Table of Contents

Scenic View Protection

The town’s code of ordinances establishes the Ridgeline Overlay District, which aims to protect the scenic character of the area, including ridgelines, trees, historic structures, and other physical features. It links environmental protection and scenic view protection by incorporating goals related to preserving open space and protecting wildlife habitats (§17.24.030). It establishes a special review process to prevent adverse visual impacts. Additionally, it allows the planning board to impose conditions on developments to mitigate adverse impact, provides design standards, and allows for applications referrals to the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation and/or the New York Natural Heritage Program for additional review.

Solar Energy

The town’s code of ordinances provides definitions for a few basic solar-related terms in both the general definitions section for the municipal code and the definitions section of the zoning code (§1.04.010; §17.04.060).

The code of ordinances sets certain development requirements for a wide range of elements, including solar energy systems and solar access: site plans for residential developments of 10+ acres or 51+ dwelling units must provide a solar access plan that maximizes the number of buildings receiving direct sunlight for using solar energy systems through protecting solar access to lots, designing roads and lots to allow for solar orientation of buildings, placement of higher-density units on south-facing slopes, and siting structures close to north lot lines and tall structures north of short structures. Any legal mechanisms to protect solar access must be documented in the site plan (§17.36.140).

Accessory solar energy systems for residential uses are prohibited in front and side yards (§17.40.020.C.4.g).