HomeMy WebLinkAboutRID 2003 RECEIVED
So.th,aid Town Cler~
DEPARTMENT OF PLANNING
COUNTY OF SUFFOLK
ROBERT d. OAFFNEY
SUFFOLK COUNTY EXECLmVE
October 28, 2003
THOMAS ISLES, AICP
DIRECTOR OF PLANNING
Town Clerk
Town of Southold
Gentlemen:
Application of the Town Board to create a Rural Incentive District in the
Town of Southold (Resolution #708).
Please be advised that pursuant to Sections A 14-14 to 23 of the Suffolk County
Administrative Code, the above captioned application will not be reviewed until the following
information is submitted through the offices of the municipal referring agency.
1. A copy of the notice of public hearing; and
2. Recommendations of the Town Planning Board;
Very truly yours,
Thomas Isles
Director of Planning
GGN:cc
S/s Gerald G. Newman
Chief Planner
ELIZABETH A. NEVILLE
TOWN CLERK
REGISTRAR OF VITAL STATISTICS
MARRIAGE OFFICER
RECORDS MANAGEMENT OFFICER
FREEDOM OF INFOP~IATION OFFICER
Town Hall, 53095 Main Road
P.O. Box 1179
Southold, New York 11971
Fax (631) 765-6145
Telephone (631) 765-1800
southoldtown.northfork.net
OFFICE OF THE TOWN CLERK
TOWN OF SOUTHOLD
November 5, 2003
Re: #708 resolution regarding a proposed Local taw in
relation to the creation of a "Rural Incentive District"
Martin Sidor
Southold Town Land Preservation Committee
2010 Oregon Road
Mattituck, New York 11952
Dear Mr. Sidor:
Enclosed please find two (2) draft copies of the "Rural Incentive District". One prepared on
9/24/03 by Lisa Kombrink and the other prepared by Councilman William D. Moore on October
8, 2003 and amended several times to October 17, 2003. I have been advised by Councilman
Wickham of the Town Board that these two (2) drafts should have been included in the original
transmittal of this resolution. Please take them into consideration when reviewing and making
recommendations on the above referenced resolution number 708. A certified copy of this
resolution is attached. Certified copies of these resolutions are attached.
Please prepare an official report defining the Planning Board's recommendations with regard to
this proposed local law and forward same to me at your earliest convenience. These proposed
local laws have also been sent to the Southold Town Planning Board, Suffolk County Planning
Departmem, the New York State Agriculture & Markets, the Southold Town Agricultural
Advisory Committee and the Southold Town Land Preservation Committee for their review.
Should you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact me. Thank you.
Very truly yours,
Southold Town Clerk
Enclosures (2)
cc: Town Board
Town Attorney
ELIZABETH A. NEVILLE
TOWN CLERK
REGIST~ OF VITAL STATISTICS
MARRIAGE OFFICER
RECORDS MANAGEMENT OFFICER
FREEDOM OF INFORMATION OFFICER
Town Hall, 53095 Main Road
P.O. Box 1179
Southold, New York 11971
Fax (631) 765-6145
Telephone (631) 765-1800
southoldtown.north fork.net
OFFICE OF THE TOWN CLERK
TOWN OF SOUTHOLD
November 5, 2003
RE:#708 regarding a proposed Local Law
relation to the creation of a "Rural Incentive
District".
in
Thomas Isles, Director of Planning
Suffolk County Department of Planning
Post Office Box 6100
Hauppauge, New York 11788-0099
Dear Mr. Isles:
Enclosd please fred two (2) draft copies of the "Rural Incentive District". One prepared on
9/24/03 by Lisa Kombrink and the other prepared by Councilman William D. Moore on October
8, 2003 and amended several times to October 17, 2003. I have been advised by Councilman
Wickham of the Town Board that these two (2) drafts should have been included m the original
transmittal. Please take them into consideration when reviewing and making recommendations
on the above referenced resolution number 708. A certified copy of this resolution is attached.
Please prepare an official report defining the Department of Planning's recommendations with
regard to this proposed local law and forward same to me at your earliest convenience. This
proposed local law have also been sent to the Southold Planning Board, the New York State
Agriculture & Markets, the Southold Town Agricultural Advisory Committee and the Southold
Town Land Preservation Committee for their review. Should you have any questions, please do
not hesitate to contact me. Thank you.
Very truly yours,
Southold Town Clerk
Enclosures (1)
cc: Town Board
Town Attorney
ELIZABETH A. NEVILLE
TOWN CLERK
REGISTRAR OF VITAL STATISTICS
MARRIAGE OFFICER
RECORDS MANAGEMENT OFFICER
FREEDOM OF INFORMATION OFFICER
Town Hall, 53095 Main Road
P.O. Box 1179
Southold, New York 11971
Fax (631) 765-6145
Telephone (631) 765-1800
southoldtown.northfork.net
OFFICE OF THE TOWN CLERK
TOWN OF SOUTHOLD
November 5, 2003
Re: #708 resolution regarding a proposed Local law in
relation to the creation of a "Rural Incentive District"
Bennett Orlowski, Jr., Chairman
Southold Town Planning Board
Southold Town Hall
Soutbold, New York 11971
Dear Mr. Orlowski:
Enclosed please find two (2) draft copies of thc "Rural Incentive District". One prepared on
9/24/03 by Lisa Kombrink and the other prepared by Councilman William D. Moore on October
8, 2003 and amended several 6roes to October 17, 2003. I have been advised by Councilman
Wickham of the Town Board that these two (2) drafts should have been included in the original
transmittal of this resolution. Please take them into consideration when reviewing and making
recommendations on the above referenced resolution number 708. A certified copy of this
resolution is attached. Certified copies of these resolutions are attached.
Please prepare an official report defining the Planning Board's recommendations with regard to
this proposed local law and forward same to me at your earliest convenience. These proposed
local laws have also been sent to the Suffolk County Planning Department, the New York State
Agriculture & Markets, the Southold Town Agricultural Advisory Committee and the Southold
Town Land Preservation Department & Committee for their review. Should you have any
questions, please do not hesitate to contact me. Thank you.
Very truly yours,
ville t'
Southold Town Clerk
Enclosures (3)
cc: Town Board
Town Attorney
ELIZABETH A. NEVH J.E
TOWN CLERK
REGISTRAR OF VITAL STATISTICS
MARRIAGE OFFICER
RECORDS IVI2~AGEMENT OFFICER
FREEDOM OF INFORMATION OFFICER
Town Hall, 53095 Main Road
P.O. Box 1179
Southold, New York 11971
Fax (631) 765-6145
Telephone (631) 765-1800
southoldtown.northfork.net
OFFICE OF THE TOWN CLERK
TOWN OF SOUTHOLD
November 5, 2003
Re: #708 resolution regarding a proposed Local law in
relation to the creation of a "Rural Incentive District"
Kenneth Crmdens
New York State Agriculture & Markets
1 Winners Circle
Albany, New York 12235
Dear Mr. Omdens:
Enclosed please find two (2) draft copies of the "Rural Incentive District". One prepared on
9/24/03 by Lisa Kombrink and the other prepared by Councilman William D. Moore on October
8, 2003 and amended several times to October 17, 2003. I have been advised by Councilman
Wickham of the Town Board that these two (2) drafts should have been included in the original
transmittal of this resolution. Please take them into consideration when reviewing and making
recommendations on the above referenced resolution number 708. A certified copy of this
resolution is attached. Certified copies of these resolutions are attached.
Please prepare an official report defining the Planning Board's recommendations with regard to
this proposed local law and forward same to me at your earliest convenience. These proposed
local laws have also been sent to the Southold Town Planning Board, Suffolk County Planning
Department, the New York State Agriculture & Markets, the Southold Town Agricultural
Advisory Committee and the Southold Town Land Preservation Committee for their review.
Should you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact me. Thank you.
Very truly yours,
evilld
Southold Town Clerk
Enclosures (2)
cc: Town Board
Town Attorney
ELIZABETH A. NEVILLE
TOWN CLERK
REGISTKAR OF VITAL STATISTICS
MARRIAGE OFFICER
RECORDS MANAGEMENT OFFICER
FREEDOM OF INFORMATION OFFICER
Town Hall, 53095 Main Road
P.O. Box 1179
Southold,.New York 11971
Fax (~31) 765-6145
Telephone (631) 765-1800
southoldtown.northfork.net
OFFICE OF THE TOWN CLERK
TOWN OF SOUTHOLD
November 5, 2003
Re: #708 resolution regarding a proposed Local law in
relation to the creation of a "Rural Incentive District"
Melissa Spiro, Depm'tment Head
Land Preservation Department
53095 Main Road
Southold, New York 11971
Dear Ms. Spiro:
Enclosed please find two (2) draft copies of the "Rural Incentive District". One prepared on
9/24/03 by Lisa Kombrink and the other prepared by Councilman William D. Moore on October
8, 2003 and amended several times to October 17, 2003. I have been advised by Councilman
Wickham of the Town Board that these two (2) drafts should have been included in the original
transmittal of this resolution. Please take them into consideration when reviewing and making
recommendations on the above referenced resolution number 708. A certified copy of this
resolution is attached. Certified copies of these resolutions are attached.
Please prepare an official report defining the Planning Board's recommendations with regard to
this proposed local law and forward same to me at your earliest convenience. These proposed
local laws have also been sent to the Southold Town Planning Board, Suffolk County Planning
Department, the New York State Agriculture & Markets, the Southold Town Agricultural
Advisory Committee and the Southold Town Land Preservation Committee for their review.
Should you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact me. Thank you.
Very truly yours,
Southold Town Clerk
Enclosures (2)
cc: Town Board
Town Attorney
ELIZABETH A. NEVILLE
TOWN CLERK
REGISTRAR OF VITAL STATISTICS
MARRIAGE OFFICER
RECORDS MANAGEMENT OFFICER
FREEDOM OF INFORMATION OFFICER
Town Hall, 53095 M~in Road
P.O. Box 1179
Southold, New York 11971
Fax (631) 765-6145
Telephone (631) 765-1800
southoldto~n.northfork.net
OFFICE OF THE TOWN CLERK
TOWN OF SOUTHOLD
November 5, 2003
Re: #708 resolution regarding a proposed Local law in
relation to the creation of a "Rural Incentive District"
Reynold Blum, Chairman
Southold Town Land Preservation Conunittee
Post Office Box 151
Peconic, New York 11958
Dear Mr. Blum:
Enclosed please find two (2) draft copies of the "Rural Incentive District". One prepared on
9/24/03 by Lisa Kombrink and the other prepared by Councilman William D. Moore on October
8, 2003 and amended several times to October t7, 2003. I have been advised by Councilman
Wickham of the Town Board that these two (2) drafts should have been included in the original
transmittal of this resolution. Please take them into consideration when reviewing and making
recommendations on the above referenced resolution number 708. A certified copy of this
resolution is attached. Certified copies of these resolutions are attached.
Please prepare an official report defining the Planning Board's recommendations with regard to
this proposed local law and forward same to me at your earliest convenience. These proposed
local laws have also been sent to the Southold Town Planning Board, Suffolk County Planning
Department, the New York State Agriculture & Markets, the Southold Town Agricultural
Advisory Committee and the Southold Town Land Preservation Committee for their review.
Should you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact me. Thank you.
Very truly yours,
Southold Town Clerk
Enclosures (2)
cc: Town Board
Town Attorney
ELIZABETH A. NEVILLE
TOWN CLERK
REGISTRAR OF VITAL STATISTICS
MARRIAGE OFFICER
RECORDS MANAGEMENT OFFICER
FREEDOM OF INFo'~MATION OFFICER
Town Hall, 53095 Main Road
P.O. Box 1179
Southold, New York 11971
Fax (631) 765-6145
Telephone (631) 765-1800
southoldtown.northfork.net
OFFICE OF THE TOWN CLERK
TOWN OF SOUTHOLD
October 23, 2003
Bennett Orlowski, Jr., Chairman
Southold Town Planning Board
Southold Town Hall
Southold, New York 11971
Dear Mr. Orlowski:
The Southold Town Board at their regular meeting held on October 21, 2003 adopted the
following resolutions:
· #705 regarding a proposed Local Law to create a new Article solely for the Agricultural-
Conservation (A-C) and Low Density R-80 District;
· #706 regarding a proposed Local Law to amend the existing Affordable Housing District
(AHD) Law to create permanent Affordable Housing; and
· #708 regarding a proposed Local Lawto create a Rural Incentive District.
Certified copies of these resolutions are attached.
Please prepare official reports defining the Planning Board's recommendations with regard to
these proposed local laws and forward same to me at your earliest convenience. These proposed
local laws have also been sent to the Suffolk County Planning Department, the New York State
Agriculture & Markets, the Southold Town Agricultural Advisory Committee and the Southold
Town l_and Preservation Department & Committee for their review. Should you have any
questions, please do not hesitate to contact me. Thank you.
Very truly yours,
Southold Town Clerk
Enclosures (3)
cc: Town Board
Town Attorney
ELIZABETH A. NEVILLE
TOWN CLERK
REGISTRAR OF VITAL STATISTICS
MARRIAGE OFFICER
RECORDS MANAGEMENT OFFICER
FREEDOM OF INFORMATION OFFICER
Town Hall, 53095 Main Road
P.O. Box 1179
Southold, New York 11971
Fax (631) 765-6145
Telephone (631) 765-1800
southoldtown.northfork.net
OFFICE OF THE TOWN CLERK
Thomas Island, Director of Planning
Suffolk County Department of Planning
Post Office Box 6100
Hauppauge, New York 11788-0099
Dear Mr. Isles:
The Southold Town Board at their regular meeting held on October 21, 2003 adopted the
following resolutions:
· #705 regarding a proposed Local Law to create a new Article solely for the Agricultural-
Conservation (A-C) and Low Density R-80 District;
· #706 regarding a proposed Local Law to amend the existing Affordable Housing District
(Al-ID) Law to create permanent Affordable Housing; and
· #708 regarding a proposed Local Law to create a Rural Incentive District.
Certified copies of these resolutions are attached.
Please prepare official reports defining the Planning Board's recommendations with regard to
these proposed local laws and forward same to me at your earliest convenience. These proposed
local laws have also been sent to the Southoid Town Planning Board, the New York State
Agriculture & Markets, the Southold Town Agricultural Advisory Committee and the Southold
Town Land Preservation Department & Committee for their review. Should you have any
questions, please do not hesitate to contact me. Thank yotr
Very truly yours,
Southold Town Clerk
Enclosures (3)
cc: Town Board
Town Attorney
ELIZABETH A. NEVILLE
TOWN CLERK
REGISTRAR OF VITAL STATISTICS
MARRIAGE OFFICER
RECORDS MANAGEMENT OFFICER
FREEDOM OF INFOtLMATION OFFICER
Town Hall, 53095 Main Road
P.O. Box 1179
Southold, New York 11971
Fax (631) 765-6145
Telephone (631) 765-1800
southoldtown.northfork.net
OFFICE OF THE TOWN CLERK
Kenneth Grudens
New York State Agriculture & Markets
1 Winners Circle
Albany, New York 12235
Daer Mr. Gmdens:
The Southold Town Board at their regular meeting held on October 21, 2003 adopted the
following resolutions:
· #705 regarding a proposed Local Law to create a new Article solely for the Agricultural-
Conservation (A-C) and Low Density R-80 District;
· #706 regarding a proposed Local Law to amend the existing Affordable Housing District
(AHD) Law to create permanent Affordable Housing; and
* #708 regarding a proposed Local Law to create a Rural Incentive District.
Certified copies of these resolutions are attached.
Please prepare official reports defining the Planning Board's recommendations with regard to
these proposed local laws and forward same to me at your earliest convenience. These proposed
local laws have also been sent to the Southold Town Planning Board, the New York State
Agriculture & Markets, the Southold Town Agricultural Advisory Committee and the Southold
Town Land Preservation Depmht~ent & Committee for their review. Should you have any
questions, please do not hesitate to contact me. Thank you.
Very truly yours, .
Southold Town Clerk
Enclosures (3)
cc: Town Board
Town Attorney
ELIZABETH A. NEVILLE
TOWN CLERK
REGISTRAR OF VITAL STATISTICS
MARRIAGE OFFICER
· '~ RECOI~DS MANAGEMENT OFFICER
FREEDOM OF INFORMATION OFFICER
Town Hall, 53095 Main Road
P.O. Box 1179
Southold, New York 11971
Fax (631) 765-6145
Telephone (631) 765-1800
southoldtown.northfork.net
OFFICE OF THE TOWN CLERK
TOWN OF SOUTHOLD
October 23, 2003
Melissa Spiro, Department Head
Land Preservation Department
53095 Main Road
Southold, New York 11971
Dear Ms. Spiro:
The Southold Town Board at their regular meeting held on October 21, 2003 adopted the
following resolutions:
· #705 regarding a proposed Local Law to create a new Article solely for the Agricultural-
Conservation (A-C) and Low Density R~80 District;
· #706 regarding a proposed Local Law to amend the existing Affordable Housing District
(Al-ID) Law to create permanent Affordable Housing; and
· #708 regarding a proposed Local Law to create a Rural Incentive District.
Certified copies of these resolutions are attached.
Please prepare official reports defining the Planning Board's recommendations with regard to
these proposed local laws and forward same to me at your earliest convenience. These proposed
local laws have also been sent to the Southold Planning Board, Suffolk County Planning
Department, the New York State Agriculture & Markets, the Southold Town Agricultural
Advisory Committee and the Southold Town Land Preservation Committee for their review.
Should you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact me. Thank you.
Very truly yours,
-
~¢Neville~~-~
Southold Town Clerk
Enclosures (3)
cc: Town Board
Town Attorney
ELIZABETH A. NEVILLE
TOWN CLERK
REGISTRAR OF VITAL STATISTICS
MARRIAGE OFFICER
RECORDS MANAGEMENT OFFICER
FREEDOM OF INFORMATION O~FICER
Town Hall, 53095 Main Road
P.O. Box 1179
Southold, New York 11971
Fax (631) 765-6145
Telephone (631) 765-1800
southoldtown.northfork.net
OFFICE OF THE TOWN CLERK
TOWN OF SOUTHOLD
October 23, 2003
Herbert J. Adler, Jr., Chairman
Land Preservation Committee
Post Office Box 308
Southold, New York 11971
Dear Ms. Spiro:
The Southold Town Board at their regular meeting held on October 21, 2003 adopted the
following resolutions:
* #705 regarding a proposed Local Law to create a new Article solely for the Agricultural-
Conservation (A-C) and Low Density R-80 District;
· #706 regarding a proposed Local Law to amend the existing Affordable Housing District
(AHD) Law to create permanent Affordable Housing; and
· #708 regarding a proposed Local Law to create a Rural Incentive District.
Certified copies of these resolutions are attached.
Please prepare official reports defining the Planning Board's recommendations with regard to
these proposed local laws and forward same to me at your earliest convenience. These proposed
local laws have also been sent to the Southold Planning Board, Suffolk County Planning
Depathnent, the New York State Agriculture & Markets, the Southold Town Agricultural
Advisory Committee and the Southold Town Land Preservation Committee for their review.
Should you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact me. Thank you.
Very truly yours,
eville'
Southold Town Clerk
Enclosures (3)
cc: Town Board
Town Attorney
ELIZABETH A. NEVILLE
TOWN CLEP, K
REGISTRAR OF VITAL STATISTICS
MARRIAGE OFFICER
RECORDS MANAGEMENT OFFICER
FREEDOM OF 1NFORIVIATION OFFICER
Town Hall, 53095 Main Road
P.O. Box 1179
Southold, New York 11971
Fax (631) 765-6145
Telephone (631) 765-1800
southoldtown.nort hfork.net
OFFICE OF THE TOWN CLERK
TOWN OF SOUTHOLD
November 5, 2003
Re://708 resolution regarding a proposed Local law in
relation to the creation ora "Rural Incentive District"
Robert Van Bourgondien
Southold Town Agricultural Advisory Committee
Post Office Box 2
Peconic, New York 11958
Dear Mr. Van Bourgondien:
Enclosed please find two (2) draft copies of the "Rural Incentive District". One prepared on
9/24/03 by Lisa Kombrink and the other prepared by Councilman William D. Moore on October
8, 2003 and amended several times to October 17, 2003. I have been advised by Councilman
Wickham of the Town Board that these two (2) drafts should have been included in the original
transmittal of this resolution. Please take them into consideration when reviewing and making
mcommendatoos on the above referenced resolution number 708. A certified copy of this
resolution is attached. Certified copies of these resolutions are attached.
Please prepare an official report defining the Planning Board's recommendations with regard to
this proposed local law and forward same to me at your earliest convenience. These proposed
local laws have also been sent to the Southold Town Planning Board, Suffolk County Planning
Department, the New York State Agriculture & Markets, the Southold Town Agricultural
Advisory Committee and the Southold Town Land Preservation Committee for their review.
Should you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact me. Thank you.
Very truly yours,
Southold Town Clerk
Enclosures (2)
cc: Town Board
Town Attorney
DRAFT
9/24~03
RURAL INCENTIVE DISTRICT
Section 1. Amend Chapter 100 by creating a new Article XX, as follows:
Sec. iO0-XX. Purpose.
Open space and farmland constitute one of the components of the Town
of Southold's rural character. These areas provide the cornerstone of the land
use environment valued by year-round residents as well as visitors. Numerous
planning documents and studies in the Town's Master Plan over the past 20 ~
years have recognized this value and have recommended strategies to preserve
these resources. In recent years, the Town has engaged in an aggressive effort
to preserve open space and farmland through the use of a variety of
conservation tools, including purchase of development rights, outright purchase,
and cluster development. The Town has joined with other governmental
agencies at the Federal, State and County levels, and with conservation groups
such as the Peconic Land Trust and the Nature Conservancy, to further its
efforts.
In addition, the Town has made use of various long and short-term
funding options to purchase interests in open space and farmland, such as the
Community Preservation Fund (CPF) transfer tax, voter-approved bonds and
grants. Despite these initiatives, the Town's rural character remains at risk.
Growing economic and development pressures threaten to consume the
remaining resources. The Town Board recognizes that preservation efforts must
continue, indeed intensify, in accordance with the Town's tqaster Plan. ¢~ (~
Additional funds must be acquired, and if possible, leveraged, to enable the
Town to continue to purchase interests in open space and farm[and and retain
the Town's rural character.
The Town Board determines that these efforts can best be accomplished
through a number of legislative initiatives, including the Rural Incentive District
("RID"). This local law creates a new Planned Development District, or floating
zone classification. Known as the Rural Incentive District ("RID'), the RID is
intended to encourage the preservation and conservation of open space and
farmland, while preserving land equity. It is also intended to provide the Town
('a mechanism ~p~'which it canlacquire and accumulate monies for the purchase of
these lands. New York State Town Law Section 261-b provides the framework to
accomplish this.
If property is rezoned to the RID designation, the landowner and the
Town will enter into a minimum 10-year preservation easement, during which
the land, depending on its currei~t use, will remain either as open space or as
farmland (as defined in Section 301 of the Agricultural and Markets Law). During
this time the Town, as welt as other governmental agencies and preservation
organizations, can explore a number of preservation options with the landowner,
including purchase of development rights, transfer of development rights or
outright acquisition. Procedures at the Town Level are established for
negotiations, as well as restrictions for use and development to the exclusion of
the underlying zoning district. Certain incentives are also offered to preserve
equity, as well as to encourage continued agricultural production as a principal
use,
100-XX. Definitions.
The terms and words used in this Article shall be given the meaning and uses as
defined in this Chapter, or if not defined, those generally attributable to
them in other sections of this Chapter.
100-XX. Classification.
A. The Rural Incentive District (RID) is established as a Planned
Development District pursuant to Town Law Section 261-b.
B. The RID classification may be considered on a floating zone basis.
Upon rezoning to the RID classification, all principal and accessory uses
listed in the RID are permitted in the previous underlying zoning
district(s). In each case, the restrictions, controls and incentives of the
RID shall apply to the exclusion of the underlying zoning classification. All
properties meeting the standards and criteria set forth in this Article shall
be deemed eligible for rezoning as a RID.
100-XX. Requirements for Consideration.
A. A parcel shall be ten (10) acres in size or more, and may consist of a lot
designated as a separate tax map number, or of two or more contiguous
lots with separate tax map numbers. A landowner may also apply for the
rezoning of additional contiguous land, less than l0 acres in size, to
property already in the RID classification.
B. A parcel must be used for agricultural production, as defined in Section
301 of the Agricultural and Markets Law, or for open space.
C. The Town Board must find that the parcel provides an environmental,
physical, economic, aesthetic, social or cultural benefit to the Town.
Properties which fail to provide such a benefit, or those covered with a
significant amount of permanent structures shall not be eligible.
100-XX. Zoninq Approval.
The Town Board may rezone land from that of the underlying zoning district to
the RID classification upon written application of the landowner pursuant to this
Article.
100-XX. Application and review procedure.
A. Application. An applicant shall submit 2 copies of the following to the
Town Board:
1. Application form approved by the Town Board, including the name
of the owner and/or applicant, description of current use of the
property, and disclosure affidavit;
2. Deed(s);
3. Survey or map showing areas to be included within the proposed
RTD, and any improvements on the property.
Referral. After receipt of a complete application, the Town Board shall
refer the application to the Planning Board, Land Preservation Committee
and the Agricultural Advisory Committee, if applicable, for review and
recommendation. The Planning Board and other committees shall provide
a report within thirty (30) days of the date of the meeting at which the
referral is received. No action shall be taken by the Town Board until
receipt of the Planning Board report or the expiration of its 30-day review
period, whichever comes first. The review period may be extended by
mutual consent of the applicant, the Town Board and the Planning Board.
Planning Board Report. The Planning Board may recommend approval,
approval with conditions, or disapproval of the rezoning. In preparing its
report, the Planning board shall take into account the recommendations of
the GEIS and supporting documents, the studies contained in the Master
Plan, the existing characteristics of the property and the surrounding
properties, the environmental, social, physical, aesthetic, economic and
cultural aspects of the property and its surroundings, and such other
factors as may be necessary to carry out the purposes of this Article and
this Chapter. ][f the Planning Board recommends disapproval, its report
shall provide detailed reasons for the disapproval.
Public Hearing. Within thirty (30) days of the receipt of the Planning
Board report, or the expiration of the Planning Board review period,
whichever occurs first, the Town Board shall hold a public hearing on the
application, with the same notice prescribed for zoning amendments,
Town Board Action. Within thirty (30) days of the closing date of the
public hearing, the Town Board shall either approve or disapprove the
rezoning. If approved, the Town Board shall amend the
zoning map of the Town in accordance with the approval and forward a
copy of the resolution containing the decision to the Planning Board, the
Land Preservation Committee, the Agricultural Advisory Committee, if
applicable, and the applicant.
SEQRA. The Town Board shall deem each request for the rezoning to RID
to be a Type i action, but in making its determination of significance, the
Board shall consider the Town's GElS and its analysis of the impacts of
rezoning to RID.
100-XX. Conditions for Approval.
A. Easement.
1. Following a public hearing and approval of the rezoning by resolution
pursuant to Chapter 100 of the Town Code and Chapter 247 of the
General Municipal Law, the Landowner shall offer a Preservation
Easement (the "Easement") to the Town. The Town may accept such an
Easement, which shall include the following:
a. An agreement that the property will remain undeveloped, or
in agricultural production as defined by Section 301 of the
Agricultural and Markets Law, as the case may be, for a
minimum of ten (10) years, except as provided in Section
iO0-XX;
b. Restrictions regarding permitted principal and accessory uses
on the property;
c. Restrictions for the construction of principal and accessory
structures on the property;
d. Procedures limiting any subdivision of the property to a
Conservation Subdivision;
e. Density and open space incentives and residential yield, as
defined in Section iO0-XX of this Article;
f. Termination procedures as set forth in Section 100-XX of this
Article.
2. The easement shall be in a form acceptable to the Town Attorney's
office and consistent with the Town's form of Preservation Easement.
3. The easement shall be recorded in the Office of the Suffolk County
Clerk.
B. Permitted Uses and Structures During the Easement Period.
Open Space. Lands which are not in agricultural production shall
remain as open space. Certain ancillary structures may be permitted,
subject to Article X of this Chapter.
2. Agricultural Lands. Lands in agricultural production shall continue to
be used pursuant to this Chapter. Improvements to existing
structures and the construction of new improvements are subject to
the requirements of Article X of this Chapter.
C. Negotiation During the Easement Period.
At any time during the easement period, but in any event at
least 6 months before the end of the easement period, the
Town's option to purchase the development rights or fee title
of all or of part of the parcel may be exercised. This option
may be initiated at the option of either the Town or the
landowner, by written notice to the other.
The Town must obtain an appraisal at its expense [or use
points-based appraisal system] and make an offer within 60
days of receipt of the written notice. The offer shall be based
on an appraisal of the highest and best use of the property,
and taking into account the density incentive defined in the
Easement (Section 100--XX herein). If an agreement is not
reached within 30 days after the offer, or if the time is not
extended by mutual consent of the parties, the landowner
may obtain a second appraisal, at his expense, within 30 days
and continue negotiations.
If a second appraisal is obtained by the landowner and the
parties cannot negotiate a fair price within 30 days of receipt
of the second appraisal, the parties may obtain a third
appraisal from a mutually agreed appraiser. The Town shall
make a final offer within 30 days after receipt of the third
appraisal.
If the parties fail to reach an agreement on terms, the
property shall retain its RID designation until the easement
expires. Upon expiration, the property shall revert to the
current zoning.
If the Town fails to make an offer during the easement
period, the landowner may develop the property in
accordance with the incentives set forth in the Easement,
subject to subdivision procedures set forth in Chapter IO0-XX.
An application for development must be submitted within one
year after expiration of the easement. If an application is not
submitted within the required time, the property shall revert
to the underlying zoning in effect at that time.
D. Subdivision.
During the easement period, a landowner may apply to develop the
property as a subdivision, pursuant to Article XX of this Chapter. The
development plan must preserve at least eighty (80) per cent of the
property through one or more conservation options, including, but not
limited to, donation, and/or sale or transfer of development rights. During
the application process, the RID shall remain in effect.
E. Incentives.
1. tn consideration for lands remaining as open space or in agricultural
production during the Easement, the landowner will receive an increased
density incentive as follows:
(Formerly A-C, R-80 or R-40): 1 dwelling unit per 80,000 square feet;
This density incentive shall be used for appraisal purposes in calculating
the highest and best use of the property.
F. Term of Easement.
The minimum term shall be 10 years. A landowner may extend the
Easement by filing a written notification with the Town Clerk at
least six (6) months before the expiration of the initial ten (10)
year term.
A landowner may request early termination of the Easement by
filing a written request with the Town Clerk no sooner than 7 years
following the date of the Easement. The Town Board shall hold a
public hearing upon notice, and may, in its discretion, grant such a
request upon a showing of undue hardship or extraordinary
circumstances, including but not limited to death, illness or
catastrophic economic loss. The landowner may also request
development according to the density set forth in the RID. The
Town Board may, at its discretion, grant this additional request.
G. Article 78 Procedure.
A person aggrieved by a decision of the Town Board or the Planning
Board under this Article may file an Article 78 proceeding. Such
proceeding shall be commenced within 30 days of the filing of the
decision with the office of the Town Clerk.
Section 2. Severability.
If any clause, sentence, paragraph, section or part of this Local Law, now or
as it may be amended, shall be adjudged by any court of competent jurisdiction
to be invalid, such judgment shall not affect, impair or invalidate the remainder
thereof, but shall be confined in its operation to the clause, sentence, paragraph,
section or part thereof directly involved in the controversy in which such
judgment shall have been rendered.
Section 3. Effective Date.
This Article shall take effect upon filing with the Secretary of State pursuant
to Municipal Home Rule Law.
MEMORANDUM
FOR DISCUSSION ITEM IV
To:
From:
Date:
Subject:
Southold Town Board
William D. Moore
October 17, 2003
Rural Incentive District
Enclosed please find a draft of a local law to creat~e a R~I Incentive District, a
part of the Comprehensive Implementation Strategy we~he first draft provided
by Lisa Kombrink, Esq. forms the foundation of this proposal. I have provided her with
this draft for her review, and have asked her to provide her input prior to our meeting on
Tuesday.
8 October 2003
3:21 PM
Amended
9 October 2003
12:27 PM
Amended
10/11/2003 6:18 AM
Amended
10/17/03 11:16:07 AM
RURAL iNCENTIVE DISTRICT
Section 1. Amend Chapter 100 by creating a new Article XX as follows:
Sec.100-XX Purpose
Farmland and the agricultural industry constitute one of the critical components of
the Town of Southold's rural character. Farmland provides a cornerstone of the land use
environment valued by year-round residents as well as visitors. Numerous planning
documents and studies done by the Town as part of its comprehensive planning over the
past 20 years have recognized this value and recommended strategies to preserve these
resources. In recent years, the Town has engaged in an aggressive effort to preserve
farmland through the use of a variety of conservation tools, including the purchase of
development rights, outright fee title purchase, and cluster development. The Town has
joined with other governmental agencies at the Federal, State and County levels and with
conservations groups to further its efforts.
In addition, the Town has a 20year record of supporting preservation land
purchase by making use of various long and short-term funding options to purchase
interests in farmland, such as the voter-approved Community Preservation Fund (CPF)
transfer tax through the year 2020, voter-approved bonds and grants. The CPF legislation,
which authorizes the prioritization of land use preservation efforts, directs that farmland
shall be given the highest priority. Despite these initiatives, the Town's rural character
and quality of life remains at risk. The Town Board recognizes that preservation efforts
must continue, indeed intensify, in accordance with the Town's comprehensive planning
goals. Future funds must be leveraged, to enable the Town to continue to purchase
interests in farmland and reta/n the Town's rural character.
The Town Board determines that these efforts can best be accomplished through a
number of legislative initiatives, including zoning changes and a Planned Development
District ("PDD"), or floating zone classification. This PDD shall be known as the Rural
Incentive District ("RID"), and shall be intended to encourage the maximum preservation
of farmland while protecting operating farms against uncertainty that may be created
through the implementation of land use regulations. It is also intended to provide the
Town with time by which it can accumulate monies for the purchase of development
fights from these lands. New York State Town Law section 261-b provides the
framework and statutory authorization to accomplish these goals.
If property is rezoned to the RID designation, the landowner and the Town shall
enter into a minimum 1 O-year preservation easement, during which the land will remain
as agricultural land as defined in Section 25-30 of the Code of the Town of Southold.
During this time, the Town, as well as other governmental agencies and preservation
organizations, can explore a number o£ preservation options with the landowner including
purchase of development rights or outright acquisition. Procedures at the Town level are
established for the negotiation process, as well as restrictions on use and development to
the exclusion of the underlying zoning district. Certain incentives also are offered to
2
provide a baseline of collateral certainty, as well as to encourage continued agricultural
production as a principal use.
100-XX Definitions:
The terms and words used in this Article shall be given the meaning and uses as
defined in this Chapter, or if not defined, those generally attributable to them in other
sections of this Chapter.
100-XX Classification
A. The Rural Incentive District (RID) is established as a Planned
Development District pursuant to Town Law section 261-b.
B. The RID classification is a floating zone. Upon rezoning to the RID
classification, all principal and accessory uses listed in the RID are permitted in the
underlying zoning district(s). In each case, the restrictions, controls and incentives of the
RID shall apply to the exclusion of the underlying zone classification. All properties
meeting the standards and criteria set forth in this Article shall be deemed eligible for
rezoning as a RID.
100-XX Requirements for Consideration
A. A parcel must be identified on the 2003 Suffolk County Tax Map and
1999 Farm and Farmland Inventory as such Farm Inventory may be
amended from time to time.
B. A parcel must be used for agricultural production, as defined in section
25-30 of the Code of the Towif of Southold.
3
C. The Town Board must find that the parcel provides an environmental,
physical, economic, aesthetic, social or cultural benefit to the Town.
Properties which fail to provide such a benefit shall not be eligible.
100-XX Zoning Approval
The Town Board may rezone land which meets the Requirements for
Consideration criteria of section 100-XX from that of the underlying zoning district to the
RID classification upon written application of the landowner pursuant to the terms of this
Article.
100-XX
A.
Application and Review Procedure
Application. An applicant shall submit 2 copies of the following to the
Southold Town Clerk:
1. Application form approved by the Town Board, including the
name of the owner and/or applicant, description of the current use of the property and the
disclosure affidavit. There shall be no fee for the filing of the application. The application
shall provide the terms and conditions of a standard Preservation Easement which is
subject to further terms and conditions as may be appropriate for a particular piece of
property.
2.
3.
Deed(s)
Survey or map showing areas to be included within the proposed
RID, and any improvements on the property.
B. Referral. After receipt of a complete application, the Town Clerk
shall put the petition on the agenda of the next regularly scheduled public meeting of the
Town Board which shall refer the application immediately to the Planning Board, the
4
La.nd Preservation Committee ,the Agricultural Advisory Committee, and the Suffolk
County Planning Commission for review and recommendation. The Town Advisory
Committees shall forward their report to the Town Planning Board within 30 days of their
receipt of the petition. The Planning Board shall provide a report within 45 days of the
date of the meeting at which the referral is received. The Planning Board report shall
take into consideration and make express reference to the reports received fi.om the Town
Advisory Committees. No action shall be taken by the Town Board tmtil receipt of the
Planning Board report or the expiration of its 45 day review period, whichever first
occurs. The review period may be extended by mutual consent of the applicant, the
Town Board and the Planning Board.
C. Planning Board Report. The Plauning Board may recommend approval,
approval with conditions, or disapproval of the rezoning. In preparing its report, the
Planning Board shall take into account the recommendations of the Southold
Comprehensive Implementation Strategy of August, 2003 which was adopted by the
Town Board September 9, 2003 and the Findings Statement which was adopted by the
Town Board on September 23, 2003 and supporting documents, the existing
characteristics of the property and the surrounding properties, the environmental, social,
physical, aesthetic, economic and cultural aspects of the property and its surrotmdings,
and such other factors as may be necessary to carry out the purposes of this Article and
this Chapter. If the Planning Board recommends disapproval, its report shall provide
detailed reasons for the disapproval.
D. Public Hearing. Within thirty (30) days of the receipt of the Planning
Board report, or the expiration of the Plarming Board review period, whichever occurs
first, the Town Board shall hold a public hearing on the application, with the same notice
prescribed for zoning amendments.
E. Town Board Action. Within thirty (30) days of the closing date of the
public heating, the Town Board shall either approve or disapprove the rezoning. If
approved, the Town Board shall amend the zoning map of the Town in accordance with
the approval and forward a copy of the resolution containing the decision to the Planning
Board, the Land Preservation Committee, the Agricultural Advisory Committee, and the
applicant.
F.
New York State Environmental Quality Review Act and shall consider in making its
determination, the Town's Comprehensive Implementation Strategy and its analysis of
the impacts of RID zoning
100-XX Conditions for Approval
A. Easement:
1. Following a public heating and approval of the rezoning pursuant
to Chapter 100 of the Town Code and chapter 247 of the General Municipal Law,
the landowner shall offer a Preservation Easement (the "Easement") to the Town.
The rezoning to RID shall be subject to and contingent upon the landowner and
the Town reaching agreement on all of the terms and conditions of the Easement
within 45 days of the Town Board's affirmative vote to grant RID zoning on a
subject property. In the event that such agreement is not met, and an Easement
executed in recordable form, the rezoning to RID shall be null and void and of no
SEQRA The Town Board shall follow the procedures set forth in the
6
legal effect on the property. The Town may accept such an Easement, which shall
include the following:
a. An agreement that the property will remain undeveloped, or in
agricultural production as defined in section 25-30 of the Code of
the Town of Southold for a minimum of ten (10) years, except as
provided in Section 100-XX. The easement will be extended
automatically from year to year at the end of the initial ten year
term unless the landowner provides written notification of the
landowner's intent to terminate the easement. Notice must
received at least one year prior to the expiration of the initial
easement term or any extension thereof.
b. Restrictions regarding permitted principal and accessory uses on
the property;
c. Restrictions for the construction ofpr/ncipal and accessory
structures on the property
d. Preservation incentives, as defined in Section 100-XX of this
Article;
Termination procedures as set forth in Section 100-XX of this
Article.
2. The easement shall be in a form acceptable to the Town Attorney's office
and consistent with the Town's form of Preservation Easement used with the purchase of
development rights program.
3. The easement shall be recorded in the Office of the Suffolk County Clerk
and a certified copy of the recorded easement shall be filed with the Office of the
Southold Town Clerk.
B. Permitted Uses and Structures During the Easement Period
Lands within the RID shall continue to be used pursuant to this Chapter. The
Easement shall include a requirement that fallow farmland shall be mowed to prevent
succession. Improvements to existing structures and the construction of new
improvements are subject to the requirements of Article XX of this Chapter.
C. Incentives: In consideration for lands remaining in the RID, the
landowner will receive an incentive in the form of a density bonus to be applied at such
time as the owner completes the sale and / or preservation conveyance of all development
rights (including any affordable housing density incentive) on land in RID zoning to the
Town or other such entity acceptable to the Town under the criteria, terms and conditions
of the Town's Purchase of Development Rights Program. The density incentive shall be
used solely for appraisal purposes in calculating the highest and best use of the property
to encourage landowners to sell or do a preservation conveyance of their development
fights to the Town or such other entity / designee acceptable to the Town. It is not a
density bonus for any other purpose whatsoever. Within a property zoned RID, a
landowner may reserve one building lot for an existing farmhouse, or, where no dwelling
exists, for a single building lot based on the underlying zoning and still remain eligible
for the incentive bonus. No development rights shall be purchased from such reserved
portion.
I. Terms of Incentive
Standard Incentive: The Town shall grant a
landowner a twenty-five percent (without any credit
whatsoever for any partial lot created therefrom)
density bonus based on the underlying zoning or
five (5) acre zoning whichever is the lesser density
plus any affordable housing density incentive
available at such time based on the entire parcel of
land ergolled at the time the land is zoned to the
RID designation.
Early Enrollment Incentive for Qualified Owner-
Occupied Farmland. As an additional incentive to
encourage participation in and application for RID
zoning, any land and landowner which meets the
criteria for enrollment in RID zoning and which
meets all of the following criteria shall be defined
as a Qualified Owner-Operator of Farmland: (i) has
been actively engaged in agricultural production as
defined in section 25-30 for a period of no less than
1 (1) year prior to the effective date of this
legislation; and (ii) said agricultural production has
been by a landowner actively engaged in said
agricultural production using said land as a location
of his principal business on the subject farmland. A
9
Qualified Owner-Occupant of Farmland shall be
entitled to the following incentive to apply for RID
zoning provided such qualifying landowner submits
a complete RID zoning application to the Town
Board within six months of the effective date of this
local law:
At the time such Qualified Owner-Occupant elects to sell or convey all of the
development rights to the land within the RID, such owner may elect either of two
appraisal computations: (1) The then current appraised value using the standard incentive
defined herein above or (2) The appraised value of the RID land as of October, 2003
prior to the enactment of Local Law # without using the standard incentive set
forth above.
Negotiation During the Easement Period
1. At any time during the easement period, but in any event at least 6
months before the expiration of the easement period, The landowner or
the Town may initiate the negotiation of the sale or preservation
conveyance of the development rights to the land contained within the
RID by giving written notice of the desire to enter into negotiation for
such sale or transfer. All negotiations including all offers, and the
acceptance or rejection of such offers shall be documented in writing
signed by the Owner and the Town.
2. The Town must obtain an appraisal at its expense and make an offer to
purchase the development rights offered for sale. The offer shall be
l0
based on an appraisal of the highest and best use of the property and
taking into account any density incentives defined in the Easement. If
an agreement is not reached within 30 days after the offer, or if the
time is not extended by mutual consent of the parties, the landowner
may obtain a second appraisal of the highest and best use of the
property and taking into account any density incentives defined in the
Easement, at his expense, within 30 days and continue negotiations.
This appraisal must be performed by a certified appraiser acceptable to
the Town.
If a second appraisal is obtained by the landowner and the parties
cannot negotiate an agreed price within 30 days of receipt of the
second appraisal, the parties may obtain a third appraisal of the highest
and best use of the property and taking into account any density
incentives defined in the Easement, from a mutually agreed appraiser.
The cost of this third appraisal shall be shared equally between the
landowner and the Town. The Town may make a final bona fide offer
within 30 days after receipt of the third appraisal. A "bona fide offer"
shall be considered an offer which is at least equal to or greater than
the lesser of the highest appraisal or five percent above the arithmetic
mean of the three appraisals. The Town shall be provided a reasonable
period of time in which to fund and complete the transaction.
If the parties fail to reach an agreement on terms, the property shall
retain its RID designation until the easement term expires. However,
11
the property owner may choose to terminate the easement agreement
prior to the expiration of the easement term if the Town has not made a
bona fide offer as defined in subsection (3) herein. Upon expiration or
the earlier termination of the easement term the property shall revert to
the underlying zoning in effect at such date.
5. In the event that a Qualified Owner-Occupant of farmland has elected
to use the alternate appraisal method relying upon the 2003 appraisal
approach, and, provided that the Town has not depleted all funds that
could be available from the Community Preservation Funds or such
other funds that the Town Board has dedicated for such farmland
preservation, and the Town Board still does not make a final bona fide
offer for the purchase of the Qualified Owner-Occupant's development
rights, then, and in that event, the Qualified Owner-Occupant shall be
entitled to exit the RID and the zoning of such person's farmland
would revert to the zoning in effect prior to the enactment of Local
Law # The Town's refusal to make a final bona fide offer
must be in writing and filed in with the Town Clerk. A complete
application for development must be submitted within one year from
the date the Town Board refused to make a bona fide final offer to the
Qualified Owner-Occupant landowner. If the complete application is
not submitted within such time, the property shall revert to the
underlying zoning in effect at that time.
Subdivision
12
During the easement term, a landowner may apply to develop the property as
a Conservation Subdivision. Such development plan must reduce the yield,
based upon the underlying zoning, by at least 25 percent and must preserve at
least eighty (80) pement of the property.
E. Article 78 Procedure
A person aggrieved by a decision of the Town Board may file an Article 78
proceeding. Such proceeding shall be commenced within 30 days of the filing
of the decision of the Town Board with the office of the Town Clerk.
Section 2. Non-Severability
If any clause, sentence, paragraph, section or part of this Local Law, now or as it
may be amended, shall be adjudged by any court of competent jurisdiction to be invalid,
such.judgment shall render this entire Local Law invalid and of no force and effect.
Section 3. Effective Date
This Article shall take effect upon filing with the Secretary of State pursuant to
the Municipal Home Rule Law.
13
ELIZABETH A. NEVILLE
TOWN CLERK
REGISTRAR OF VITAL STATISTICS
MARRIAGE OFFICER
RECORDS MANAGEMENT OFFICER
FREEDOM OF INFORMATION OFFICER
Town Hail, 53095 Main Road
P.O. Box 1179
Southold, New York 11971
Fax (631) 765-6145
Telephone (631) 765-1800
southaidtown.northfork.net
OFFICE OF THE TOWN CLERK
TOWN OF SOUTHOLD
THIS IS TO CERTIFY THAT THE FOLLOWING RESOLUTION NO. 708 OF 2003
WAS ADOPTED AT THE REGULAR MEETING OF THE SOUTHOLD TOWN BOARD
ON OCTOBER 21, 2003:
RESOLVED that the Town Board of the Town of Southold hereby authorizes and directs the
Town Clerk to transmit the orooosed "A Local Law in relation to Creation of a Rural
Incentive District" to the Southold Town Planning Board and the Suffolk County Department
of Plarming, New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets, Southold Town
Agricultural Advisory Committee, the Southold Town Land Preservation Department &
Committee for their recommendations and reports.
Section 1.
RURAL INCENTIVE DISTRICT
Amend Chapter 100 by creating a new Article XX as follows:
Sec. 100-XX Purpose
Farmland and the agricultural industry constitute one of the critical components of the
Town of Southold's rural character. Farmland provides a cornerstone of the land use
environment valued by year-round residents as well as visitors. Numerous planning documents
and studies done by the Town as part of its comprehensive planning over the past 20 years have
recognized this value and recommended strategies to preserve these resources. In recent years,
the Town has engaged in an aggressive effort to preserve farmland through the use ora variety of
conservation tools, including the purchase of development rights, outright fee title purchase, and
cluster development. The Town has joined with other governmental agencies at the Federal,
State and County levels and with conservations groups to further its efforts.
In addition, the Town has a 20year record of supporting preservation land purchase by
making use of various long and short-term funding options to purchase interests in farmland,
such as the voter-approved Community Preservation Fund (CPF) transfer tax through the year
2020, voter-approved bonds and grants. The CPF legislation, which authorizes the prioritization
of land use preservation efforts, directs that farmland shall be given the highest priority. Despite
these initiatives, the Town's rural character and quality of life remains at risk. The Town Board
recognizes that preservation efforts must continue, indeed intensify, in accordance with the
Town's comprehensive planning goals. Future funds must be leveraged, to enable the Town to
continue to purchase interests in farmland and retain the Town's rural character.
The Town Board determines that these efforts can best be accomplished through a
number of legislative initiatives, including zoning changes and a Planned Development District
("PDD"), or floating zone classification. This PDD shall be known as the Rural Incentive
District ("RID"), and shall be intended to encourage the maximum preservation of farmland
while protecting operating farms against uncertainty that may be created through the
implementation of land use regulations. It is also intended to provide the Town with time by
which it can accumulate monies for the purchase of development rights from these lands. New
York State Town Law section 261-b provides the framework and statutory authorization to
accomplish these goals.
If property is rezoned to the RID designation, the landowner and the Town shall enter
into a minimum 1 O-year preservation easement, during which the land will remain as agricultural
land as defined in Section 25-30 of the Code of the Town of Southold. During this time, the
Town, as well as other governmental agencies and preservation organizations, can explore a
number of preservation options with the landowner including purchase of development rights or
outfight acquisition. Procedures at the Town level are established for the negotiation process, as
well as restrictions on use and development to the exclusion of the underlying zoning district.
Certain incentives also are offered to provide a baseline of collateral certainty, as well as to
encourage continued agricultural production as a principal use.
100-XX Definitions:
The terms and words used in this Article shall be given the meaning and uses as defined
in this Chapter, or if not defined, those generally attributable to them in other sections of this
Chapter.
100-XX Classification
A. The Rural Incentive District (RID) is established as a Planned Development
District pursuant to Town Law section 261-b.
B. The RID classification is a floating zone. Upon rezoning to the RID
classification, all principal and accessory uses listed in the RID are permitted in the underlying
zoning district(s). In each case, the restrictions, controls and incentives of the RID shall apply to
the exclusion of the underlying zone classification. All properties meeting the standards and
criteria set forth in this Article shall be deemed eligible for rezoning as a RID.
100-XX Requirements for Consideration
A. A parcel must be identified on the 2003 Suffolk County Tax Map and 1999 Farm
and Farmland Inventory as such Farm Inventory may be amended from time to
time.
B. A parcel must be used for agricultural production, as defined in section 25-30 of
the Code of the Town of Southold.
C. The Town Board must find that the parcel provides an environmental, physical,
economic, aesthetic, social or cultural benefit to the Town. Properties which fail
to provide such a benefit shall not be eligible.
100-XX Zoning Approval
The Town Board may rezone land which meets the Requirements for Consideration
criteria of section 100-XX from that of the underlying zoning district to the RID classification
upon written application of the landowner pursuant to the terms of this Article.
100-XX
A.
Town Clerk:
Application and Review Procedure
Application. An applicant shall submit 2 copies of the following to the Southold
1. Application form approved by the Town Board, including the name of the
owner and/or applicant, description of the current use of the property and the disclosure affidavit.
There shall be no fee for the filing of the application. The application shall provide the terms and
conditions of a standard Preservation Easement which is subject to further terms and conditions
as may be appropriate for a particular piece of property.
2. Deed(s)
3. Survey or map showing areas to be included within the proposed RID, and
any improvements on the property.
B. Referral. After receipt of a complete application, the Town Clerk shall put
the petition on the agenda of the next regularly scheduled public meeting of the Town Board
which shall refer the application immediately to the Planning Board, the Land Preservation
Committee ,the Agricultural Advisory Committee, and the Suffolk County Planning
Commission for review and recommendation. The Town Advisory Committees shall forward
their report to the Town Planning Board within 30 days of their receipt of the petition. The
Planning Board shall provide a report within 45 days of the date of the meeting at which the
referral is received. The Planning Board report shall take into consideration and make express
reference to the reports received from the Town Advisory Committees. No action shall be taken
by the Town Board until receipt of the Planning Board report or the expiration of its 45 day
review period, whichever first occurs. The review period may be extended by mutual consent of
the applicant, the Town Board and the Planning Board.
C. Planning Board Report. The Planning Board may recommend approval, approval
with conditions, or disapproval of the rezoning. In preparing its report, the Planning Board shall
take into account the recommendations of the Southold Comprehensive Implementation Strategy
of August, 2003 which was adopted by the Town Board September 9, 2003 and the Findings
Statement which was adopted by the Town Board on September 23, 2003 and supporting
documents, the existing characteristics of the property and the surrounding properties, the
environmental, social, physical, aesthetic, economic and cultural aspects of the property and its
surroundings, and such other factors as may be necessary to carry out the purposes of this Article
and this Chapter. If the Planning Board recommends disapproval, its report shall provide
detailed reasons for the disapproval.
D. Public Heating. Within thirty (30) days of the receipt of the Planning Board
report, or the expiration of the Planning Board review period, whichever occurs first, the Town
Board shall hold a public hearing on the application, with the same notice prescribed for zoning
amendments.
E. Town Board Action. Within thirty (30) days of the closing date of the public
hearing, the Town Board shall either approve or disapprove the rezoning. If approved, the Town
Board shall amend the zoning map of the Town in accordance with the approval and forward a
copy of the resolution containing the decision to the Planning Board, the Land Preservation
Committee, the Agricultural Advisory Committee, and the applicant.
F. SEQRA The Town Board shall follow the procedures set forth in the New
York State Environmental Quality Review Act and shall consider in making its determination,
the Town's Comprehensive Implementation Strategy and its analysis of the impacts of RID
zoning
100-XX Conditions for Approval
A. Easement:
1. Following a public heating and approval of the rezoning pursuant to
Chapter 100 of the Town Code and chapter 247 of the General Municipal Law, the
landowner shall offer a Preservation Easement (the "Easement") to the Town. The
rezoning to RID shall be subject to and contingent upon the landowner and the Town
reaching agreement on all of the terms and conditions of the Easement within 45 days of
the Town Board's affirmative vote to grant RID zoning on a subject property. In the
event that such agreement is not met, and an Easement executed in recordable form, the
rezoning to RID shall be null and void and of no legal effect on the property. The Town
may accept such an Easement, which shall include the following:
a. An agreement that the property will remain undeveloped, or in agricultural
production as defined in section 25-30 of the Code of the Town of
Southold for a minimum of ten (10) years, except as provided in Section
100-XX. The easement will be extended automatically from year to year
at the end of the initial ten year term unless the landowner provides
written notification of the landowner's intent to terminate the easement.
Notice must received at least one year prior to the expiration of the initial
easement term or any extension thereof.
b. Restrictions regarding permitted principal and accessory uses on the
property;
c. Restrictions for the construction of principal and accessory structures on
the property
d. Preservation incentives, as defined in Section 100-XX of this Article;
e. Termination procedures as set forth in Section 100-XX of this Article.
2. The easement shall be in a form acceptable to the Town Attorney's office and
consistent with the Town's form of Preservation Easement used with the purchase of
development rights program.
3. The easement shall be recorded in the Office of the Suffolk County Clerk and a
certified copy of the recorded easement shall be filed with the Office of the Southold Town
Clerk.
B. Permitted Uses and Structures During the Easement Period
Lands within the RID shall continue to be used pursuant to this Chapter. The Easement
shall include a requirement that fallow farmland shall be mowed to prevent succession.
Improvements to existing structures and the construction of new improvements are subject to the
requirements of Article XX of this Chapter.
C. Incentives: In consideration for lands remaining in the RID, the landowner
will receive an incentive in the form of a density bonus to be applied at such time as the owner
completes the sale and / or preservation conveyance of all development rights (including any
affordable housing density incentive) on land in RID zoning to the Town or other such entity
acceptable to the Town under the criteria, terms and conditions of the Town's Purchase of
Development Rights Program. The density incentive shall be used solely for appraisal purposes
in calculating the highest and best use of the property to encourage landowners to sell or do a
preservation conveyance of their development rights to the Town or such other entity / designee
acceptable to the Town. It is not a density bonus for any other purpose whatsoever. Within a
property zoned RID, a landowner may reserve one building lot for an existing farmhouse, or,
where no dwelling exists, for a single building lot based on the underlying zoning and still
remain eligible for the incentive bonus. No development rights shall be purchased from such
reserved portion.
1. Terms of Incentive
a. Standard Incentive: The Town shall grant a landowner a
twenty-five percent (without any credit whatsoever for any
partial lot created therefrom) density bonus based on the
underlying zoning or five (5) acre zoning whichever is the
lesser density plus any affordable housing density incentive
available at such time based on the entire parcel of land
enrolled at the time the land is zoned to the RID
designation.
b. Early Enrollment Incentive for Qualified Owner-Occupied
Farmland. As an additional incentive to encourage
participation in and application for RID zoning, any land
and landowner which meets the criteria for enrollment in
RID zoning and which meets all of the following criteria
shall be defined as a Qualified Owner-Operator of
Farmland: (i) has been actively engaged in agricultural
production as defined in section 25-30 for a period of no
less than 1 (1) year prior to the effective date of this
legislation; and (ii) said agricultural production has been by
a landowner actively engaged in said agricultural
production using said land as a location of his principal
business on the subject farmland. A Qualified Owner-
Occupant of Farmland shall be entitled to the following
incentive to apply for RID zoning provided such qualifying
landowner submits a complete RID zoning application to
the Town Board within six months of the effective date of
this local law:
At the time such Qualified Owner-Occupant elects to sell or convey all of the
development rights to the land within the RID, such owner may elect either of two appraisal
computations: (1) The then current appraised value using the standard incentive defined herein
above or (2) The appraised value of the RID land as of October, 2003 prior to the enactment of
Local Law # without using the standard incentive set forth above.
Negotiation During the Easement Period
1. At any time during the easement period, but in any event at least 6 months
before the expiration of the easement period, The landowner or the Town may
initiate the negotiation of the sale or preservation conveyance of the
development rights to the land contained within the RID by giving written
notice of the desire to enter into negotiation for such sale or transfer. All
negotiations including all offers, and the acceptance or rejection of such offers
shall be documented in writing signed by the Owner and the Town.
2. The Town must obtain an appraisal at its expense and make an offer to
purchase the development rights offered for sale. The offer shall be based on
an appraisal of the highest and best use of the property and taking into account
any density incentives defined in the Easement. If an agreement is not
reached within 30 days after the offer, or if the time is not extended by mutual
consent of the parties, the landowner may obtain a second appraisal of the
highest and best use of the property and taking into account any density
incentives defined in the Easement, at his expense, within 30 days and
continue negotiations. This appraisal must be performed by a certified
appraiser acceptable to the Town.
3. If a second appraisal is obtained by the landowner and the parties cannot
negotiate an agreed price within 30 days of receipt of the second appraisal, the
parties may obtain a third appraisal of the highest and best use of the property
and taking into account any density incentives defined in the Easement, from
a mutually agreed appraiser. The cost of this third appraisal shall be shared
equally between the landowner and the Town. The Town may make a final
bona fide offer within 30 days after receipt of the third appraisal. A "bona
fide offer" shall be considered an offer which is at least equal to or greater
than the lesser of the highest appraisal or five percent above the arithmetic
mean of the three appraisals. The Town shall be provided a reasonable period
of time in which to fund and complete the transaction.
4. If the parties fail to reach an agreement on terms, the property shall retain its
RID designation until the easement term expires. However, the property
owner may choose to terminate the easement agreement prior to the expiration
of the easement term if the Town has not made a bona fide offer as defined in
subsection (3) herein. Upon expiration or the earlier termination of the
easement term the property shall revert to the underlying zoning in effect at
such date.
5. In the event that a Qualified Owner-Occupant of farmland has elected to use
the alternate appraisal method relying upon the 2003 appraisal approach, and,
provided that the Town has not depleted all funds that could be available from
the Community Preservation Funds or such other funds that the Town Board
has dedicated for such farmland preservation, and the Town Board still does
not make a final bona fide offer for the pumhase of the Qualified Owner-
Occupant's development rights, then, and in that event, the Qualified Owner-
Occupant shall be entitled to exit the RID and the zoning of such person's
farmland would revert to the zoning in effect prior to the enactment of Local
Law # The Town's refusal to make a final bona fide offer must be in
writing and filed in with the Town Clerk. A complete application for
development must be submitted within one year from the date the Town
Board refused to make a bona fide final offer to the Qualified Owner-
Occupant landowner. If the complete application is not submitted within such
time, the property shall revert to the underlying zoning in effect at that time.
Subdivision
During the easement term, a landowner may apply to develop the property as a
Conservation Subdivision. Such development plan must reduce the yield, based upon
the underlying zoning, by at least 25 percent and must preserve at least eighty (80)
percent of the property.
Article 78 Procedure
A person aggrieved by a decision of the Town Board may file an Article 78
proceeding. Such proceeding shall be commenced within 30 days of the filing of the
decision of the Town Board with the office of the Town Clerk.
Section 2. Non-Severability
If any clause, sentence, paragraph, section or part of this Local Law, now or as it may be
amended, shall be adjudged by any court of competent jurisdiction to be invalid, such judgment
shall render this entire Local Law invalid and of no force and effect.
Section 3. Effective Date
This Article shall take effect upon filing with the Secretary of State pursuant to the
Municipal Home Rule Law.
Elizabeth A. Neville
Southold Town Clerk
ELIZABETH A. NEVILLE
TOWN CLERK
REGISTRAR OF VITAL STATISTICS
MARRIAGE OFFICER
RECORDS MANAGEMENT OFFICER
FREEDOM OF INFORMATION OFFICER
Town Hail, 53095 Main Road
P.O. Box 1179
Southold, New York 11971
Fax (631) 765-6145
Telephone (631) 765-1800
southoldtown.nor thfork.net
OFFICE OF THE TOWN CLERK
TOWN OF SOUTHOLD
THIS IS TO CERTIFY THAT THE FOLLOWING RESOLUTION NO. 708 OF 2003
WAS ADOPTED AT THE REGULAR MEETING OF THE SOUTHOLD TOWN BOARD
ON OCTOBER 21, 2003:
RESOLVED that the Town Board of the Town of Southold hereby authorizes and directs the
Town Clerk to transmit the orooosed "A Local Law in relation to Creation of a Rural
Incentive District" to the Southold Town Planning Board and the Suffolk County Department
of Planning, New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets, Southold Town
Agricultural Advisory Committee, the Southold Town Land Preservation Department &
Committee for their recommendations and reports.
Section 1.
RURAL INCENTiVE DISTRICT
Amend Chapter 100 by creating a new Article XX as follows:
Sec. 100-XX Purpose
Farmland and the agricultural industry constitute one of the critical components of the
Town of Southold's rural character. Farmland provides a cornerstone of the land use
environment valued by year-round residents as well as visitors. Numerous planning documents
and studies done by the Town as part of its comprehensive planning over the past 20 years have
recognized this value and recommended strategies to preserve these resources. In recent years,
the Town has engaged in an aggressive effort to preserve farmland through the use of a variety of
conservation tools, including the purchase of development rights, outright fee title purchase, and
cluster development. The Town has joined with other governmental agencies at the Federal,
State and County levels and with conservations groups to further its efforts.
In addition, the Town has a 20year record of supporting preservation land purchase by
making use of various long and short-term funding options to purchase interests in farmland,
such as the voter-approved Community Preservation Fund (CPF) transfer tax through the year
2020, voter-approved bonds and grants. The CPF legislation, which authorizes the prioritization
of land use preservation efforts, directs that farmland shall be given the highest priority. Despite
these initiatives, the Town's rural character and quality of life remains at risk. The Town Board
recognizes that preservation efforts must continue, indeed intensify, in accordance with the
Town's comprehensive planning goals. Future funds must be leveraged, to enable the Town to
continue to purchase interests in farmland and retain the Town's rural character.
The Town Board determines that these efforts can best be accomplished through a
number of legislative initiatives, including zoning changes and a Planned Development District
("PDD"), or floating zone classification. This PDD shall be known as the Rural Incentive
District ("RID"), and shall be intended to encourage the maximum preservation of farmland
while protecting operating farms against uncertainty that may be created through the
implementation of land use regulations. It is also intended to provide the Town with time by
which it can accumulate monies for the purchase of development rights from these lands. New
York State Town Law section 261-b provides the framework and statutory authorization to
accomplish these goals.
If property is rezoned to the RID designation, the landowner and the Town shall enter
into a minimum 1 O-year preservation easement, during which the land will remain as agricultural
land as defined in Section 25-30 of the Code of the Town of Southold. During this time, the
Town, as well as other governmental agencies and preservation organizations, can explore a
number of preservation options with the landowner including purchase of development rights or
outright acquisition. Procedures at the Town level are established for the negotiation process, as
well as restrictions on use and development to the exclusion of the underlying zoning district.
Certain incentives also are offered to provide a baseline of collateral certainty, as well as to
encourage continued agricultural production as a principal use.
100-XX Definitions:
The terms and words used in this Article shall be given the meaning and uses as defined
in this Chapter, or if not defined, those generally attributable to them in other sections of this
Chapter.
100-XX Classification
A. The Rural Incentive District (RID) is established as a Planned Development
District pursuant to Town Law section 261-b.
B. The RID classification is a floating zone. Upon rezoning to the RD
classification, all principal and accessory uses listed in the RD are permitted in the underlying
zoning district(s). In each case, the restrictions, controls and incentives of the RID shall apply to
the exclusion of the underlying zone classification. All properties meeting the standards and
criteria set forth in this Article shall be deemed eligible for rezoning as a RID.
100-XX Requirements for Consideration
A. A parcel must be identified on the 2003 Suffolk County Tax Map and 1999 Farm
and Farmland Inventory as such Farm Inventory may be amended from time to
time.
B. A parcel must be used for agricultural production, as defined in section 25-30 of
the Code of the Town of Southold.
C. The Town Board must find that the parcel provides an environmental, physical,
economic, aesthetic, social or cultural benefit to the Town. Properties which fail
to provide such a benefit shall not be eligible.
100-XX Zoning Approval
The Town Board may rezone land which meets the Requirements for Consideration
criteria of section 100-XX from that of the underlying zoning district to the RID classification
upon written application of the landowner pursuant to the terms of this Article.
100-XX
A.
Town Clerk:
Application and Review Procedure
Application. An applicant shall submit 2 copies of the following to the Southold
1. Application form approved by the Town Board, including the name of the
owner and/or applicant, description of the current use of the property and the disclosure affidavit.
There shall be no fee for the filing of the application. The application shall provide the terms and
conditions of a standard Preservation Easement which is subject to further terms and conditions
as may be appropriate for a particular piece of property.
2. Deed(s)
3. Survey or map showing areas to be included within the proposed RID, and
any improvements on the property.
B. Referral. After receipt of a complete application, the Town Clerk shall pot
the petition on the agenda of the next regularly scheduled public meeting of the Town Board
which shall refer the application immediately to the Planning Board, the Land Preservation
Committee ,the Agricultural Advisory Conunittee, and the Suffolk County Planning
Commission for review and recommendation. The Town Advisory Committees shall forward
their report to the Town Planning Board within 30 days of their receipt of the petition. The
Planning Board shall provide a report within 45 days of the date of the meeting at which the
referral is received. The Planning Board report shall take into consideration and make express
reference to the reports received from the Town Advisory Committees. No action shall be taken
by the Town Board until receipt of the Planning Board report or the expiration of its 45 day
review period, whichever first occurs. The review period may be extended by mutual consent of
the applicant, the Town Board and the Planning Board.
C. Planning Board Report. The Planning Board may recommend approval, approval
with conditions, or disapproval of the rezoning. In preparing its report, the Planning Board shall
take into account the recommendations of the Southold Comprehensive Implementation Strategy
of August, 2003 which was adopted by the Town Board September 9, 2003 and the Findings
Statement which was adopted by the Town Board on September 23, 2003 and supporting
documents, the existing characteristics of the property and the surrounding properties, the
environmental, social, physical, aesthetic, economic and cultural aspects of the property and its
surroundings, and such other factors as may be necessary to carry out the purposes of this Article
and this Chapter. If the Planning Board recommends disapproval, its report shall provide
detailed reasons for the disapproval.
D. Public Hearing. Within thirty (30) days of the receipt of the Planning Board
report, or the expiration of the Planning Board review period, whichever occurs first, the Town
Board shall hold a public heating on the application, with the same notice prescribed for zoning
amendments.
E. Town Board Action. Within thirty (30) days of the closing date of the public
hearing, the Town Board shall either approve or disapprove the rezoning. If approved, the Town
Board shall amend the zoning map of the Town in accordance with the approval and for~vard a
copy of the resolution containing the decision to the Planning Board, the Land Preservation
Committee, the Agricultural Advisory Committee, and the applicant.
F. SEQRA The Town Board shall follow the procedures set forth in the New
York State Environmental Quality Review Act and shall consider in making its determination,
the Town's Comprehensive Implementation Strategy and its analysis of the impacts of RID
zoning
100-XX Conditions for Approval
A. Easement:
1. Following a public heating and approval of the rezoning pursuant to
Chapter 100 of the Town Code and chapter 247 of the General Municipal Law, the
landowner shall offer a Preservation Easement (the "Easement") to the Town. The
rezoning to RID shall be subject to and contingent upon the landowner and the Town
reaching agreement on all of the terms and conditions of the Easement within 45 days of
the Town Board's affirmative vote to grant RID zoning on a subject property. In the
event that such agreement is not met, and an Easement executed in recordable form, the
rezoning to RID shall be null and void and of no legal effect on the property. The Town
may accept such an Easement, which shall include the following:
a. An agreement that the property will remain undeveloped, or in agricultural
production as defined in section 25-30 of the Code of the Town of
Southold for a minimum often (10) years, except as provided in Section
100-XX. The easement will be extended automatically from year to year
at the end of the initial ten year term unless the landowner provides
written notification of the landowner's intent to terminate the easement.
Notice must received at least one year prior to the expiration of the initial
easement term or any extension thereof.
b. Restrictions regarding permitted principal and accessory uses on the
property;
c. Restrictions for the construction of principal and accessory structures on
the property
d. Preservation incentives, as defined in Section 100-XX of this Article;
e. Termination procedures as set forth in Section 100-XX of this Article.
2. The easement shall be in a form acceptable to the Town Attorney's office and
consistent with the Town's form of Preservation Easement used with the purchase of
development rights program.
3. The easement shall be recorded in the Office of the Suffolk County Clerk and a
certified copy of the recorded easement shall be filed with the Office of the Southold Town
Clerk.
B. Permitted Uses and Structures During the Easement Period
Lands within the RID shall continue to be used pursuant to this Chapter. The Easement
shall include a requirement that fallow farmland shall be mowed to prevent succession.
Improvements to existing structures and the construction of new improvements are subject to the
requirements of Article XX of this Chapter.
C. Incentives: In consideration for lands remaining in the RID, the landowner
will receive an incentive in the form of a density bonus to he applied at such time as the owner
completes the sale and / or preservation conveyance of all development rights (including any
affordable housing density incentive) on land in RID zoning to the Town or other such entity
acceptable to the Town under the criteria, terms and conditions of the Town's Purchase of
Development Rights Program. The density incentive shall be used solely for appraisal purposes
in calculating the highest and best use of the property to encourage landowners to sell or do a
preservation conveyance of their development rights to the Town or such other entity/designee
acceptable to the Town. It is not a density bonus for any other purpose whatsoever. Within a
property zoned RID, a landowner may reserve one building lot for an existing farmhouse, or,
where no dwelling exists, for a single building lot based on the underlying zoning and still
remain eligible for the incentive bonus. No development rights shall be purchased from such
reserved portion.
1. Terms of Incentive
a. Standard Incentive: The Town shall grant a landowner a
twenty-five percent (without any credit whatsoever for any
partial lot created therefrom) density bonus based on the
underlying zoning or five (5) acre zoning whichever is the
lesser density plus any affordable housing density incentive
available at such time based on the entire parcel of land
enrolled at the time the land is zoned to the RID
designation.
b. Early Enrollment Incentive for Qualified Owner-Occupied
Farmland. As an additional incentive to encourage
participation in and application for RID zoning, any land
and landowner which meets the criteria for enrollment in
RID zoning and which meets all of the following criteria
shall be defined as a Qualified Owner-Operator of
Farmland: (i) has been actively engaged in agricultural
production as defined in section 25-30 for a period of no
less than 1 (1) year prior to the effective date of this
legislation; and (ii) said agricultural production has been by
a landowner actively engaged in said agricultural
production using said land as a location of his principal
business on the subject farmland. A Qualified Owner-
Occupant of Farmland shall be entitled to the following
incentive to apply for RID zoning provided such qualifying
landowner submits a complete RID zoning application to
the Town Board within six months of the effective date of
this local law:
At the time such Qualified Owner-Occupant elects to sell or convey all of the
development rights to the land witlY~n the RID, such owner may elect either of two appraisal
computations: (1) The then current appraised value using the standard incentive defined herein
above or (2) The appraised value of the RID land as of October, 2003 prior to the enactment of
Local Law # without using the standard incentive set forth above.
Negotiation During the Easement Period
1. At any time during the easement period, but in any event at least 6 months
before the expiration of the easement period, The landowner or the Town may
initiate the negotiation of the sale or preservation conveyance of the
development rights to the land contained within the RID by giving written
notice of the desire to enter into negotiation for such sale or transfer. All
negotiations including all offers, and the acceptance or rejection of such offers
shall be documented in writing signed by the Owner and the Town.
2. The Town must obtain an appraisal at its expense and make an offer to
purchase the development rights offered for sale. The offer shall be based on
an appraisal of the highest and best use of the property and taking into account
any density incentives defined in the Easement. If an agreement is not
reached within 30 days afier the offer, or if the time is not extended by mutual
consent of the parties, the landowner may obtain a second appraisal of the
highest and best use of the property and taking into account any density
incentives defined in the Easement, at his expense, witlV~n 30 days and
continue negotiations. This appraisal must be performed by a cc'xtified
appraiser acceptable to the Town.
3. If a second appraisal is obtained by the landowner and the parties cannot
negotiate an agreed price within 30 days of receipt of the second appraisal, the
parties may obtain a third appraisal of the highest and best use of the property
and taking into account any density incentives defined in the Easement, from
a mutually agreed appraiser. The cost of this third appraisal shall be shared
equally between the landowner and the Town. The Town may make a final
bona fide offer within 30 days after receipt of the third appraisal. A "bona
fide offer" shall be considered an offer which is at least equal to or greater
than the lesser of the highest appraisal or five pement above the arithmetic
mean of the three appraisals. The Town shall be provided a reasonable period
of time in which to fund and complete the transaction.
4. If the parties fail to reach an agreement on terms, the property shall retain its
RID designation until the easement term expires. However, the property
owner may choose to terminate the easement agreement prior to the expiration
of the easement term if the Town has not made a bona fide offer as defined in
subsection (3) herein. Upon expiration or the earlier termination of the
easement term the property shall revert to the underlying zoning in effect at
such date.
5. In the event that a Qualified Owner-Occupant of farmland has elected to use
the alternate appraisal method relying upon the 2003 appraisal approach, and,
provided that the Town has not depleted all funds that could be available from
the Community Preservation Funds or such other funds that the Town Board
has dedicated for such farmland preservation, and the Town Board still does
not make a final bona fide offer for the purchase of the Qualified Owner-
Occupant's development rights, then, and in that event, the Qualified Owner-
Occupant shall be entitled to exit the RID and the zoning of such person's
farmland would revert to the zoning in effect prior to the enactment of Local
Law # The Town's refusal to make a final bona fide offer must be in
writing and filed in with the Town Clerk. A complete application for
development must be submitted within one year from the date the Town
Board refused to make a bona fide final offer to the Qualified Owner-
Occupant landowner. If the complete application is not submitted within such
time, the property shall revert to the underlying zoning in effect at that time.
Subdivision
During the easement term, a landowner may apply to develop the property as a
Conservation Subdivision. Such development plan must reduce the yield, based upon
the underlying zoning, by at least 25 percent and must preserve at least eighty (80)
percent of the property.
Article 78 Procedure
A person aggrieved by a decision of the Town Board may file an Article 78
proceeding. Such proceeding shall be commenced within 30 days of the filing of the
decision of the Town Board with the office of the Town Clerk.
Section 2. Non-Severability
If any clause, sentence, paragraph, section or part of this Local Law, now or as it may be
amended, shall be adjudged by any court of competent jurisdiction to be invalid, such judgment
shall render this entire Local Law invalid and of no force and effect.
Section 3. Effective Date
This Article shall take effect upon filing with the Secretary of State pursuant to the
Municipal Home Rule Law.
Elizabeth A. Neville
Southold Town Clerk