To complement the Zoning Revisions Committee, in January 2013 the Town Board appointed the Subdivision Regulations Revisions Committee (SRRC) to align the Town’s 1994 Subdivision Regulations with the new Zoning Law and the Comprehensive Plan.
Although the 1994 regulations had served as a framework for Planning Board review of plats in accordance with Town policy, they did not uniformly align with the Zoning Law or the Comp Plan, did not provide clear guidance about all applications and procedures, and some features did not coincide with evolving New York State Town Law.
Due to the technical nature of subdivision regulations, SRRC members had extensive Planning Board experience and the insight to identify significant shortcomings in the 1994 regulations and to develop revisions that correct those deficiencies. Nan Stolzenburg served as consultant; Patrick Prendergast, PE, served as consulting engineer; and John Lyons provided legal counsel.
The SRRC approached its task in two phases. First, it updated land subdivision policy and procedures to improve clarity for applicants, the Planning Board, and the Zoning Board of Appeals. This initial phase culminated in Town Board adoption of Local Law #1 of 2015, which also authorized a second phase calling for highly technical design, construction, materials, and highway standards to receive rigorous professional engineering review.
That review and associated actions occurred from January 2016 through April 2017 and resulted in two local laws. In June 2017, the Town Board adopted Local Law #2 of 2017, Town of Ancram Highway Construction Standards, which identifies and consolidates in one coherent document design and construction standards for all public and private roads and for all driveways and common driveways in the Town. Also in June 2017, the Town Board adopted Local Law #3 of 2017, Town of Ancram Land Subdivision Regulations, which is consistent with LL #2, updates several provisions of LL #1 of 2015, and wholly supersedes that 2015 law.
The SRRC now meets only as needed to consider potential adjustments to Local Laws #2 and #3 of 2017. SRRC members are appointed annually by the Town Board. Ms. Stolzenburg, Mr. Prendergast, and Mr. Lyons continue to serve as consultant, engineer, and legal counsel respectively. All meetings are open to the public. The committee usually reaches decision by seeking consensus.
SRRC Members
Hugh Clark, Chair
Terry Boyles
Barry Chase
John Ingram
Don MacLean
Bob Roche
Dennis Sigler
Related Documents:
Local Law No. 2 of 2017 – The Town of Ancram Highway Constructions Standards Act
Local Law No. 3 of 2017 – The Town of Ancram Highway Land Subdivision Regulations
