HomeMy WebLinkAboutContents 2024
Town of Groton
Land Use & Development Code
Originally Adopted September 13, 2011
Amended January 9, 2018
Amended November 11, 2018
Amended January 30, 2024
Copies available at the Groton Town Clerk’s Office
101 Conger Boulevard, Groton, NY 13073
May be viewed online at townofgrotonny.org
Cover Photo: “Spring Pasture at Millbrook Farms”
By Robin Cargian, Groton Town Clerk
Town of Groton Land Use & Development Code
Table of Contents
Article 1: Introduction
Section 100. Legislative Authority 1
Section 101. Title 1
Section 102. Planning Basis 1
Section 103. Interpretation 1
Section 104. Conformance with New York State Law 1
Section 105. Severability 2
Section 106. Effective Date 2
Section 107. Repeal 2
Section 108. Availability 2
Section 110. Nonconformance 3
Section 111. Statement of Nonconformance Policy 3
Section 112. Nonconforming Lots of Record 3
Section 113. Nonconforming Activities 4
Section 119. Use of Certain Words 5
Section 120. Definitions 5
Figures 1A & 1B 15
Article 2: Land Subdivision Regulations
Section 200. Purposes 16
Section 201. Declaration of Policy 16
Section 202. Applicability and Legal Effect 17
Section 203. All Subdivisions 17
Section 204. Coordination with Tompkins County Health Dept 17
Section 205. Referral to the Tompkins County Planning Dept 17
Section 206. Planning Board Use of Consultants 18
Section 207. State Environmental Quality Review 18
Section 208. Reimbursable Costs. 18
Section 209. Plat Review of Undeveloped Subdivisions 18
Section 210. Initiation of Subdivision Review: Submission of a Sketch Plat 19
Section 211. Classification as to Type of Subdivision Review Procedure 19
Figure 2-A Subdivision Classification Procedure Chart 20
Section 218. Administrative Lot Line Adjustment 21
Section 219 Exempt Subdivision 22
Section 220. Minor Subdivision - Review Procedure 24
Section 230. Major Subdivision - Level 1 - Review Procedure 27
Section 240. Major Subdivision - Level 2 - Review Procedure 30
Section 260. Cluster Development 38
Section 261. Manufactured Home Parks 39
Section 270. Design Standards For Subdivisions 46
Section 271. General Considerations 46
Section 272. Street Layout 46
Section 273. Street Design 47
Section 274. Street Names 49
Town of Groton Land Use & Development Code
Table of Contents
Section 275. Lots 49
Section 276. Flag Lots 50
Section 277. Drainage Improvements 51
Section 278. Parks, Open Spaces, and Natural Features 51
Section 280. Waivers of Certain Required Improvements 53
Article 3. Land Use Regulations
Section 300. Purposes 55
Section 301. Development and Occupancy 55
Section 302. Land Use Activities 55
Section 303. Right to Farm. 55
Section 304. Health Department Approval 56
Section 305. Anticipation of Sewers 56
Section 306. Mixed Use of Lots 56
Section 307. Yard Requirements 57
Section 308. Clear Vision Area 57
Section 309. Height Limits Exemption 57
Section 310. Rubbish, Junk and Vehicles 57
Section 311. Fuel Tanks 57
Section 312. Street Numbers 57
Section 313. Porches, Patios and Decks 57
Section 314. Fences and Walls 58
Section 315. Excavations, Abandoned Construction, and Destroyed Structures 58
Section 316. Unsafe Structures 58
Section 317. Disability Ramps 60
Section 330. Establishment of Districts 61
Section 331. Basic Districts 61
Section 332. Flood Hazard Area Combining District: FH 61
Section 333. Planned Unit Development: (PUD) 61
Section 334. Interpretation of the Zoning Map 62
Section 335. Town of Groton Zoning Map
Section 340. District Regulations 63
Section 341. Land Use Activities 63
Land Use Table 64
Section 342. Rural Agricultural District (RA) 66
Section 343. Low Intensity District (L) 67
Section 344. Medium Intensity One District (M1) 68
Section 345. Medium Intensity Two District (M2) 69
Section 346 Highway Commercial/Industrial District (H) 70
Section 347. Industrial One District (I1) 71
Section 348. Industrial Two District (I2) 72
Section 360. Off-Street Parking Regulations 74
Section 361. Signs 75
Section 362. Outdoor Lighting 76
Town of Groton Land Use & Development Code
Table of Contents
Section 363. Buffer Areas 76
Section 364. Commercial Excavation Operations 77
Section 365. Elder Cottage 78
Section 366. Energy Production 81
Section 367. Energy Production - Large Scale 84
Section 368. Outdoor Wood Boilers 91
Section 369. Roadside Stands 92
Section 370. Sawmills 92
Section 371. Self-Storage Facilities 92
Section 372. Portable Accessory Storage Structures 92
Section 373. Portable Tent Structures 93
Section 374. Sexually Oriented Businesses 93
Section 375. Telecommunications Facility 95
Section 376. Junkyards 101
Section 377. Mass Gatherings 103
Section 378. Fireworks 107
Article 4. Procedures and Rules
Section 400. Purposes 110
Section 401. Code Enforcement 110
Section 402. Violations and Penalties 110
Section 403. Permits 111
Section 404. Certificate of Occupancy or Certificate of Completion 111
Section 405. Letter of Conformance 112
Section 406. Fees 112
Section 407. Approval of Tompkins County Health Department 112
Section 408. Referral to County Planning Department 112
Section 410. Amendments to this Code 115
Section 420. Zoning Board of Appeals 116
Section 421. Appeals and Variances 116
Section 440. Site Plan Review / Planning Board 123
Section 442. Special Permit Review 130
Section 443. Planned Unit Development 135
Appendices
Appendix A - Administration & Enforcement of NYSUFP&BC 140
Appendix B - Items excluded from County review under GML Sect 239 (l & m) 155
Appendix C - Right to Farm Law 156
Appendix D - Ag & Markets Law, Article 25AA, Section 301 157
Appendix E - Flood Damage Prevention Law & Flood Insurance Rate Map (FIRM) 162