat are completed. Such final approval qualifies the plat for recording in the office of the county clerk or register in the county in which such plat is located.
FLAG LOT
A building lot not meeting the required road frontage and characterized by a narrow strip of property having frontage by which access is gained. The lot is shaped like a pole with a fully extended flag at the upper portion thereof, the bottom of the pole being at the street line, the pole portion of the lot being for use as access to the flag portion of the lot where the principal structure is or will be constructed.
FRONTAGE
That part of a property bounded by either a public or private road, but not a driveway. On corner lots, the frontage may be designated by the owner, but it should be consistent with the orientation of buildings on the other lots and improvements on the same side of the road.
GRADE
The slope of a road, street, or other public way specified in percentage terms.
GRADING
The leveling of land for site development purposes, including construction of roads, building construction, drainage areas and parking.
LETTER OF CREDIT
A letter from a bank which guarantees that a specific amount of money will be kept available to ensure the completion of specific segments of subdivision construction, to be drawn on only by the Town.
LOT LINE ADJUSTMENT
See "boundary line adjustment." This term is used synonymously with "lot line alteration."
LOTS
A. 
LOTA portion or parcel of land considered as a unit, devoted to a certain use or occupied by a building or a group of buildings that are united by a common interest or use, and the customary accessories and open spaces belonging to the same.
B. 
DOUBLE FRONTAGE LOTSLots with the rear and front lot lines abutting an existing or proposed street right-of-way.
C. 
REVERSE FRONTAGE LOTSLots with the rear lot line abutting an existing or proposed limited access highway or public reservation.
MAJOR STREET
A street which serves or is designed to serve heavy flows of traffic and which is used primarily as a route for traffic between communities and/or other heavy-traffic-generating areas.
MAJOR SUBDIVISION
Any subdivision not classified as a minor subdivision, including but not limited to subdivisions of five or more lots, or any size subdivision requiring any new street or extension of municipal facilities.
MINOR STREET
A street intended to serve primarily as an access to abutting properties.
MINOR SUBDIVISION
Any subdivision containing not more than four lots fronting on an existing street, not involving any new street or road or the extension of municipal facilities and not adversely affecting the development of the remainder of the parcel or adjoining property and not in conflict with any provision or portion of the Comprehensive Plan. Official Map or Zoning Ordinance,[3] if such exists, or these regulations.
MONUMENT
A term used in surveying, denoting a material object placed on or near a boundary line to preserve and identify the location of a boundary line on the ground.
NOTICE OF INTENT (NOI)
A request for coverage under the most current version of the New York State SPDES general permit for stormwater discharges from construction activities.
OFFICIAL MAP
The map established by the Town Board pursuant to § 270 of the Town Law, showing streets, highways and parks and drainage, both existing and proposed.
OPEN SPACE
Land left in a natural state for conservation and agricultural purposes or for scenic purposes, or devoted to the preservation of distinctive ecological, physical, visual, architectural, historic, geologic or botanic sites. It shall also mean land left in a natural state and that is devoted to active or passive recreation. The term shall not include land that is paved, used for the storage, parking or circulation of automobiles, used for playgrounds or manicured recreational lands, such as golf courses, ball fields, and lawns, or occupied by any structure except agricultural buildings or buildings supporting such open space. In a subdivision, open space may be included as a portion of one or more large lots, provided the lot(s) are contiguous to form a larger unfragmented open space area, or may be contained in a separate open space lot, but shall not include private yards within 50 feet of a principal structure.
OPEN SPACE DEVELOPMENT DESIGN
Also known as "conservation subdivision design." A design process that allows for the creation of multiple lots and homes on a parcel while setting aside a percentage of the parcel as permanently undeveloped. The undeveloped area becomes protected and preserved open space. Reduced lot sizes and flexible road standards allow development to take place on the least sensitive parts of the project site. In contrast, a conventional subdivision divides and develops all the land into roads and house lots with little regard for preservation of open space and natural areas.
OWNER
The owner of the land proposed to be subdivided or his agent.
PERFORMANCE BOND
An obligation in writing, under seal, issued by a surety company satisfactory to the Town, binding the obligor to pay a sum of money to the Town if the obligator fails to satisfactorily install and/or maintain improvements as required under § 277, Subdivision 1, of the New York State Town Law.
PHASED SUBDIVISION
An application for subdivision approval where the applicant proposed to immediately subdivide the property but will develop in one or more individual phases over a period of time.
PLANNING BOARD or BOARD
The Planning Board of the Town.
PRECONSTRUCTION
Any activity disturbing ground except excavation for sewer, water and utility lines; emergencies, site investigations; and customary agricultural activity.
PRELIMINARY PLAT
A drawing or drawings clearly marked "preliminary plat," showing the layout of a proposed subdivision, as specified in § A166-22 of these regulations, submitted to the Planning Board for approval prior to submission of the plat in final form and of sufficient detail to apprise the Planning Board of the layout of the proposed subdivision.
PRIMARY CONSERVATION AREA
The area delineated in a conservation subdivision to have priority resource areas to be conserved, including, but not limited to, streams, floodplains, wetlands, critical habitats, steep slopes, areas with rocky outcrops, agricultural lands, and groundwater recharge areas.
PRINCIPAL BUILDING OR STRUCTURE
A building that is the primary or predominant use of any lot or parcel.
PRINCIPAL USE
The primary use of land or buildings as distinguished from a subordinate or accessory use.
RESUBDIVISON
A change in a subdivision plan filed previously in the office of the Saratoga County Clerk, which changes any street layout, area reserved for public space or use, or changes the size of any lot shown thereon.
RIGHT-OF-WAY
A strip of land acquired by reservation, dedication, prescription, or condemnation and intended to be occupied by a street, crosswalk, railroad, or utilities (including but not limited to electric transmission lines, oil or gas pipelines, water lines, sanitary storm sewers), or other similar uses and that gives the right of one to pass over the property of another.
ROAD
Any vehicular way that is 1) an existing state, county, or municipal roadway; 2) shown upon a plat approved pursuant to law; 3) approved by other official action; 4) shown on a plat duly filed and recorded with Saratoga County prior to the appointment of a planning board in the Town of Waterford and the grant to such board of the power to review plats; 5) shown on the official map or adopted Comprehensive Plan. It includes the land between the street lines, whether improved or unimproved. See also "street."
A. 
PUBLIC ROADAny street or road built to meet the Town of Waterford specifications for a public road and dedicated for use by the public; accepted as a public road by official action by the Town Board; shown on a plat approved pursuant to this subdivision law or on an Official Map of the Town of Waterford, if one exists; and that is maintained by the Town.
B. 
PRIVATE ROADAny street or road not dedicated and not accepted by the Town Board for use by the public; and that is maintained by a private entity through an agreement of all interested parties. A private road remains private property.
RURAL CHARACTER
Describes the features and qualities of the Town's physical and natural landscape that were shaped by current and past economic activities, such as agriculture and low-density residential uses. Evidence of current and past agricultural activity is present including but not limited to farm buildings, stone walls, windbreaks, hedgerows, and woodlots. "Rural character" shall also be defined as the patterns of land use and development:
A. 
In which open space, the natural landscape, and vegetation predominate over the built environment;
B. 
That provide visual landscapes that are traditionally found in rural areas and communities;
C. 
That are compatible with the use of the land by wildlife and for fish and wildlife habitat;
D. 
That reduce suburban sprawl development patterns;
E. 
That are consistent with the protection of natural surface water flows and groundwater and surface water recharge and discharge areas.
SCREENING
Any landscaping or structure, such as walls, landscaped berms, and hedges, used to conceal or reduce the negative visual and audio impacts of certain land uses or activities from streets or adjacent development. The height of a screen is measured from the highest finished grade abutting the element to be screened.
SECONDARY CONSERVATION AREA
The area delineated in a conservation subdivision to have secondary resource areas to be conserved, including, but not limited to, agricultural lands, healthy woodlands holding important ecological functions, such as soil stabilization and protection of streams, hedgerows and other vegetation features representing the site's rural past, historic structures or sites, and visually prominent features, such as knolls, or hilltops.
SEQRA (STATE ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY REVIEW ACT)
A state law establishing the review of an application according to the provisions of 6 NYCRR Part 617 (Statutory Authority: New York State Environmental Conservation Law § 8-0113), which incorporates the consideration of environmental, social and economic factors into the planning, review and decisionmaking processes of state, county and local government agencies.
SKETCH PLAN
A sketch of a proposed subdivision showing the information specified in § A166-20 of these regulations to enable the subdivider to save time and expense in reaching general agreement with the Planning Board as to the form of the layout and objectives of these regulations.
SPDES
A permit pursuant to the New York State Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (SPDES) issued to developers of construction activities to regulate certain disturbances of land.
STEEP SLOPE
Any slope with topographic gradient of 15% or higher and measured as sloping 15 feet or more vertical distance per 100 feet horizontal distance.
STORMWATER POLLUTION PREVENTION PLAN
A document that describes the erosion and sediment control practices for construction and, where required by New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (NYS DEC), for post-construction stormwater management practices. It will be used and/or constructed to reduce the pollutants in stormwater discharges and to assure compliance with the terms and conditions of the most current NYS DEC permit. In addition, the stormwater pollution prevention plan (SWPPP) shall identify potential sources of pollution which may reasonably be expected to affect the quality of stormwater discharges. The SWPPP must document the selection, design, installation, implementation and maintenance of the control measures and practices that will be used to meet the effluent limitations in the most current NYS DEC permit and, where applicable, the post-construction stormwater management practice requirements in the most current NYS DEC permit. See also Chapter 142 of the Town of Waterford Code.
STREET
Includes streets, roads, avenues, lanes or other traffic ways, between right-of-way lines.
STREET PAVEMENT
The wearing or exposed surface of the roadway used by vehicular traffic.
STREET TREES
Those trees planted along the frontage of a road or street.
STREET WIDTH
The width of the right-of-way measured at right angles to the center line of the street.
SUBDIVIDER
Any person, firm, corporation, partnership or association who shall lay out any subdivision or part thereof as defined herein, either for himself or others. The subdivider shall be synonymous with the term "applicant."
SUBDIVISION
The division of any tract of land into two or more portions or parcels, lots, blocks or sites, with or without streets or highways, and includes resubdivision. That land referred to as a "subdivision" in these regulations shall consist of one or more lots, plots, sites or other divisions of said tract for immediate or future transfer of ownership or for building development. That portion, if any, not intended for transfer of ownership or for building development shall be regarded as an adjacent or contiguous holding. The term "subdivision" shall include a lot line adjustment.
SUBDIVISION PLAT or FINAL PLAT
A drawing, in final form, showing a proposed subdivision, containing all information or detail required by law and by these regulations, to be presented to the Planning Board for approval and which, if approved, may be duly filed or recorded by the applicant in the office of the County Clerk or Register.
SURVEYOR
A person licensed as a land surveyor by the State of New York.
TOWN ENGINEER
The duly designated Engineer of the Town.
ZONING, ZONING ORDINANCE AND ZONING MAP
The duly adopted Zoning Ordinance and Zoning Map for the Town of Waterford, New York.[4]
[1]
Editor's Note: See Ch. 161, Zoning.
[2]
Editor's Note: See Environmental Conservation Law § 8-0101 et seq and 6 NYCRR Part 617.
[3]
Editor's Note: See Ch. 161, Zoning.
[4]
Editor's Note: See Ch. 161, Zoning.