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Town of Red Hook, NY
Dutchess County
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Table of Contents
Table of Contents
A. 
The general area and bulk regulations in each zoning district are set forth in the attached District Schedule of Area and Bulk Regulations.[1]
[1]
Editor's Note: The Schedule of Area and Bulk Regulations is included at the end of this chapter.
B. 
This schedule is supplemented, as appropriate, by other provisions of this chapter, including the supplementary regulations stated in Article V and the additional specific standards for certain special permit uses stated in § 143-52 et seq. of this chapter.
C. 
Area and bulk regulations for the AB District and TND District are set forth in §§ 143-39.1 and 143-49.1, respectively.
[Added 7-12-2011 by L.L. No. 3-2011]
A. 
Nothing contained herein shall prohibit the use of an existing lot of record, as defined in § 143-4 of this chapter, which does not comply with the District Schedule of Area and Bulk Regulations,[1] provided that each of the following criteria are satisfied:
[Amended 7-11-1995 by L.L. No. 1-1995]
(1) 
Development of the lot shall satisfy all applicable requirements of the Town of Red Hook, the Dutchess County Health Department and the New York State Departments of Health and Environmental Conservation for potable water supply and sewage disposal facilities.
(2) 
If created after September 8, 1970, the lot is part of a subdivision plat approved by the Town of Red Hook Planning Board in accordance with Chapter 120, Subdivision of Land, and filed in the office of the Dutchess County Clerk in a timely manner pursuant to the Town Law.
(3) 
If developed for residential use, use of the lot shall be limited to one principal single-family dwelling. An accessory dwelling unit may be permitted by special permit in compliance with § 143-64, 143-65, 143-66 or 143-66.1.
(4) 
Development of such existing lot of record may, upon a demonstration by the applicant that greater side and rear yards which either comply or more nearly comply with this chapter cannot be reasonably provided, occur in accordance with the following reduced minimum side and rear year requirements:
(a) 
The total of both side yards for the principal building shall be not less than 40% of the lot width; provided, however, that no single side yard for a principal building shall be not less than 60% of the minimum side yard otherwise required for the district.
(b) 
The rear yard for a principal building shall similarly be not less than 60% of the minimum rear yard otherwise required for the district.
[1]
Editor's Note: The schedule is included at the end of this chapter.
B. 
All other area and bulk regulations for the district shall be met.
A. 
In all districts where residences are permitted, a lot may only be improved for residential use in accordance with the minimum lot area and related bulk regulations for the district as set forth in the District Schedule of Area and Bulk Regulations,[1] except as otherwise provided in the afore-stated § 143-13 regarding existing lots of record or as provided in § 143-21 of this chapter regarding average density development or in § 143-33 of this chapter regarding residential cluster development in accordance with Chapter 120, Subdivision of Land, and § 281 of the Town Law.[2]
[1]
Editor's Note: The schedule has been included at the end of this chapter.
[2]
Editor's Note: See now § 278 of the Town Law.
B. 
More specifically, if two or more principal residential structures or dwelling units are located on the same lot, except for a two-family or multifamily conversion authorized under this chapter by special use permit, the minimum lot area per dwelling unit requirement and all other requirements of this chapter and other applicable laws, rules and regulations must be strictly met. Further, a residential lot of required or greater than required area as set forth in this chapter shall not be reduced in area by transfer of ownership if such lot so divided will form two or more lots, any of which shall be less than the minimum lot area required for the zoning district in which the lot or lots are situated.
A. 
The height limitations set forth in the District Schedule of Area and Bulk Regulations[1] shall not be applicable to the following:
(1) 
Agricultural barns, silos and other farm buildings.
(2) 
Flagpoles, radio or television antennas, transmission towers or cables, windmills, communications towers incidental and accessory to a principal use and similar features, any of which shall be restricted to a maximum height of 75 feet above average finished grade at its base.
(3) 
Spires, belfries, chimneys, skylights, water or cooling towers, parapets or railings, elevators, stair bulkheads, solar collectors, air-conditioning units or similar structures which in their aggregate coverage occupy no more than 10% of the roof area of the building of which they are an integral architectural or mechanical element. Such features shall be erected only to such minimum height as is necessary to accomplish the purpose for which they are intended and shall not extend more than 20 feet above the roof.
(4) 
Communication towers as a principal use within the RD3 District, subject to the issuance of a special use permit in accordance with Article VI of this chapter.
[1]
Editor's Note: The schedule has been included at the end of this chapter.
B. 
No structure or other exception to the height limitations set forth in the District Schedule of Area and Bulk Regulations[2] shall be used as a place for habitation or for advertising not otherwise authorized by this chapter.
[2]
Editor's Note: The schedule has been included at the end of this chapter.
A. 
Required front yards. On a corner lot, each street frontage shall be deemed to be a front street line, and the required yard along each such lot line shall be a required front yard. The above notwithstanding, for the purposes of this chapter no lot shall, however, be interpreted to have more than two front yards, regardless of how such lot is located or configured. The Zoning Enforcement Officer, in consultation with the owner, shall establish which of the remaining yards shall be the required side yard and the required rear yard for purposes of this chapter.
B. 
Obstructions at street intersections. At all street intersections, no obstructions to vision, such as a fence, wall, hedge, structure or planting over three feet in height, as measured above the curb level, if any, or above the existing road level, shall be erected or installed and maintained on any lot within the triangle formed by the intersecting street lines or their projections where corners are rounded and a straight line joining said street lines at points which are 30 feet distant from their point of intersection measured along said street lines and/or projections. This section shall not be construed to apply to existing street trees, provided that no branches are maintained closer than six feet to the ground.
The following architectural features of a building may extend into a required yard subject to limitations provided herein:
A. 
Ordinary projections of windowsills, belt courses, cornices, eaves and other architectural features; provided, however, that such features shall not project more than three feet into any required yard.
B. 
Chimneys or pilasters.
C. 
An open arbor or trellis.
D. 
Unroofed steps, patio or terrace not less than 20 feet from the highway right-of-way nor less than five feet from any side or rear lot line, provided that the building complies with the yard requirements of this chapter.
E. 
An awning or movable canopy not to exceed 10 feet in height, nor projecting more than six feet into any required yard.
F. 
A retaining wall, fence or masonry wall, except as limited by § 143-16B or 143-28 of this chapter.
G. 
Open fire escapes on the side rear of a building and extending not more than eight feet from the principal building nor closer than five feet to any lot line.
A. 
Permanent accessory structures. Accessory structures, as defined in § 143-4 of this chapter, may be constructed in any side or rear yard of a residential premises, subject to compliance with the minimum setback requirements set forth in the District Schedule of Area and Bulk Regulations[1] and the further limitations stated herein:
(1) 
Except for agricultural buildings, no such structure shall exceed 28 feet in height in any residence district.
[Amended 7-11-1995 by L.L. No. 1-1995]
(2) 
No accessory structure shall be located less than 20 feet from any lot line, subject to the following exceptions:
[Amended 11-10-2008 by L.L. No. 7-2008]
(a) 
In the R1 and H Districts, an accessory structure shall be located no less than 15 feet from any lot line.
(b) 
Sheds are subject to reduced side and rear yard set backs as follows:
[1] 
H District: three feet.
[2] 
R1 District or lot in an R1.5, RD3 or RD5 District of one acre or less: three feet.
[3] 
R1.5 District or lot in an RD3 or RD5 District of less than three acres but greater than one acre: six feet.
[4] 
RD3 and RD5 Districts, other than as provided for in Subsection A(2)(b)[2] and [3] above: 10 feet.
(3) 
No such structure shall be located less than 12 feet from the principal building or a distance equal to the height of the accessory building, whichever dimension shall be greater.
(4) 
No such structure shall project closer to the fronting street than the principal building on the lot or the required front yard setback for the district, whichever shall be less restrictive.
(5) 
Except in the LD, RD5 and RD3 Districts, all roofed accessory structures, exclusive of agricultural buildings, shall in the aggregate comprise not more floor area than either the principal building on the lot or 1,500 square feet, whichever is the more restrictive.
(6) 
Except in the LD, RD5 and RD3 Districts, all such structures in the aggregate shall occupy not more than 20% or, in the case of roofed structures, not more than 1,000 square feet of any required yard.
(7) 
Not more than three such accessory structures, other than a permitted sign or agricultural buildings, of which no more than one structure shall be a private garage, shall be permitted on an individual lot in a residential district. In the event that the lot exceeds five acres, additional accessory structures may be sited upon issuance of a special use permit by the Planning Board in accordance with Article VI of this chapter.
[1]
Editor's Note: This schedule is included at the end of this chapter.
B. 
Portable accessory structures. A single portable accessory structure with a maximum floor area of 100 square feet may be installed and utilized on any premises without the issuance of a building permit or certificate of occupancy, provided that each of the following criteria is satisfied:
(1) 
The structure does not have a permanent foundation.
(2) 
The structure is not served by any utility such as electricity, gas or plumbing.
(3) 
The structure does not exceed 10 feet in height.
(4) 
The structure is never used for human habitation.
(5) 
All other requirements of this chapter related to accessory structures are full met.
C. 
Fences and walls. Fences and walls may be located in required yard areas where in full compliance with the standards provided within §§ 143-16B and 143-28 of this chapter.
D. 
Subsurface utility systems, which are accessory to a permitted or special permitted principal or accessory structure in the HB, B1, B2 and TND-CC Districts, may be located on the same lot as the related principal or accessory structure, whether or not the subsurface utility system lies within the same Zoning District as the related principal or accessory structure, and such subsurface utility systems shall not be taken into account for purposes of the limitations set forth in Subsections (3), (4), (6) or (7) of § 143-18A.
[Added 2-13-2018 by L.L. No. 1-2018; amended 5-30-2018 by L.L. No. 3-2018]
Where more than one principal building may be permitted on a lot, no detached principal building shall be located closer to any other principal building on the same lot than the height of the taller of said buildings.
On streets, roads or highways with either no dedicated right-of-way or a dedicated right-of-way of less than 50, feet, the front setback shall be measured perpendicularly from the center line of the existing right-of-way, or the travelway in the case of a user highway, with 25 feet added to the required front yard setback to establish the building line.
In its review and approval of a subdivision plat in accordance with § 276 of the Town Law and Chapter 120, Subdivision of Land, the Planning Board may and shall be authorized to permit the following exceptions and modifications to the minimum lot area, minimum lot width and minimum lot frontage requirements set forth in the District Schedule of Area and Bulk Regulations:[1]
A. 
That in those instances where the Planning Board finds it desirable to respect natural or existing man-made boundaries in the platting of lots or to modify the configuration of lots so as to protect and enhance vital environmental resources such as those recognized in the Environmental Protection Overlay (EP-O) and Scenic Corridor Overlay (SC-O) Districts and where it is possible to do so without adverse environmental impact or in contravention of the public health, safety and welfare, certain lots of less than the minimum lot area prescribed in the District Schedule of Area and Bulk Regulations[2] may be authorized within an average density subdivision and deemed to be conforming lots, provided that the minimum requirements set forth below are strictly applied:
[Amended 11-9-1993 by L.L. No. 4-1993]
(1) 
Any such lot shall have a minimum lot area of 2 1/2 acres in the RD3 District or a minimum lot area of four acres if located in the RD3 or LD Districts, with such interpretation of minimum lot area subject to the limitations set forth in § 143-23 of this article.
(2) 
Any such lot shall be platted as part of an average density subdivision in which the mean or average lot area meets or exceeds the minimum lot area requirement for the zoning district. In other terms, the maximum number of lots that may be created from a single parcel in the RD3 District through use of the average density concept shall be established by dividing the total acreage of the parcel by three and rounding to the next lowest number. In the case of the RD5 and LD Districts, this calculation would occur by dividing the total acreage of the parcel by five and similarly rounding to the next lowest number.
(3) 
All other minimum standards for the platting of the lot and its development, as set forth in the District Schedule of Area and Bulk Regulations shall apply to any such reduced area lot.
(4) 
The Planning Board shall require sufficient legal assurances (i.e., conservation easements or similarly binding legal mechanisms) to prevent future subdivision of any lot or parcel within the subdivision in a way that would cause the maximum average density standard of one lot per three acres in the RD3 District and one lot per five acres in the RD5 and LD Districts to be exceeded.
[2]
Editor's Note: The schedule is included at the end of the chapter.
B. 
That in the case of any proposed lot with not less than 75% of its frontage on the circumference of the turnaround of a permanent cul-de-sac to be installed within the subdivision, the following reduced minimum requirements in the respective districts may be applied for creation of a conforming lot:
(1) 
In the RD5 District, minimum lot frontage of 150 feet and minimum lot width of 200 feet.
(2) 
In the RD3 District, minimum lot frontage of 120 feet and minimum lot width of 160 feet.
(3) 
In the R1.5 District, minimum lot frontage of 100 feet and minimum lot width of 120 feet.
C. 
That in a limited number of occurrences where the Planning Board finds it to be essential to permit reasonable use of subdivision tract without adverse environmental impact or in contravention of the public health, safety and welfare, flag lots, as defined in § 143-4 of this chapter, may be authorized as conforming lots, provided that the minimum requirements set forth below are strictly applied:
(1) 
That any authorized flag lot shall have a minimum lot frontage of 50 feet and, if contiguous to another lot or lots with less than the minimum frontage prescribed in the District Schedule of Area and Bulk Regulations,[3] share a common access point and driveway with such adjacent lot or lots.
[3]
Editor's Note: The schedule has been included at the end of this chapter.
(2) 
That any authorized flag lot shall have not less than the minimum lot width specified for the zoning district at the building line established on the subdivision plat, rather than at the minimum required front setback line as otherwise required by this chapter. The building line so established may not be less than 75 feet in the RD5 District, 60 feet in the RD3 District and 50 feet in the R1.5 District further from the lot frontage than the line at which the minimum lot width specified for the zoning district is first achieved.
(3) 
That any authorized flag lot satisfy the minimum lot area requirement specified for the zoning district by consideration of only that land which lies further from the lot frontage than the line at which the minimum lot width specified in the District Schedule of Area and Bulk Regulations[4] for the zoning district is first achieved.
[4]
Editor's Note: The schedule has been included at the end of this chapter.
[1]
Editor's Note: The schedule has been included at the end of this chapter.
Where the side or rear yard of a lot abuts a side or rear yard of a lot in a more restricted zoning district, there shall be provided along both sides of such abutting lot line or lines side or rear yards equal in dimension to those required in the more restricted zoning district.
[Added 7-12-2011 by L.L. No. 3-2011[1]]
A. 
For any parcel in any district, excluding the TND District, which shall be governed by § 143-49.1G, and the AB District, the permissible density shall be based upon the parcel's buildable acreage. The applicant shall demonstrate the buildable acreage by subtracting from the total (gross) acreage of the proposed development parcel(s) the acreage of unbuildable features as defined in this section.
B. 
Unbuildable features.
(1) 
Unbuildable features consist of:
(a) 
Wetlands;
(b) 
Lands within a FEMA delineated one-hundred-year floodplain;
(c) 
The Sawkill, Lakes Kill, Stony Kill and Mudder Kill and those adjacent land areas within 100 feet of the high water mark;
(d) 
Other streams and waterbodies and those adjacent land areas within 50 feet of the high water mark;
(e) 
Steep slopes; and
(f) 
Acreage subject to a conservation easement or other long-term easement that expressly prohibits development.
(2) 
Permissible density shall be based on the amount of acreage that remains after deducting the acreage of unbuildable natural features.
C. 
The Planning Board's determination as to permissible density shall be based on a certified survey of the parcel and delineation of the unbuildable natural features by a licensed land surveyor and by a tabular presentation by the land surveyor of the gross site acreage and each of the subtracted land areas set forth above. Two or more parcels in common ownership or under common control which are the subject of an application for subdivision or site plan approval may be considered as a single development parcel for purposes of this section.
[1]
Editor’s Note: This local law also repealed former § 143-23, Freshwater wetlands and land under water or subject to flooding.