HomeMy WebLinkAbout2003_2_26_Local_Law_No_6 LEGAL NOTICE OF ADOPTION
The following Local Law was adopted by the Town Board of the Town of Mamaroneck
at their meeting of February 26, 2003.
Local Law No. 6 -2003
This local law shall be known as the "Wetlands and Watercourses Protection Law of
the Town of Mamaroneck" Law.
BE IT ENACTED by the Town Board of the Town of Mamaroneck as follows:
Section 1 - Purpose:
The purpose of this local law is to eliminate deficiencies in the Town's existing law
regulating wetlands and to bring the Town's wetlands law into compliance with the
current scientific understanding of the proper regulation of the Town's wetlands.
Section 2 - Repeal and Re-enactment:
Chapter 114 of the Code of the Town of Mamaroneck hereby is repealed and the
following is substituted in its place:
WETLANDS AND WATERCOURSES PROTECTION
Chapter 114
TOWN OF MAMARONECK
§ 114-1. Title; purpose.
§ 114-2. Definitions.
§ 114-3. Applicability.
§ 114-4. Permitted Activities.
§ 114-5. Regulated Activities.
§ 114-6. Exempt Activities.
§ 114-7. Wetland Permits.
§ 114-8. Violations and Penalties.
§ 114-9. Completion of Permitted Regulated Activities.
[[HISTORY: Adopted by the Town Board of the Town of Mamaroneck on Replaces
former Ch. 114, Freshwater Wetlands, adopted 6-30-1986 as L.L. No. 7-1986 (Ch. 88
of 1975 Code). Amendments noted where applicable.]
GENERALREFERENCES
Mamaroneck Environmental Quality Review Law - see Ch. 92.
Surface Water, Erosion and Sediment Control - See Ch. 95.
Flood Damage Prevention - See Ch. 110.
Site Plan Review - See Ch. 177.
Waterfront Revitalization - See Ch. 234.
Zoning - See Ch. 240.
§ 114-1. Title and purpose.
A. Purpose.
(1) This local law shall be known as the "Wetlands and Watercourses Protection
Law of the Town of Mamaroneck." The Town Board of the Town of Mamaroneck finds
and declares it to be public policy of the town to preserve, protect and conserve its tidal
and freshwater wetlands, and watercourses; to prevent despoliation and destruction; to
regulate their use and development; and to secure the natural benefits of wetlands and
watercourses that is consistent with the general welfare and beneficial economic and
social development of the town.
(2) It is therefore the policy of the Town of Mamaroneck to ensure maximum
protection for wetlands and watercourses by discouraging degradation within them and
within their buffers that may adversely affect these natural resources. It is the policy of
the Town to encourage restoration of already degraded or destroyed wetlands,
watercourses and buffers, and to ensure "no net loss" of wetlands and watercourse
areas.
B. Enabling Authority.
This chapter is enacted pursuant to the Municipal Home Rule Law and any and all
applicable laws, rules and regulations of the State of New York. This law establishes a
wetlands regulatory system separate from, and in addition to, any applicable
requirements under State or Federal law. Nothing contained herein shall be deemed to
conflict with any such laws, rules and regulations.
C. Findings of Fact.
(1) The Town of Mamaroneck lands and waters are entirely tributary to Long Island
Sound, a federally recognized estuary of national significance. As such, the protection
of wetlands and watercourse areas within the Town, particularly for their water quality
and habitat functions, is essential to the long-term health and viability of the Sound.
(2) A significant amount of the original complement of freshwater and tidal wetlands
and their associated buffers within the Town have been lost or impaired by draining,
filling, excavating, building, polluting and other acts inconsistent with the natural uses of
such areas. Buffers to existing watercourses have been built upon with a resultant loss
of water quality. Four miles of the Sheldrake River, 19 acres of the East Creek estuary,
and the 26-acre Sheldrake Lake have been placed on the State Priority Waterbodies
List due to stressed or impaired water quality. Remaining wetlands, watercourses and
their buffers are in jeopardy of being lost, despoiled or impaired, directly or
cumulatively, by such acts contrary to the public safety and welfare.
(3) The Town Board of the Town of Mamaroneck has determined that tidal and
freshwater wetlands and watercourses are indispensable and fragile natural resources
with significant development constraints due to flooding, erosion and soil limitations.
Wetlands and watercourses serve a myriad of important ecological functions which
serve to benefit the residents of the town. These functions include, but are not limited
to, the following:
(a) Protecting water resources by providing sources of surface water, recharging
groundwater and aquifers, serving as chemical and biological oxidation basins and/or
functioning as settling basins for naturally occurring sedimentation;
(b) Controlling flooding and stormwater runoff by storing and releasing floodwaters
and stormwater runoff;
(c) Providing nesting, migratory and wintering habitats for diverse wildlife species,
including many on the New York State and federal threatened and endangered species
lists;
(d) Providing areas of unusually high plant productivity which support wildlife diversity
and abundance;
(e) Supporting plant communities specifically adapted for survival in low-oxygen
environments and/or brackish or salt water;
(f) Stabilizing shorelines by protecting against erosion caused by stream currents
and the forces of wave actions;
(g) Serving as nutrient traps for nitrogen and phosphorus and as filters for surface
water pollutants;
(h) Providing breeding and spawning grounds, nursery habitat and food for various
species of aquatic life;
(i) Providing recreation areas for swimming, fishing, boating, hiking, bird watching,
photography and other passive recreational uses; and
Q) Providing open space and visual relief from residential and commercial
development.
D. Legislative Intent.
It is the intent of the Town of Mamaroneck that activities in and around wetlands and
watercourses or their buffers conform with all applicable building codes and other
regulations. Such activities shall not threaten public safety or welfare, or the natural
environment, or cause any nuisances.
§ 114-2. Definitions.
Except where specifically defined herein, all words used in this chapter shall carry their
customary meanings:
APPLICANT -A person or entity who files an application for a permit under this chapter
or a person to whom a wetland permit has been given.
APPROVING AUTHORITY - The Planning Board or its designee.
COASTAL ZONE MANAGEMENT COMMISSION - The duly appointed Coastal Zone
Management Commission of the Town of Mamaroneck and the Village of Larchmont.
DEPOSIT - To fill, grade, place, disturb, or dump any material.
DISCHARGE - The emission of any water, substance, or material into a wetland or
wetland buffer whether or not such substance causes pollution.
DREDGE - To dig out and remove any material.
HYDRIC SOIL - Soil that is saturated, flooded or ponded long enough during the
growing season to develop anaerobic conditions in the upper part, and as further
defined by the technical publication, Federal Manual for Identifying and Delineating
Jurisdictional Wetlands (1989), which manual shall be available for inspection in the
Town Conservation and Building Departments.
HYDROPHYTIC VEGETATION - Macrophytic plant life growing in water, on soils, or
substrate that are at least periodically anaerobic as a result of excessive water content,
and as further defined by the technical publication, Federal Manual for Identifying and
Delineating Jurisdictional Wetlands (1989), which manual shall be available for
inspection in the Town Conservation and Building Departments.
MATERIAL - Substances including, but not limited to, soil, silt, gravel, rock, sand, clay,
peat, mud, debris and refuse; any organic or inorganic compound, chemical agent or
matter; sewage sludge or effluent, including stormwater runoff; or industrial or municipal
solid waste.
MITIGATION PLAN - The plan prepared by the applicant pursuant to Section 114-6
when the applicant has demonstrated that either the losses or impacts to the wetland,
watercourse, or wetland/watercourse buffer are necessary and unavoidable as defined
in Section 114-2 and have been minimized to the maximum extent practicable.
PLANNING BOARD - The Planning Board of the Town of Mamaroneck.
POLLUTION -Any harmful thermal effect or the contamination or rendering unclean or
impure of any wetland or waters by reason of erosion or by any waste or other
materials discharged or deposited therein.
STRUCTURE -Anything constructed or erected, the use of which requires location on
the ground or attachment to something having location on the ground, including but not
limited to signs, tennis courts and swimming pools.
WATERCOURSE -Any natural or artificial, permanent or intermittent, coastal or inland,
public or private water body or water segment, such as ponds, lakes, reservoirs, rivers,
streams, brooks or waterways, which is contained within, flows through, or borders on
the Town of Mamaroneck but shall not include structures as defined by law.
WETLANDS - Any area which meets one or more of the following criteria:
A. Lands and waters of the State that meet the definition provided in Section 25-
0103.1 of the New York State Tidal Wetlands Act (Article 25 of the Environmental
Conservation Law). The approximate boundaries of such lands and waters are
indicated on the official tidal wetlands inventory promulgated by the Commissioner
pursuant to Section 25-0201 of the Act or such an inventory that has been amended or
adjusted pursuant to Section 25-0201.6 of said Act.
B. All other areas 2,500 square feet or larger, that comprise hydric soils or are
inundated or saturated by surface or groundwater at a frequency and duration sufficient
to support, and under normal circumstances do support, a prevalence of hydrophytic
vegetation, as defined by the technical publication, Federal Manual for Identifying and
Delineating Jurisdictional Wetlands (1989), which manual shall be available for
inspection in the Town Conservation and Building Departments.
C. All areas designated as wetlands or watercourses on the Wetlands and
Watercourses Map.
WETLAND/WATERCOURSE BUFFER - The area surrounding a wetland or
watercourse extending one-hundred (100) feet horizontally away from the outermost
boundary of a wetland or watercourse and/or point of mean high water of a wetland or
watercourse.
WETLANDS AND WATERCOURSES MAP - The Town of Mamaroneck Freshwater
Wetlands Map, dated December 1986 or the New York State Department of
Environmental Conservation Tidal Wetlands Map or such map as has been amended
or adjusted and on which are indicated the approximate boundaries of the known
wetlands, watercourses and wetland/watercourse buffers as defined pursuant to this
chapter. The map shall be available for inspection in the Town Conservation and
Building Departments.
WETLAND HYDROLOGY - The sum total of wetness characteristics in areas that are
inundated or have saturated soils for a sufficient duration to support hydrophytic
vegetation.
WETLAND/WATERCOURSE PERMIT OR PERMIT - The permit required under this
law to conduct regulated activities which permit is in addition to and separate from any
other permits required under local, state or federal law.
§ 114-3. Applicability.
A. New and Grandfathered Projects.
(1) The provisions of this chapter shall apply to all regulated activities conducted
within wetlands, watercourses, and their buffers, except for activities for which Town
final approval was obtained or that were physically completed or commenced prior to
the effective date of this ordinance ("Grandfathered Projects").
(2) Grandfathered Projects may be continued without a permit subject to the
following:
(a) That the activity not be expanded or altered in any way that increases its
nonconformity;
(b) That if destroyed, damaged or removed by any cause, Grandfathered Projects
may be replaced, restored or reestablished without a permit provided that the replaced,
restored or reestablished use is no closer to any wetland or watercourse or buffer, will
result in no greater land coverage, and will result in no increased activity than before
damage or destruction.
§ 114-4. Permitted Activities.
The following activities may be conducted within any wetland, watercourse or
wetland/watercourse buffer without a wetlands permit to the extent that they are not
prohibited by any other ordinance:
(1) Repair of existing structures, including interior renovations, walkways, walls,
and docks, where the work does not involve use of any machinery directly within the
wetland or watercourse;
(2) Normal grounds maintenance, including selective trimming and pruning of
vegetation, and removal of dead or diseased vegetation, except through the application
or use of herbicides, within the wetland/watercourse buffer only;
(3) Operation and maintenance of existing dams, retaining walls, terraces, culverts
or other water control structures, and piers or docks as legally existed on the effective
date of this chapter and subject to conditions that apply to nonconforming uses;
(4) The depositing or removal of the natural products of the wetland by recreational
or commercial fishing, and shellfishing, where otherwise legally permitted, and
(5) Public health activities of the Westchester County Department of Health or the
New York State Department of Health for emergencies only.
§ 114-5. Regulated Activities.
Except as provided in § 114-4 hereof, it shall be unlawful to conduct, directly or
indirectly, any of the following activities within any wetland/watercourse or within the
wetland/watercourse buffer unless a permit has been obtained pursuant to § 114-6
hereof:
(1) Placement or construction of any Structure including dams, docks, water-
control devices, groins, bulkheads, berms, floating docks, pilings, bridges, storage
tanks, and other stabilization structures;
(2 Any form of draining, dredging, excavation or removal of material either directly
or indirectly;
(3) Any form of dumping, filling, discharging, or depositing of material either directly
or indirectly;
(4) With the exception of pet containment systems and irrigation systems, the
installation of any service lines, cable conduits or utilities which are either greater than
three (3) feet wide or four (4) feet deep or twenty (20) feet long;
(5) Introduction of any form of pollution, by such means including, but not limited
to, the installation of a septic system, running of a sewer or stormwater outfall or
discharge of sewage treatment effluent, or other solid or liquid waste into or so as to
drain into a wetland or watercourse;
(6) Activities altering or modifying natural drainage patterns, natural features or
contours of wetlands or watercourses;
(7) Installation of any drainage or water supply pipes or wells;
(8) Installation of an impervious surface larger than one hundred (100) square feet;
(9) Operation of construction vehicles and equipment and all-terrain vehicles;
(10) Installation of dry wells, retention basins, filters, open swales or ponds; and
(11) Any other activity that may impair the natural function(s) of a wetland as found
in § 114-1 of this chapter.
§ 114-6. Exempt Activities.
A. Municipal Action.
The Town of Mamaroneck shall be exempt from the provisions of this chapter.
B. Wetland and Watercourse Buffer.
A person may conduct Regulated Activities within a wetlands buffer without having to
obtain a wetlands permit if the person demonstrates to the satisfaction of the Director
of Building Code Enforcement & Land Use Administration that the proposed Regulated
Activity cannot be done in an area outside the wetlands buffer. This exemption shall
apply only where the area of land within the wetlands buffer that will be disturbed by
the Regulated Activity is no greater than 10% of the area of the portion of the wetlands
buffer located on the property of the person wishing to conduct such Regulated Activity.
§ 114-7. Wetland Permits.
A. Permit Applications
(1) Any person proposing to conduct or cause to be conducted a regulated activity
as defined in § 114-5 shall file an application for a permit in duplicate with the Building
Department together with a filing fee. All permit applications must include the following
information:
(a) The name, address and telephone number of the property owner and applicant, if
different;
(b) The street address and tax map designation of the property;
(c) A statement of authority from the owner for any agent making application for a
permit;
(d) A statement of the proposed work and purpose thereof;
(e) A completed environmental assessment form as required by Chapter 92 of the
Town of Mamaroneck's Environmental Quality Review Law, and the New York State
Environmental Quality Review Act; and
(f) A statement that the property owner and applicant will indemnify and hold the Town
or its representatives harmless against any damage or injury in connection with the
activities for which a permit is being sought.
(2) Additional information may be requested by the Approving Authority, including
any of the following:
(A) Complete plans for the proposed site improvements, which shall be certified by
an engineer, architect, land surveyor or landscape architect licensed in the State of
New York, drawn to a scale no less detailed than one inch equals twenty (20) feet, and
showing the following:
(1) The location of all wetlands/watercourse and wetland/watercourse buffer areas,
which shall be determined no earlier that 12 months prior to the date of filing the
application. The finite boundaries of a wetlands/watercourse shall be determined by
field investigation and as defined under § 114-2;
(2) A description of the vegetative cover of the regulated area including dominant
species;
(3) A description of the on-site soil types;
(4) The location of the construction area or area proposed to be disturbed, and its
relation to property lines, roads, buildings and watercourses within 250 feet of the
proposed activity;
(5) The exact locations, specifications and amount of all proposed draining, fill, grading,
dredging and vegetation removal or displacement, and the procedures to be used to do
the work;
(6) The location of any well(s) and depth(s) thereof, and any disposal system within
one-hundred (100) feet of the area(s) to be disturbed;
(7) The existing and proposed contours at two (2) foot intervals in the proposed
disturbed area and to a distance of 50 feet beyond; and elevations of the site and
adjacent lands within 200 feet of the proposed activity.
(8) Details of any temporary or permanent drainage system proposed both for the
conduct of work, and after completion thereof, including locations at any point
discharges, artificial inlets, or other human-made conveyances which would discharge
into the wetland or wetland buffer, and measures proposed to control erosion, both
during and after work;
(9) Where creation of a lake or pond is proposed, details of the construction of any
dams, embankments, outlets or other water control devices, and analysis of the
wetland hydrologic system, including seasonal water fluctuation, inflow/outflow
calculations and subsurface soil, geology and groundwater conditions;
(10) Where creation of a detention basin is proposed, with or without excavation,
details of the construction of any dams, berms, embankments, outlets or other water
control devices, and an analysis of the wetland hydrologic system, including seasonal
water fluctuation, inflow/outflow calculations and subsurface soil, geology and
groundwater conditions;
(11) Details of erosion and sediment control practices, including a diagram showing
what and where erosion and sediment control practices will be implemented and a
schedule for their installation and maintenance and any other information as specified
in Chapter 95, Surface Water, Erosion and Sediment Control;
(12) Functional analysis of the wetlands to be affected showing existing wetlands
formation and impacts to those functions from the proposed activity;
(13) A completed Long-Form Environmental Assessment Form when required by the
State Environmental Quality Review Act; and
(14) All information relating to a permit application, including, but not limited to, the
application itself; additional required materials or information; notices; record of
hearings; and written comments.
(3) Copies of all applicable county, state or federal permits or permit applications that
are required for such work.
(4) An application fee, engineering, and inspection fee in amounts set forth in the fee
schedule approved by the Town Board.
(5) In the event that an application requires the Town of Mamaroneck to incur additional
expenses for technical assistance in the review of the application, the applicant shall
pay the expenses incurred by the Town. The applicant shall be notified of the
expenses and shall deposit said necessary funds with the Town.
B. Procedures for Permits.
(1) No regulated activity shall be conducted without an issuance of a written permit
from the Approving Authority. Application for a permit shall be made in duplicate to the
Approving Authority on forms furnished by the Building Department.
(2) An application shall not be deemed complete unless the Approving Authority
has fully complied with the procedures of the Mamaroneck Environmental Quality
Review Act (Chapter 92) and the State Environmental Quality Review Act (SEAR)
(Article 8 of the State Environmental Conservation Law.)
(3) All information relating to a permit application, including but not limited to the
application itself, additional required materials or information, notices, records of
hearings, written comments and findings shall be maintained on file in the office of the
Town Building Department.
(4) The Approving Authority, its agents or employees, may enter upon any lands or
waters for the purpose of undertaking any investigations, inspections, examination,
survey or other activity for the purpose of this law.
(a) The Building Department shall provide the Applicant with a Notice of Public
Hearing which shall be in a form prescribed by the Approving Authority and shall
specify that the application, including all documents and maps therewith, is available for
public inspection at the Town Building Department and that anyone interested in
speaking either in favor or against the application for a permit may write to the
Approving Authority or speak at the Public Hearing or have representatives do so on
their behalf.
(b) The Building Department shall also notify the applicant of the names and addresses
of all property owners of record within 100 feet of the boundary of the property on
which the proposed regulated activity will be located, as shown in the Town Tax
Assessor's office, of the filing of the wetland permit application. The applicant shall be
responsible for mailing a copy of the Notice of Public Hearing to all of the property
owners so identified by the Building Department no less than 10 days prior to the date
scheduled for the Public Hearing on the application.
(c) The Building Department shall be responsible for notifying federal, state, and local
agencies having jurisdiction over or an interest in the subject matter of the application,
and to provide such agencies with an opportunity to comment.
C. Public Hearings.
The Planning Board shall hold a public hearing on the application at such time it deems
appropriate, and shall give the public at least ten days advance notice thereof. It shall
publish such notice in the official newspaper of the Town. Insofar as possible, any
public hearing on the application shall be integrated with any public hearing required or
otherwise held pursuant to any other law including the Town's Environmental Quality
Review Law (Chapter 92 and the State Environmental Quality Review Act (Article 8).
D. Standards for Permit Decisions.
Factors To Be Considered.
In making its determination to grant, deny or grant with conditions a permit under this
chapter, the Approving Authority shall consider the following:
(1) Any reports from other Commissions (Coastal Zone Management Commission),
Town, County, State and/or Federal agencies;
(2) All relevant facts and circumstances, including but not limited, to the following:
(a) The environmental impact of the proposed action;
(b) The alternatives to the proposed action;
(b) The impact of the proposed activity on wetland functions and the benefits as set
forth in § 114-1 of this Chapter.
(3) The availability of preferable alternative locations on the subject parcel;
(4) The availability of further technical improvements or safeguards that could
feasibly be added to the plan or action;
(5) The possibility of further avoiding reduction of the wetland's or watercourse's
natural capacity to support desirable biological life, prevent flooding, control
sedimentation and/or prevent erosion, facilitate drainage, and provide recreation and
open space; and
(6) The extent to which the public or private benefit derived from such use may or
may not outweigh or justify the possible degradation of the wetland or watercourse, the
interference with the exercise of other property rights, and the impairment or
endangerment of public health, safety or welfare.
E. Required Findings.
No permit shall be issued by the Approving Authority pursuant to this chapter unless
the Approving Authority shall find that the proposed regulated activity is consistent with
the purpose of this law, as set forth under § 114-1.
F. Permit Conditions
(1) Any permit issued pursuant to this chapter may be issued with conditions as
deemed necessary by the Approving Authority.
(2) Every permit issued pursuant to this chapter shall be in written form and shall
contain the following conditions:
(a) Work conducted under a permit shall be open to inspection at any time, including
weekends and holidays, by the Approving Authority, or their designated
representative(s).
(b) The permit shall expire on a specified date that is one year from its issuance.
(c) The permit holder shall notify the Building Department of the date on which the work
is to begin, at least five (5) days in advance of such date.
(d) The Approving Authority's permit shall be maintained and prominently displayed at
the project site during the undertaking of the activities authorized by the permit.
(3) The Approving Authority shall set forth in writing findings and reasons for all
conditions attached to any permit.
G. Bond.
The Approving Authority may require that, prior to commencement of work under any
permit issued pursuant to this law, the Applicant shall post a bond in an amount and
with surety and conditions sufficient to secure compliance with the conditions and
limitations set forth in the permit. The bond shall remain in effect until the Approving
Authority certifies that the conditions of the permit have been satisfied.
H. Other Laws and Regulations.
No permit granted pursuant to this chapter shall remove an applicant's obligation to
comply in all respects with the applicable provisions of any other federal, state or local
law.
I. Mitigation Plan Requirements.
(1) The Approving Authority may require the preparation and implementation of a
mitigation plan by the applicant when the applicant has demonstrated that either losses
or significant impacts to the wetland or wetland buffer are necessary and unavoidable.
In determining whether and to what degree such requirement will be imposed, the
Approving Authority will consider the following:
(a) Whether there is no feasible on-site alternative to the proposed activity, including
reduction in density, change in use, revision of road and lot layout and related site
planning considerations that could accomplish the applicant's objectives; and
(b) Whether there is a feasible alternative to the proposed activity on another site
available to the applicant that is not a wetland or wetland buffer area.
(2) Adequate mitigation for intrusion into wetlands shall ensure no overall net loss
of wetlands in terms of ecological characteristics and function, geographic location and
setting and size. To ensure no net loss mitigation measures must provide for
replacement wetland at a ratio of at least 2.0 to 1.0.
(3) The Approving Authority may require additional information if the plan does not
provide sufficient detail to evaluate the effectiveness of the plan.
(4) On-site mitigation shall be the preferred approach. Off-site mitigation shall be
permitted only in cases where on-site alternatives are not possible; in these instances,
emphasis should be placed on mitigation within the same general watershed as the
original wetland.
(5) The Approving Authority may recommend a fee payable to an established Town
"Wetlands Improvement Fund" in lieu of direct action on behalf of the applicant or
violator to initiate restoration projects, where it determines that the public interest is
better served through such a fee.
(6) The Approving Authority shall monitor or shall cause to have monitored projects
in accordance with the specifications set forth in the permit to determine whether the
elements of the mitigation plan have been met. The Approving Authority may retain
qualified professionals to discharge its obligations hereunder at the expense of the
applicant. The requirements for monitoring shall be specified in the permit and/or
mitigation plan and may include, but not be limited to:
(a) the time period for all monitoring activities, which shall be a minimum of three
(3) years or more, as the Approving Authority deems necessary;
(b) field measurements to verify the size and location of the impacted wetland area
and the restored/replacement wetland area;
(c) the date of completion of the work or restoration/replacement; and
(d) field verification of the structural details, best management practices, mitigation
measures, and vegetative, hydrologic and soils criteria specified in the permit and/or
mitigation plan.
§ 114-8. Violations and Penalties.
The Director of Building or its designee shall be the enforcement officer for this chapter.
No work or activity subject to review under this chapter shall be commenced or
undertaken until a Wetlands permit has been approved by the Planning Board. The
Town of Mamaroneck is specifically empowered to seek injunctive relief restraining any
violation or threatened violation of any provisions of this chapter and/or compel the
restoration of the affected wetland, watercourse or wetland/watercourse buffer to its
condition prior to the violation of the provisions of this chapter.
A. Civil sanctions.
Any person who violates any of the provisions of this chapter including any requirement
with regard to a Wetlands Permits shall be liable for a civil penalty of not more than
three thousand dollars ($3,000) for every such violation. Each consecutive day of
violation will be considered a separate offense. Such civil penalty may be released or
compromised by the Approving Authority;
B. Injunctive Relief.
The Approving Authority shall have power, following a hearing, to direct the violator to
restore the affected wetland to its condition prior to the violation.
C. Criminal sanctions.
Any person, firm or corporation who knowingly, or willfully, violates any of the provisions
of this chapter or permits issued thereunder, upon conviction thereof of the first
offense, shall be guilty of a violation punishable by a fine of not less than five hundred
dollars ($500) and not more than one thousand dollars ($1,000) and for a second
offense and each subsequent offense, shall be guilty of a violation punishable by a fine
of not less than one thousand dollars ($1,000) nor more than two thousand dollars
($2,000) or a term of imprisonment of not more than fifteen (15) days, or both. In
addition to these punishments, any offender may be ordered by the court to restore the
affected wetland to its condition prior to the offense. Each consecutive day of violation
will be considered a separate offense.
D. Stop Work Order.
The Building Department may suspend or revoke a permit in the form of a Stop-Work
Order if it finds that the Applicant or permittee has not complied with any or all of the
terms of such permit, has exceeded the authority granted in the permit, or has failed to
undertake the project in the manner set forth in the approved application.
(1) If a stop-work order is issued it shall be set forth in writing, a copy of which shall
be filed with the Town Building Department, and shall contain the findings and reasons
for issuing the stop-work order pursuant to this section.
(2) The stop work order shall have the effect of suspending all authorizations and
permits granted by the Town or any agency thereof.
(3) The stop work order shall remain in effect until the Approving Authority is
satisfied that the permittee has complied with all terms of the subject permit or until a
final determination is made by the Approving Authority.
§ 114-9. Completion of Permitted Regulated Activities.
A. Within thirty days after completion of all work authorized under a permit issued
in accordance with this chapter, the applicant shall notify the Director of Building of
such completion. For all work undertaken pursuant to permits approved by the Planning
Board, the applicant shall, if required, submit as-built drawings as to the variation from
the permit. Within thirty days of such notification and submission, the Building
Department shall inspect the work for compliance with all conditions of the permit.
B. When all work authorized under a permit is deemed acceptable, the Director of
Building shall issue a certificate of completion.
C. When work authorized under a permit is deemed not acceptable, the Director of
Building or his designee shall so notify the applicant. The notification of noncompliance
shall include a list of all conditions in violation of the terms of the permit and shall
specify a time limit for the correction of all items so listed.
Section 3 - Severability:
Should any provision of this Local Law be declared invalid or unconstitutional by any
court of competent jurisdiction, such declaration of unconstitutionality or invalidity shall
not affect any other provisions of this Local Law, which may be implemented without
the invalid or unconstitutional provisions.
Section 4 - Effective Date:
This Local Law shall become effective immediately upon its filing in the office of the
Secretary of State of the State of New York.