[Amended 10-16-2017 by L.L. No. 2-2017]
A. 
Any nonconforming use existing at the effective date of this chapter may be continued, and any existing building designed, arranged, intended or devoted to a nonconforming use may be reconstructed and structurally altered and the nonconforming use therein continued, subject to the following regulations:
(1) 
The cost of structural alterations made in such building shall in no case exceed 50% of its structural value, nor shall the building be enlarged unless the use therein is changed to a conforming use.
(2) 
No nonconforming use, if once changed to a use permitted in the district in which it is located, shall ever be changed back to a nonconforming use.
(3) 
No nonconforming use which shall have been discontinued for a period exceeding six months shall be resumed, nor shall it be replaced by any other nonconforming use.
(4) 
Whenever a district shall hereafter be changed, any then existing nonconforming use therein may be continued or changed to a use of similar or higher classification, provided that all other regulations governing the new use are complied with.
B. 
Nonconforming lots.
(1) 
A nonconforming lot may be used and a building or structure may be erected thereon for use in accordance with all other applicable provisions of this chapter, provided that it has been held in continuous single and separate ownership from all adjacent lots since prior to August 30, 1976, or prior to any subsequent date that it became nonconforming with respect to its area dimensions or uses.
(2) 
If at any time on or after August 30, 1976, a nonconforming lot shall have been held in the same ownership as one or more adjoining parcels, the lot shall be merged with the adjoining parcel for zoning purposes and shall lose its status as a nonconforming lot, except to the extent that the lot created by the merger of the adjoining parcels may still be substandard with respect to one or more of the dimensional regulations of the district in which it is situated.
(3) 
No merger shall hereafter result under this chapter where the ownership of a nonconforming lot becomes the same as the ownership of an adjoining parcel as a result of the death of an owner of one of those parcels.
No trade, industry or purpose shall be permitted which, in the judgment of the Board of Appeals, as provided in Article V, is likely to be so conducted as to create corrosive or toxic fumes, gas, smoke or odors, obnoxious dust, vapor or wastes or offensive noise or vibration or so as to be detrimental to the public health, safety or general welfare.
[Added 11-22-2021 by L.L. No. 7-2021]
A. 
The Board of Trustees of the Village of Bellerose hereby opts out of allowing retail cannabis dispensaries and/or on-site cannabis consumption establishments from locating and operating within the boundaries of the Village of Bellerose.
B. 
Severability. If a court determines that any clause, sentence, paragraph, subdivision, or part of this section or the application thereof to any person, firm or corporation, or circumstances is invalid or unconstitutional, the court's order or judgment shall not affect, impair, or invalidate the remainder of this section, but shall be confined in its operation to the clause, sentence, paragraph, subdivision, or part of this section or in its application to the person, individual, firm or corporation or circumstance, directly involved in the controversy in which such judgment or order shall be rendered.
[Added 8-30-1976 by L.L. No. 3-1976]
No lot shall be created so as to conform with the minimum area requirements of §§ 210-8 and 210-19 of the Code of the Incorporated Village of Bellerose by adding area to such lot by deducting such area from an adjoining lot if such deduction of area from an adjoining lot shall decrease the area of such adjoining lot to a square footage less than that required by §§ 210-8 and 210-19 of the Code of the Incorporated Village of Bellerose.
On any corner lot, no wall, fence or other structure shall be erected or altered, and no hedge, tree, shrub or other growth shall be maintained, which may cause danger to traffic on a street by obscuring the view.
[Amended 5-14-1984 by L.L. No. 3-1984[1]]
No building or part of a building shall be erected in or shall project into a minimum rear yard requirement, a minimum front yard requirement or a minimum side yard requirement, with the following exceptions:
A. 
Cornices, eaves, gutters or chimneys, projecting not more than two feet.
B. 
One-story bay windows projecting not more than five feet.
C. 
Open balconies and steps.
D. 
Porches or terraces which shall project into rear yards not more than 10 feet or open porches of terraces which shall project into one side yard but shall not be nearer to the side line of the lot than the minimum side yard requirement.
[1]
Editor's Note: A resolution adopted 5-14-1984 determined that this local law would not have a significant effect on the environment, and authorized the Mayor to execute a short environmental assessment form, pursuant to the provisions of Appendix B of Part 617 of the New York Rules and Regulations, for submission to the proper governmental authorities in connection with the adoption of this local law, said form being on file in the office of the Village Clerk.
[Amended 5-14-1984 by L.L. No. 4-1984[1]]
A. 
Accessory buildings may be built or constructed within one of the side yards or within a rear yard if entirely separated from the main building and located at least 10 feet farther back from the street line than the rear wall of the main building and if constructed no closer to the main building than 10 feet, as that distance may be measured from the points whereat the accessory building and the main building are the closest in distance, and not less than two feet from any lot line. No main building on any premises shall be constructed or extended, in any fashion whatsoever, so that the distance between the main building and any existing accessory structure, as that distance shall be measured between the points on the accessory building and the proposed main building or extension thereof which are closest in measurement, shall be less than 10 feet.
B. 
It is the intent of the Board of Trustees, in the enactment of this section, to prohibit placing of structures on premises in such close proximity as to render it difficult to deal with emergency situations and particularly fire situations at premises within the Village and to ensure the safety of those engaged in dealing with such emergencies, including fires, within the Village, it being the judgment of the Board of Trustees (arrived at after study) that a distance of not less than 10 feet between accessory structures and main buildings on premises and a distance of not less than two feet between accessory structures and lot lines is required to permit firemen and other emergency personnel of the Village to deal with fires and other emergencies effectively and with the least possible danger to firemen and other emergency employees under the circumstances which might then prevail.
[1]
Editor's Note: A resolution adopted 5-14-1984 determined that this local law would not have a significant effect on the environment, and authorized the Mayor to execute a short environmental assessment form, pursuant to the provisions of Appendix B of Part 617 of the New York Rules and Regulations, for submission to the proper governmental authorities in connection with the adoption of this local law, said form being on file in the office of the Village Clerk.
No regulation or requirement of this chapter shall be deemed to require the setback of any building beyond the average setback line observed by the buildings existing at the effective date of this chapter on the same side of the street within the same block, provided that there are two or more buildings on such block.
In no event shall the building area in any district be exceeded by reason of the deduction of yard areas required, leaving a greater percentage of lot area, nor shall the yard areas in any district be decreased by reason of the permitted building area.
[Amended 4-14-2003 by L.L. No. 2-2003]
No fence, freestanding wall, arbor or trellis shall be erected or maintained in any front yard extending from the rear wall of the dwelling or building to the street line. In the case of a corner lot, no such structures shall be erected or maintained in the front yard, but such structure may be erected in the side yard from the rear building line to the rear boundary line but no closer than 10 feet within the street line.
[Amended 9-24-1984 by L.L. No. 5-1984[1]; 2-28-2000 by L.L. No. 1-2000]
No fence or freestanding wall exceeding 36 inches in height shall be erected or maintained in any rear or side yard unless a permit therefor has been obtained from the Board of Appeals. For the purposes of this section a side yard is defined as that yard extending from the rear building line to the rear property line. However, a fence or freestanding wall not exceeding eight feet in height may be erected and maintained in any rear yard abutting upon the southern boundary line of the Village, the same being the right-of-way of the Long Island Rail Road, or in any rear yard abutting the Apartment and Business District of the Village. A fence or wall of any greater height shall not be erected or maintained unless a permit therefor has been first obtained from the Board of Appeals. In connection with the issuance of any such permit, whether applied for in connection with a rear or side yard or applied for in connection with a rear yard abutting upon the southern boundary line of the Village, the Board of Appeals shall be guided in the issuance thereof by a showing of necessity therefor by the applicant for such permit and by the aesthetics of such proposed fence or freestanding wall as judged with reference to the interests of the owners of neighboring properties in the Village as a whole.
[1]
Editor's Note: An environmental assessment of this local law was adopted by resolution of 9-24-1984.
[Amended 5-23-1983 by L.L. No. 2-1983]
Any other provision of this chapter to the contrary notwithstanding, there shall not be permitted anywhere in the Village a chain link fence, nor shall there be permitted any flat or solid-faced fence. A flat or solid-faced fence is defined as a fence containing wood or other materials solid in nature with any components thereof being more than six inches in width.
[Added 5-23-1983 by L.L. No. 3-1983]
Any other provision of this chapter to the contrary notwithstanding, all fences erected within the Incorporated Village of Bellerose after the effective date of this section shall be so erected so that the finished side of such fence or fences faces outward from the property to which the said fence shall be appurtenant and so that the posts and supporting railings thereof shall face the property to which such fence or fences are appurtenant. This section shall not apply to any fence which may be erected or maintained in any rear yard abutting upon the southern boundary of the Village, the same being the right-of-way of the Long Island Railroad, or in any rear yard abutting the Apartment and Business District of the Village. When a fence shall be jointly erected by the owners of adjoining properties, they shall file with the Clerk of the Village of Bellerose an agreement signed by each of them, indicating their agreement (for themselves and for their successors) as to the erection of the fence and the direction in which the finished side of the fence shall face.
[Added 5-23-1983 by L.L. No. 3-1983]
Every fence hereinafter erected within the Incorporated Village of Bellerose shall be finished or painted in such fashion and in such color as to be aesthetically consistent with its surroundings. Thereafter, each such fence shall be repainted at least every three years or, if any portion thereof shall be the subject of weathering or disrepair so as to render it obviously offensive to the character of the area in which it is erected, shall be repainted and restored to its original condition within seven days after receipt by the owner of the appurtenant premises of a notice which shall be issued by the Building Inspector. If any fence or portion thereof will be in need of repair or replacement, it shall be repaired or replaced within seven days after the receipt of a notice from the Building Inspector to that effect. With reference to any fences which exist in the Village of Bellerose prior to the effective date of this section, such fence or fences shall be subject to all of the provisions of this section, except that the periodic painting required herein of fences erected before the effective date of this section shall be required with reference to such preexisting fences two years after the effective date of this section and every three years thereafter.
No dwelling or business place shall be permitted in any district herein described, which is not provided with a Nassau County approved sanitary sewer connection.
No building shall be erected until the Building Inspector shall issue a permit certifying that the proposed building and the use complies in every respect with this chapter, and all applications for such permits shall be in writing and accompanied by a plot plan in duplicate drawn to a scale showing the actual dimensions of the lot to be built upon, the size of the building to be erected, the location of the building upon the lot, the dimensions of all spaces, the setback lines observed by buildings within the block, the location of a Nassau County approved sanitary sewer connection and such other information as may be necessary to provide for the enforcement of this chapter or any provision of the Code of the Incorporated Village of Bellerose, including such other information as may be generally required in connection with the provisions of the State Building Construction Code.[1]
[1]
Editor's Note: See also Ch. 68, Building Construction.
[Amended 10-18-2010 by L.L. No. 3-2010]
A. 
Supersession and scope.
(1) 
Pursuant to the authority vested in the Village of Bellerose by Municipal Home Rule Law § 10, the provisions of New York State Village Law §§ 7-712-a and 7-712-b are hereby superseded as they relate to any retained power and authority of the Board of Trustees to approve the construction of nonreplacement one-family dwellings within the Residence District of the Village of Bellerose. The provisions of this section are intended to:
(a) 
Supersede and override any contrary or conflicting New York State or local law which authorizes the exclusive review by the Board of Appeals in any application to construct a one-family dwelling in the Residence District; and
(b) 
To supersede and override any New York State or local law which limits the Board of Trustees from retaining exclusive jurisdiction to authorize the construction of a new one-family dwelling in the Residence District.
(2) 
This provision has no impact upon the exclusive jurisdiction of the Board of Appeals to determine area variance relief in connection with applications submitted hereunder.
B. 
Purpose and applicability. Since 1976, the Village of Bellerose has enforced the restrictions contained in the instant provision which prohibits the erection of a new one-family dwelling within the Residence District. The restriction has been the subject of much community debate and especially in connection with three applications for such waivers within the past 10 years. The Board of Trustees has either heard from, or reviewed testimony or documentation from, property owners, applicants, contractors, builders, architects, attorneys, departmental heads, traffic consultants, appraisers and residents regarding the impact and effect of enforcing and maintaining this restriction. The Trustees have made a physical inspection of the Village. Based upon those comments and investigations and others obtained at public hearings and in public forums before the Board of Trustees, the Board hereby reaffirms its findings that the construction of an additional dwelling within the Residence District would have a detrimental impact on the health, safety, property values, welfare and best interests of the Village, and that in order to protect the Residence District from overcrowding, the undue concentration of population, to maintain the character of the neighborhood, safe emergency access, and to mitigate cumulative impacts, the Board of Trustees finds that the continuation of the restrictions against new construction of dwellings should be maintained.
C. 
New construction of one-family dwellings restricted.
(1) 
Construction restricted. The Trustees of the Village of Bellerose hereby renew their legislative finding that the census of residential dwellings within the Residence District of the Village of Bellerose has reached a point where the addition thereto of any new dwellings, other than in replacement of existing dwellings on a one-for-one basis, would be detrimental to the integrity of the Village and to the health, safety and welfare of its residents. In light of that finding and in order to protect the welfare and best interests of the residents and the Village of Bellerose as a whole, and in order to prevent a situation of overcrowding, the Board of Trustees, in its legislative judgment, determines that it would be detrimental to the health, safety and welfare of the residents and property owners, and to protect the integrity of the Village as a whole, no further construction of one-family dwellings shall be permitted within the Residence District, provided that such construction of a new dwelling unit within the Residence District shall be permitted in place and instead of an existing residential dwelling within the Residence District, and provided further that prior to the construction of such new dwelling unit, the existing residence dwelling unit which is to be replaced by the proposed dwelling shall be demolished in accordance with the provisions of law. In no event shall any existing lot within the Village of Bellerose be used or subdivided so as to provide for two residence dwellings on property now occupied by one residence dwelling. No construction shall be commenced within the Residence District which would increase the census of residence dwellings beyond that which existed on the effective date of this chapter.
(2) 
Application. Any applicant for a waiver herein shall first submit a building permit application on the forms prescribed by the Village and otherwise conform to the requirements of Bellerose Village Code § 68-16. Where an applicant also requires area variance relief in connection with a request hereunder, the waiver application to the Board of Trustees shall be heard first.
(3) 
Voting and notice. The provisions of this section may be waived by resolution adopted by a majority vote of the Board of Trustees, after a public hearing on 15 days' notice to the public, published in the official newspaper of the Village, along with written notice to the surrounding property owners within 200 feet of the perimeter of the subject parcel by certified mail, return receipt requested.
D. 
Standards for approval.
(1) 
In considering any application under this section, the Board of Trustees shall evaluate such application by taking into consideration:
(a) 
The detriment to the health, safety and welfare of the residents of the neighborhood if such waiver is approved;
(b) 
Whether an undesirable change will be produced in the character of the neighborhood;
(c) 
Whether a detriment to nearby properties will be created by such construction;
(d) 
Whether the benefit sought by the applicant can be achieved by some other method, feasible for the applicant to pursue;
(e) 
Whether the construction will have an adverse effect or impact on the physical, environmental, health or welfare of the immediate street, neighborhood or the Village as a whole;
(f) 
Whether undo overcrowding or population density will result;
(g) 
Whether traffic, parking, street safety or emergency vehicle access will be impacted;
(h) 
Whether property values will be impacted; and
(i) 
Whether the health, safety and public welfare of the community will be affected.
(2) 
In the event that a waiver shall be granted, the Board of Trustees shall have the power to impose reasonable conditions and stipulations to mitigate its impact.
E. 
Relief from determination. Any action taken or determination made by the Board of Trustees herein shall be subject to review in a CPLR Article 78 proceeding only.[2]
[2]
Editor's Note: Article 78 of the Civil Practice Law and Rules.
[1]
Editor's Note: Original § 21-48, which preceded this section and which regulated swimming pools, was repealed 11-14-1977 by L.L. No. 6-1977. See Ch. 188, Swimming Pools.
In interpreting and applying the provisions of this chapter, they shall be held to be the minimum requirements for the promotion of the health, safety and morals and general welfare of the Village. It is not intended by this chapter to interfere with or abrogate or annul any Village building code or any rules and regulations of the Board of Health not in conflict with any of the provisions of this chapter; provided, however, that where this chapter imposes a greater restriction upon the use of buildings or premises or upon the height of a building or requires larger open spaces than are imposed or required by such code, rules or regulations, the provisions of this chapter shall control.
The provisions of this chapter shall be enforced by the Building Inspector under the jurisdiction of the Board of Trustees.
In case any building or structure is erected, constructed, reconstructed, altered, repaired, converted or maintained or any building, structure or land is used or any hedge, tree, shrub or other growth is maintained, in violation of this chapter or of any regulations made pursuant hereto, in addition to other remedies provided by law, any appropriate action or proceeding, whether by legal process or otherwise, may be instituted or taken to prevent such unlawful erection, construction, reconstruction, alteration, repair, conversion, maintenance or use; to restrain, correct or abate such violation; to prevent the occupancy of said building, structure or land; and to prevent any illegal act, conduct, business or use in or about such premises.
For any and every violation of the provisions of this chapter, the owner, general agent or contractor of a building or premises where such violation has been committed or shall exist and the lessee or tenant of an entire building or entire premises where such violation has been committed or shall exist and the owner, general agent, contractor, lessee or tenant of any part of a building or premises in which part such violation has been committed or shall exist and the general agent, architect, builder, contractor or any other person who knowingly commits, takes part in or assists in any such violation or who maintains any building or premises in which any such violation shall exist shall be liable on conviction thereof to a fine or penalty not exceeding $250 for each and every offense, and whenever such person shall have been notified by the Building Inspector or by service of summons in a prosecution or in any other way that he is committing such violation of this chapter, each day that he shall continue such violation after such notification shall constitute a separate offense punishable by a like fine or penalty. Such fines or penalties shall be collected as like fines or penalties are now by law collected.