Chapter 125

 

SUBDIVISION OF LAND

 

 

ARTICLE I

General Policy and Definitions

 

§ 125-1.     Definition of policy.

§ 125-2.     Definitions.

 

ARTICLE II

Application Filing Procedure

 

§ 125-3.     Application required.

§ 125-4.     Informal consideration.

§ 125-5.     Sketch plan.

§ 125-6.     Approval of minor subdivision.

§ 125-7.     Preliminary plat for major subdivision.

§ 125-8.     Plat for major subdivision.

§ 125-9.     Establishing letters of credit.

§ 125-10.   Releasing funds during construction.

§ 125-11.   Warranty of work and materials.

§ 125-12.   Release of warranty.

§ 125-13.   Default on previously approved plat.

§ 125-14.   Issuance of permits.

§ 125-15.   Filing of approved final subdivision plat.

§ 125-16.   Public streets and recreational areas.

§ 125-17.   Application of § 7-738 of the New York State Village Law regarding cluster subdivision.

§ 125-18.   Payment of fees.

 

ARTICLE III

General Requirements and Design Standards

 

§ 125-19.   Standards to be minimum requirements.

§ 125-20.   Character of land; conformity to Village General Plan and specifications required.

§ 125-21.   Street and pavement design.

§ 125-22.   Maintenance of roadway.

§ 125-23.   Temporary culs-de-sac or turnarounds.

§ 125-24.   Lots.

§ 125-25.   Removal of springwater, surface water and subsurface water.

§ 125-26.   Parks, open spaces and natural features.

§ 125-27.   Compliance required; inspections; completion.

 

 

 

 

ARTICLE IV

Documents to be Submitted

 

§ 125-27.1 Applicant/developer’s mortgagee’s consent.

§ 125-28.   Sketch plan submission; contents.

§ 125-29.   Minor subdivision plat submission; contents.

§ 125-30.   Major subdivision preliminary plat and accompanying data.

§ 125-31.   Major subdivision final plat and accompanying data.

 

ARTICLE V

Waivers

 

§ 125-32.   Waiver of improvements.

§ 125-33.   Conditions of waivers.

§ 125-34.   Enlarging a lot.

 

ARTICLE VI

Administration, Enforcement and Penalties

 

§ 125-35.   Violation to be deemed offense.

§ 125-36.   Penalties for offenses.

§ 125-37    Action in addition to penalties.

§ 125-38.   Court review.

§ 125-39.   Compliance required prior to issuance of permit.

                  Appendix A: Soil Classification and Use Guidelines

                  Appendix B: Project Fee Chart for Engineering Review

                  Appendix C: Monthly Estimate Worksheet

                  Appendix D: Design Standards and Construction Methods

                  Figure 1: Half Section of Road with Shoulders

                  Figure 2: Half Section of Road with Concrete Gutters

                  Appendix E:  Specifications for Design Standards and Construction

                        Methods

                  Figure 1:   Dead End Turn Around

                  Appendix F: Tompkins County Soil Map – Village Area

                  Appendix G:  Stormwater Management

                 

 

 

[HISTORY: Adopted by the Board of Trustees of the Village of Lansing 4-7-1975 as L.L. No. 1-1975; amended in its entirety 12-5-1984 by L.L. No. 6-1984. Subsequent amendments noted where applicable.]

 

GENERAL REFERENCES

 

Zoning -- See Ch. 145

 

 

 

 

 

ARTICLE I

General Policy and Definitions

                                   

                                                           

§ 125-1. Declaration of policy.

 

  By the authority of the resolution of the Village Board of Trustees of the Village of Lansing, to be adopted on or to be adopted pursuant to the provisions of Article 7 and § 4-412 of the Village Law of the State of New York, the Planning Board of the Village of Lansing shall be authorized and empowered to approve plats showing lots, blocks or sites, with or without streets or highways, to approve development of entirely or partially undeveloped plats already filed in the office of the Clerk of Tompkins County and to conditionally approve preliminary plats. It is declared to be the policy of the Planning Board to consider land subdivision plats as part of a plan for the orderly, efficient and economical development of the Village. This means, among other things, that land to be subdivided shall be of such character that it can be used safely for building purposes without danger to health, or peril from fire, flood or other menace; that proper provision shall be made for drainage, water supply, sewerage and other needed improvements; that all proposed lots shall be so laid out and of such size as to be in harmony with the development pattern of the neighboring properties; that the proposed streets shall compose a convenient system conforming to the Official Map, if such exists, and shall be properly related to the proposals shown on the Village General Plan, if such exists, and shall be of such width, grade and location as to accommodate the prospective traffic, to facilitate fire protection and to provide access of fire-fighting equipment to buildings; and that proper provision shall be made for open spaces for parks and playgrounds. In order that land subdivisions may be made in accordance with this policy, these Regulations which shall be known as, and which may be cited as, the "Land Subdivision Regulations of the Village of Lansing" have been adopted as a local law.

 

§ 125-2. Definitions.

 

  For the purpose of this chapter, certain words and terms used herein are defined as follows:

               Cluster subdivision -- See § 125-17.[1]

               Developer -- A subdivider or his or her agent, who shall lay out, propose, contract or perform the development of subdivided land, either immediate of future.

               Easement -- A written authorization by a property owner for use by another party, and for a specified purpose, of any designated part of his property.

               Engineer -- A person designated by the Board of Trustees to make the determinations required to be made by an engineer under this chapter.

               Improvements -- When required, include but are not limited to the following: streets, water and sewer lines, drainage facilities, public utilities and land forming.

               Letter of credit -- A form of security approved by the Planning Board and acceptable to the Board of Trustees guaranteeing that all improvements to be made by the subdivider in compliance with these Regulations will be made and providing funds for engineering and administrative review and inspection fees.

               Lot -- Any parcel, plot, site or tract of land separated from other parcels, plots, sites or tracts by description as on a subdivision plat, survey map or by metes and bounds, for the purpose of transfer, conveyance, sale, lease or separate use;[2] provided, however, that the foregoing definition of “Lot” shall not apply to portions of a larger parcel, plot, site or tract of land that may have been leased or otherwise separately identified and/or for which a tax parcel may have been created (as reflected on tax maps for the Village of Lansing) if such portions of such larger parcel, plot, site or tract of land so leased or separately identified are part of a consolidated and planned project, such as an office campus, that is intended for un-subdivided development and for which development and improvements thereon are subject to special permit approval under Chapter 145 of the Village Code; and further provided, however, that the foregoing definition of “Lot” shall not apply to any parcel, plot, site or tract of land for which a tax parcel may have been created (as reflected on tax maps for the Village of Lansing) but for which parcel, plot, site or tract of land any required approvals of the Village have not been granted. [Amended 12-17-07 by L.L. No. 11-2007]

               Major subdivision -- Any subdivision of land not classified by the Planning Board as a minor subdivision.  This definition shall not include a “municipal subdivision”, as defined below.  [Amended 3-19-01 by L.L. No. 1-2001]

               Minor subdivision -- The subdivision of any land into not more than two (2) lots [initial lot plus one (1) new lot] and fronting on an existing street, not involving any new street or road or the extension of any municipal facilities, not adversely affecting the development of the remainder of the parcel or of adjoining property and not in conflict with any provision or portion of the Village General Plan, Official Map or Chapter 145, Zoning, if such exists, or these Regulations. After a subdivider has established four (4) contiguous lots, parcels or plots through minor subdivisions, any subsequent subdivision on the same street or on an intersecting street, submitted by said subdivider, may be classified by the Planning Board as a major subdivision, and if so, shall require preliminary plat and final plat approval and submission of all data required for such approval.  This subdivision shall not include a “municipal subdivision”, as defined below.  [Amended 3-19-01 by L.L. No. 1-2001]

               Municipal Subdivision [Added 3-19-01 by L.L. No. 1-2001[3]; Amended 7-9-01 by L.L. No. 5-2001]The subdivision of any lot into not more than two (2) lots (initial plus one (1) new lot), which subdivision is to be made at the request of or as a requirement of the Village of Lansing, in which case the Village of Lansing is to acquire the new lot for use as a public road right-of-way, or as part of a public road right-of-way, including for the purposes of extension, reconstruction, realignment, widening or reconfiguration of existing public roads, creation of new public roads, and addition to public roads of bicycle lanes, pedestrian lanes, sidewalks and landscaping (collectively, “public road purposes”), and in which case the  remaining lot substantially retains its character prior to such subdivision as a developed or an undeveloped lot.

A.                The authority for review and approval of municipal subdivisions shall be retained by the Village Board of Trustees, and therefore a municipal subdivision shall be exempt from the application of these Land Subdivision Regulations, and shall not require the review, recommendation or approval of the Village of Lansing Planning Board.  The Board of Trustees shall conduct its review of the municipal subdivision in conjunction with the Board of Trustees’ consideration of acceptance of the new lot for public road purposes (as defined above).  The Board of Trustees’ review of a municipal subdivision shall not require submission of an application from the lot owner or from the Village itself, nor payment of an application fee.  The Board shall conduct a public hearing, in accordance with the requirements of New York State Village Law applicable to consideration of acceptance of a public road.  A municipal subdivision, approved by the Board, shall become effective upon filing in the Tompkins County Clerk’s Office of a survey map defining the municipal subdivision, which map includes approval of the Board, signed by the mayor, together with a deed conveying the new lot from the lot owner to the Village.  This review shall be deemed to satisfy the provisions of New York State Village Law concerning subdivision of land as applicable to municipal subdivisions.  Municipal subdivisions shall be deemed to be Type II actions under the State Environmental Quality Review Act, and therefore exempt from review thereunder.

B.                 [Amended 7-9-2001 by L.L. No. 5-2001[4]]  (1)  In the case of a lot containing a building (as such terms is defined in the Village of Lansing Zoning Law) at the time of approval of the municipal subdivision, if the remaining lot after conveyance to the Village would contain a nonconforming structure as a result of the diminishment in front yard setback, as a result of diminishment in lot size or as a result of increase in lot coverage, under applicable Village of Lansing Zoning Law District Regulations, then for the purposes of measuring the front yard building setback, for the purposes of measuring lot size and for the purposes of measuring maximum lot coverage for such lot, the measurement shall be deemed to include the area of the lot acquired by the Village in connection with the municipal subdivision.  If the lot acquired by the Village is subject to a “build-to” rather than a front yard setback requirement, the “build-to” line established by the applicable provisions of the Village Zoning Law, whether now or hereafter set forth in the Village Zoning Law, shall govern, and the “build-to” line shall be measured in accordance with such applicable Zoning Law provisions.  (2) In the case of a lot that does not contain a building (as such term is defined in the Village of Lansing Zoning Law) at the time of approval of the municipal subdivision, if the remaining lot after conveyance to the Village would become a nonconforming lot as a result of the diminishment in lot area, then (a) the terms of the Village Zoning Law section entitled “Nonconforming Lots of Record” shall apply to such lots as if it existed on the effective date of the Zoning Law, but (b) if, as a result of applying such terms no improvements would be permitted to be built on such lot, then the Village shall acquire the entirety of such lot, in order that no nonconforming lot that is not permitted to be built upon is created as a result of the municipal subdivision. 

               Preliminary plat -- Any drawings clearly marked preliminary plat showing the layout of a proposed subdivision containing all the supplementary data required by these Regulations and by the Planning Board in its action on the sketch plan.

               Sketch plan -- Any drawings of the proposed subdivision made with sufficient accuracy and detail to be used by the Planning Board for the purpose of discussion and classification in accordance with the provisions of these Regulations.

               Street -- Any street, avenue, boulevard, road, lane, parkway, alley or other way which is an existing State, County, Town or Village roadway or a proposed street shown on the Village General Plan or a street or way shown on a plat to be filed or duly filed and recorded in the office of the County Clerk. Streets include all land between rights-of-way, whether improved or unimproved. For the purpose of these Regulations, streets shall be classified as provided in § 125-21C.[5]

               Subdivider -- Any person, corporation, firm, partnership, association or their agent, who shall lay out or propose any subdivision of land for the purpose of the sale or development, either immediate or future.

               Subdivision -- The division of any parcel of land into two (2) or more parcels, lots, plots, tracts, sites or other division of land, for the purpose, whether immediate or future, of transfer of ownership whether or not new building or development is to occur immediately. Subdivision shall include resubdivision in whole or in part of any plat, filed or unfiled, which is entirely or partially undeveloped.

               Subdivision plat or final plat -- The final map of all or a portion of the subdivision, with all supporting data, documentation and approvals, required by these Regulations and by the Planning Board, submitted to the Village Clerk for action by the Planning Board and which, if approved, shall be filed in the County Clerk's office.

               Warranty -- A form of security required to guarantee all work performed and materials furnished against defect, failure, inadequacy or breakage.

               Zoning Officer -- A person designated by the Board of Trustees to make the determinations required in this chapter.

 

 

 

 

 

 

ARTICLE II

Application Filing Procedure

 

§ 125-3. Application required.

 

Whenever any subdivision of land is proposed to be made, and before any sale of any lots in such subdivision or any part thereof is made and before any permit for the erection of a structure in such proposed subdivision shall be granted, or any existing permit used, the subdivider or his duly authorized agent shall apply in writing for approval of such proposed subdivision in accordance with the following procedures.

 

§ 125-4. Informal consideration.

 

  Prior to developing plans or submitting sketch plans of a subdivision for approval the subdivider may discuss with the Planning Board the scope and intent of the proposed subdivision. The purpose of such a meeting is to afford the subdivider an opportunity to consult informally at an early stage with the Board to conserve time and expense for the subdivider and create opportunity for achievement of a desirable subdivision in the public interest.

 

§ 125-5. Sketch plan.

 

      A.     Submission of sketch plan. [Amended 2-21-1989 by L.L. No. 2-1989[6]]

               (1)     Any owner of land shall, prior to subdividing or resubdividing land, submit to the Village Clerk at least twelve (12) days prior to a regular meeting of the Planning Board ten (10) copies of a sketch plan of the

                        proposed subdivision, which shall comply with the requirements of § 125-28 for the purposes of classification and preliminary discussion.

               (2)     All applications made in accordance with the terms of this section shall be accompanied by such fees as are determined in accordance with the provisions of § 125-18 of these Regulations.

B.           Discussion of requirements. The subdivider, or his duly authorized representative, shall attend the meeting of the Planning Board to discuss the requirements of these Regulations for street improvements, drainage, sewerage, water supply, fire protection and similar aspects, as well as the availability of existing services and other pertinent information as determined by the Planning Board.

C.        Study of sketch plan. The Planning Board shall determine whether the sketch plan 

   meets the purposes of these Regulations and shall, where it deems it necessary,

   make specific recommendations to be incorporated by the applicant in the next 

   submission to the Planning Board.[7]

D.          Classification. Classification of the sketch plan is to be made by the Planning Board as to whether it is a minor or major subdivision as defined in § 125-2. The Board may require, however, when it deems necessary for the protection of the public health, safety and welfare, that a minor subdivision comply with all or some of the requirements specified for major subdivisions. If the sketch plan is classified as a minor subdivision, the subdivider shall then comply with the procedure outlined in §§ 125-6, 125-9, 125-10, 125-11, 125-12 and 125-15 of these Regulations. If it is classified as a major subdivision, the subdivider shall then comply with the procedures outlined in §§ 125-7, 125-8, 125-9, 125-10, 125-11, 125-12, 125-15 and 125-16.

     

§ 125-6. Approval of minor subdivision.

 

      A.     Application and fee.

(1)          Within six (6) months after classification of the sketch plan as a minor subdivision by the Planning Board, the subdivider shall submit an application for approval of a subdivision plat. Failure to do so shall require resubmission of the sketch plan to the Planning Board for reclassification. The plat shall conform to the layout shown on the sketch plan plus any recommendations made by the Planning Board. Said application shall also conform to the requirements listed in § 125-29.

 

 

(2)          All applications made in accordance with the terms of this section shall be accompanied by such fees as are determined in accordance with the provisions of § 125-18 of these Regulations. [Amended 2-21-1989 by L.L. No. 2-1989; 4-16-1991 by L.L. No. 9-1991]

      B.     Number of copies. Ten (10) copies of the subdivision plat shall be presented to the Village Clerk at least twelve (12) days prior to a regular monthly meeting of the Planning Board.[8]

C.           When officially submitted. The time of submission of the subdivision plat shall be considered to be the date of the regular monthly meeting of the Planning Board at lest twelve (12) days prior to which the application for approval of the subdivision play, complete and accompanied by the required fee and all data required § 125-29 of these Regulations, was filed with the Village Clerk.[9]

D.          Endorsement of State and County agencies. Water and sewer facility proposals contained in the subdivision plat shall be properly endorsed and approved by the Southern Cayuga Lake Intermunicipal Water Commission (SCLIWC) and the Tompkins County Health Department. Applications for approval of plans for sewer or water facilities will be filed by the subdivider with all necessary Town, County and State agencies. Endorsement and approval by the Tompkins County Health Department shall be secured by the subdivider before final approval of subdivision plat.[10]

E.           Subdivider to attend Planning Board meeting. The subdivider, or his duly        authorized representative, shall attend the meeting of the Planning Board to discuss the subdivision plat.

      F.     Public hearing. Within sixty-two (62) days after the date of submission of a plat in final form for approval, a hearing shall be held by the Planning Board. This hearing shall be advertised at least once in a newspaper of general circulation in the Village and a notice of hearing shall be posted in at least three (3) prominent places in the Village at least five (5) days before such hearing. The subdivider shall send written notice by mail to all owners of Village property contiguous to the boundaries of the property under consideration.  Such notice shall state the nature of the request for subdivision approval, the time and place of the public hearing and such additional information as shall be required by the Village Zoning Officer.  Such notice shall be mailed no less than five (5) days prior to the public hearing.  Proof of mailing shall be filed with the Planning Board prior to the holding of the public hearing. [Amended 12-6-1988 by L.L. No. 6-1988[11]]

F.            Action on proposed subdivision plat. The Planning Board shall, within sixty-two (62) days from the date of the public hearing, approve, modify and approve or disapprove the final subdivision plat. However, the final subdivision plat shall not be signed by the authorized officer of the Planning Board for recording until the subdivider has complied with the provisions of §§ 125-9, 125-10, 125-11 and 125-12.[12]

      H.     Number of minor subdivisions.  After a subdivider has established four (4) contiguous lots, parcels or plots through minor subdivisions, any subsequent subdivision on the same street or on an intersecting street, submitted by said subdivider, may be classified by the Planning Board as a major subdivision and, if so, shall require preliminary plat and final plat approval and submission of all data required for such approval.

     

§ 125-7. Preliminary plat for major subdivision.

 

A.          Application and fee.

(1)      Prior to the filing of an application for the approval of a major subdivision plat, the subdivider shall file an application for the conditional approval of a preliminary plat of the proposed subdivision. Such preliminary plat shall be clearly marked "preliminary plat" and shall be in the form described in § 125-30 hereof. The preliminary plat shall, in all respects, comply with the requirements set forth in the provisions of §§ 7-728 and 7-730 of the Village Law and § 125-30 of these Regulations, except where a waiver may be specifically authorized by the Planning Board.

               (2)  All applications made in accordance with the terms of this section shall be accompanied by such fees as are determined in accordance with the provisions of § 125-18 of these Regulations. [Amended 2-21-1989 by L.L. No. 2-1989; 4-16-1991 by L.L. No. 9-1991]

      B.     Number of copies. Ten (10) copies of the preliminary plat shall be presented to the Village Clerk at least twelve (12) days prior to a regular monthly meeting of the Planning Board.[13]

      C.     When officially submitted. The time of submission of the preliminary plat shall be considered to be the date of the regular monthly meeting of the Planning Board at least twelve (12) days prior to which the application for conditional approval of the preliminary plat, complete and accompanied by the data required by § 125-30 of these Regulations and by the required fee, was filed with the Village Clerk.[14]

      D.     Subdivider to attend Planning Board meeting. The subdivider, or his duly authorized representative, shall attend the meeting of the Planning Board to discuss the preliminary plat.

      E.      Study of preliminary plat. The Planning Board shall study the practicability of the preliminary plat taking into consideration the requirements of the community and the best use of the land being subdivided. Particular attention shall be given to the arrangement, the location and width of streets, their relation to the topography of the land, water supply, sewage disposal, drainage, lot sizes and arrangement, the future development of adjoining lands as yet unsubdivided and the requirements of the Village Comprehensive Plan, the Official Map and Chapter 145, Zoning, if such exist.

      F.      Public hearing. Within sixty-two (62) days after the date of submission of a preliminary plat, a hearing shall be held by the Planning Board. This hearing shall be advertised at least once in a newspaper of general circulation in the Village and a notice of hearing shall be posted in at least three (3) prominent places in the Village at least five (5) days before such hearing. The subdivider shall send written notice by mail to all owners of Village property contiguous to the boundaries of the property under consideration. Such notice shall state the nature of the request for subdivision approval, the time and place of the public hearing and such additional information as shall be required by the Village Zoning Officer. Such notice shall be mailed no less than five (5) days prior to the public hearing. Proof of such mailing shall be filed with the Planning Board prior to the holding of the public hearing. [Amended 12-6-1988 by L.L. No. 6-1988[15]]

      G.     Action on preliminary plat.[16]