HomeMy WebLinkAboutLL#3 of 2023 - Amendments to Town Code Chapter Zoning
1
LOCAL LAW NUMBER #3 OF 2023
A LOCAL LAW OF THE TOWN OF LANSING TO AMEND CERTAIN SECTIONS
OF THE CODE OF THE TOWN OF LANSING CHAPTER 270: ZONING
This Local Law hereby amends certain sections of Chapter 270 of the official code of the
Town of Lansing and, where indicated, certain sections are also superseded in their
entirety. Among the changes to the code are zoning map changes, the redefinition of the
Rural Agricultural (RA) Zoning District, the addition of an Agricultural Zone (AG)
Zoning District, related amendments to allowed use charts (Schedule I) and definitions,
and enhancements and updates to site planning and parking codes, all based generally
upon the Town’s most recently updated Comprehensive Plan, the work of the
Agricultural and Farmland Committee and Codes Review Committee, as well as several
other sources, including valuable input from multiple committees and boards of the
town.
The Town Board of The Town of Lansing, New York, pursuant to Resolution dated April
19, 2023 , does hereby adopt and pass this Local Law Number #3 of 2023, and therefore,
be it so enacted as follows:
SECTION 1 – AUTHORITY: This Local Law is adopted pursuant to the powers granted
by §§ 261 and 263 of the Town Law of the State of New York, and Municipal Home Rule
Law § 10, which authorize the Town of Lansing to adopt zoning provisions and local laws
that advance and protect the health, safety and welfare of the community.
SECTION 2 – PURPOSE: The purposes of this Local Law are to facilitate and regulate
the development of land to be compatible with farming within agricultural areas, and to
generally update administrative provisions (such as site planning), zoning maps, zoning
schedules, and definitions, along with other more minor amendments, to implement
agricultural goals and other needed updates and administrative amendments. It is in the
public interest to allow for and encourage desired land development within the
Agriculture (AG) Zoning District and Rural Agricultural (RA) Zoning District areas,
including to keep such areas primarily focused upon agricultural and agricultural
support uses, in accordance with the Town of Lansing Comprehensive Plan and
Agriculture and Farmland Protection Plan.
SECTION 3 – APPLICABILITY: The requirements of this Law apply to all properties
within the Town of Lansing, including specifically the Rural Agricultural (RA) Zoning
District on the Official Zoning Map of the Town of Lansing dated October 3, 2018.
SECTION 4 – AMENDMENTS TO THE TOWN OF LANSING CODE CHAPTER 270
2
A. The Town of Lansing Zoning Code § 270-3: entitled “Definitions” is amended by
repealing and removing the following definitions:
ADULT RESIDENTIAL CARE FACILITY
AGRICULTURE
BED-AND-BREAKFAST
CHURCH or OTHER PLACE OF PUBLIC WORSHIP
CLUB
CONTRACTOR'S/LANDSCAPING YARD
HOME OCCUPATION OR BUSINESS
KENNEL
OPEN SPACE
PLANT/LANDSCAPE NURSERY, GREENHOUSE AND GARDEN CENTER FOR
COMMERCIAL/RETAIL
RESTAURANT
ROADSIDE STAND
STORAGE CONTAINER, UNIT
USED CAR LOT
B. The Town of Lansing Zoning Code § 270-4 Districts is amended by the addition of
referencing the following Zoning District: AG - Agriculture
C. The Town of Lansing Zoning Code § 270-5(A) Rural Agriculture (RA) District
description is expressly repealed and superseded by the following:
A. Rural Agriculture (RA) District. The intent of the RA District is to designate areas where farming
and farm-related businesses are the prevalent and desired land use activities. Some nonagricultural
development, largely low-density housing, has occurred, is anticipated in the future, and is
appropriate as determined by access to public water infrastructure. The Rural Agriculture (RA)
Zoning District is primarily intended to maintain a rural boundary adjacent to the AG Zoning
District and to encourage a proper environment to foster farming operations and rural residential
land uses.
D. The Town of Lansing Zoning Code § 270-5 Description of districts; intent, is
amended by the addition of the following zone and zone description:
I. Agriculture (AG) Zoning District. The Agriculture Zoning District is primarily intended to
maintain farming and agricultural lands in the Town of Lansing in accordance with Chapter 133:
Farming. Farming reinforces the bucolic quality of life enjoyed by residents of the Town, provides
the visual benefit of open space and scenic views, and generates both direct and indirect economic
benefits and social well-being within the community.
E. The Town of Lansing Zoning Code § 270-7: Schedule of regulations is superseded
and replaced with the following:
Regulations and controls relating to land uses or activities in the Town of Lansing are set forth in
Schedule I (§ 270-10). Regulations relating to lot size, yards, building height, coverage and so forth
are set forth in Schedule II (§ 270-11). Said schedules are hereby adopted with all explanatory
3
matter thereon and information related thereto being a material part of this chapter. However, the
Rural Agriculture (RA) District and Agriculture (AG) Zoning District do not use Schedule I (§ 270-
10) and Schedule II (§ 270-11), and instead rely upon the rules and regulations set forth in § 270-12
(for the RA zone) and § 270-13 (for AG zone), respectively.
F. The Town of Lansing Zoning Code § 270-8, Excluded uses or activities; similar use
classifications and procedures, is deleted and replaced with the following title and text:
Uses not listed as permitted are not allowed. Any land use not specifically permitted under this
Chapter shall be disallowed uses unless a use variance therefor shall be properly obtained, unless
such use is a lawful pre-existing, non-conforming use, or unless such use is permitted in any newly
created zone, such as (but not limited to) planned development zones. As to pre-existing, non-
conforming uses, this Chapter shall be interpreted and applied so as to eliminate the same as soon
as legally practicable.
G. The Town of Lansing Zoning Code § 270-10, Schedule I: Schedule of Land Uses or
Activities, is amended by expressly repealing and eliminating therefrom the Rural
Agriculture (RA) column. Schedule I shall not apply to the Rural Agriculture (RA) or
Agricultural (AG) Zones.
H. The Town of Lansing Zoning Code § 270-11, Schedule II: Area, Frontage, Yard,
Height and Coverage Requirements, is amended by repealing and eliminanting
therefrom the Rural Agriculture (RA) row. Schedule II shall not apply to the Rural
Agriculture (RA) or Agricultural (AG) Zones.
I. Town of Lansing Zoning Code § 270-12: Schedule III: Parking Requirements is
expressly repealed. All references thereto in the Town Code shall be excised and
remaining language in such chapter or section (or notes) shall be conformed to this
change.
J. A new § 270-12 is hereby added, titled and consisting of the language and
regulations set forth in the document appended hereto entitled “270-12 RA Zoning
District.”
K. A new § 270-13 is hereby added, titled and consisting of the language and
regulations set forth in the document appended hereto entitled “270-13 AG Zoning
District .”
L. Town of Lansing Code Chapter V: Supplementary regulations, at § 270-27, Site
plan review, is expressly repealed and replaced with new site plan regulations (also to be
numbered as § 270-27) appended hereto and named “270-27 Site Plan Review.”
M. The Town of Lansing Zoning Code Article VII: Parking and Loading, §§ 270-37
through 270-41, is expressly repealed and superseded by the new Article VII entitled
4
“Article VII Zoning Uses – Principal, Accessory, and Temporary Uses,” as appended to
this local law.
N. The Town of Lansing Zoning Code Article VIII: Nonconforming Uses is expressly
renumbered to Article IX.
O. A new Chapter VIII is added entitled Article VIII; Site Development Standards,”
the rules and text for which are contained in the document appended hereto entitled
“Article VIII Site Development Standards.”
P. The Town of Lansing Zoning Code Article IX: Administration and Enforcement,
is expressly renumbered to Article X: Administration and Enforcement.
Q. Town Code § 270-61, Penalties for offenses is renumbered as § 270-55 and added
to renumbered Chapter X: Administration and Enforcement.
R. The Town of Lansing Zoning Code Article X: Appeals, is expressly renumbered to
Article XI: Appeals.
S. The Town of Lansing Zoning Code Article XI: Amendments, is expressly
renumbered to Article XII: Amendments.
T. The Town of Lansing Zoning Code Article XII: is expressly repealed, the sole
former section therein having been renumbered and added to renumbered Article 10:
Administration and Enforcement, as set forth in subparagraph Q, above.
U. The Official Zoning Map of the Town of Lansing, last updated October 3, 2018, is
hereby expressly repealed and superseded by the Official Town of Zoning Map dated
April 2023, as appended to this local law.
SECTION 4 — CODIFICATION: These amendments and regulations shall be
incorporated into the Town Code, and the incorporator may designate such new section
and numerical headings, or other indexed references, as make for a coherent Town Code,
sequentially numbered or marked. Nothing in this local law is intended to disrupt or
affect the existing Town Code, except to the extent any existing code provision is herein
expressly superseded or repealed. All other provisions of the Town Code are hereby
reaffirmed and continued in force and effect, and the codificiation of these amendments
shall follow the proceed for amending the code as set forth in the code or the Town’s local
laws, including but not limited to Local Law #2 of 2020.
SECTION 5—ENFORCEMENT: Any violation of this Local Law shall be enforced in
accordance with this Chapter, the Town Code, or applicable law.
5
SECTION 6—SEVERABILITY: The invalidity or unenforceability of any section,
subsection, paragraph, sentence, clause, provision, or phrase of the aforementioned
sections as declared by the valid judgment of any court of competent jurisdiction to be
unconstitutional must not affect the validity or enforceability of any other section,
subsection, paragraph, sentence, clause, provision, or phrase, which must remain in full
force and effect.
SECTION 7—EFFECTIVE DATE: This Local Law shall take effect immediately.