Zoning Commission

May 2022 Draft Text and Maps
Available on the town website (Articles I - IV, Zoning Map); paper copies available at the Town Clerk’s office. A large-format map is on display in the town hall atrium and library.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) from December 2 & 5 Informational Meetings

Common Misperceptions_3-18-22

Answers to Your Questions from the Zoning Commission

The linked documents below provides answers from the Zoning Commission to comments and questions they have received by email, comment boxes, or letter. We will post additional Q&A document(s) when available. The questions/answers have been grouped by the following topic categories. Numbers in parentheses indicate the Q&A batches in which these topics are addressed.

Zoning Purposes & Definitions (1,2,3,4,5,6,7,9)
Impacts of Zoning, Taxes and Assessment (1,5)
Decision-making Processes (1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9)
Residential Density (1,2,3,5)
Design Standards (1,2,3,5)
Allowed Uses (1,2,3,4,5,6,7)
Zoning District Maps (1,2,3,6)
Commercial and Business Uses and Zones (1,3,4,5)
Hamlet Zone(s) (1,2,3,6,7)
Farmland Protection/Rural-Agriculture Zone (1,2,3,5)
Siting of Specific Projects (1,2,3,5,6,7,8)
Protecting Environmental Resources (1,2,3,6,7,8,9)
Rural and Historic Character (1,4)
Non-Conforming Uses (“Grandfathering”) (1,3,4)
Related Ordinances/Regulations (1,3,4)
Miscellaneous (1,4,5)

April 6, 2022

Our consultants have written a first draft of a zoning law, available at this link: Draft Zoning Law (v. 12/28/21). Note that maps referenced in the draft law are at the end of the document. For a glossary of some key terms used in the draft law and a general overview of what is in the draft law, read this Quick Guide. In addition, this Checklist provides a cross-reference of important topics in the Comprehensive Plan to possible zoning practices to address those topics. The Zoning Commission is currently discussing and revising the draft zoning law and will hold public information meetings on revised sections as they become available. This law is a combination of parts that are required in any zoning law in New York State, parts that the Commission has discussed based on the Town’s Comprehensive Plan and the work of the Task Force, as well as the comments of community members, who have attended ZC meetings or the public meetings held in December or who have sent comments to the Town Clerk, ZC chair, or left the comments in the white boxes that were placed in various locations throughout town.

We invite you to read the law. It is quite long, which is necessary because of state regulations and the need to be clear. However, you may want to start with Articles II and III. If you have comments for the Zoning Commission at this point, please send them by email to jeanmcpheeters@gmail.com and to clerk@townofcaroline.org or by mail (Town of Caroline, P.O. Box 136, Slaterville Springs, NY 14881). It would be very helpful if you referenced a particular section, such as Article III, section 3.1 so that we will understand your comment. Please note that the Zoning Commission is now working on revisions and will be offering an amended draft of some sections for public feedback in a few weeks.

Thank you for your engagement and assistance in this process as we work to craft zoning regulations that will protect and promote the vision of Caroline that we all share.

Jean McPheeters
Chair, Town of Caroline Zoning Commission

Ways to provide feedback:

Email Zoning Commission Chair Jean McPheeters, with copy to Town Clerk: jeanmcpheeters@gmail.com; clerk@townofcaroline.org.
Mail (or email) to Town Clerk Jessica Townsend, P.O. Box 136, Slaterville Springs, NY 14881.

Important Questions for the Community:

Are the hamlets in Caroline accurately shown on the maps? If you disagree with boundaries or locations, how would you change them?
Should all of the hamlets have the same treatments in the zoning law? In other words, should the same set of rules apply in each hamlet or should the rules be different in each hamlet?
Are certain kinds of businesses appropriate in one or more hamlets, but not another? If so, what kinds of businesses and which hamlets would they be appropriate for and which ones not?
Should some areas outside of hamlets (as shown on maps) be designated for future high-density housing? If so, where?
Most of Caroline's hamlets have mix of commercial and residential uses. However, some commercial activities (due to scale, intensity, or other reasons) are not appropriate next to residential properties. Are you in favor of allowing such businesses in Caroline, and if so, should the Zoning Commission delineate a commercial zone for such enterprises? If your answer is "yes," where would you suggest a commercial district be located?
Are there any particular land uses you would like to include or exclude from the proposed Rural/Agricultural Zone? From Hamlets? From a Commercial Zone?

1/23/2022: Many residents have asked whether a letter dated January 17, 2022 that they received last week is from the Zoning Commission. It is not, nor was it sent by the Town Board. This letter has this wording on the front of the envelope where a return address is usually placed: Town of Caroline's Zoning Commission needs Your Help!" (sic)

Meetings twice per month at 7:00 pm
Scroll down on this page for upcoming dates.
Also check "Upcoming Events" home page.

Zoning Commission Zoom Meeting Info.:
Join:https://us02web.zoom.us/j/7142580644
Meeting ID: 714 258 0644
One tap mobile: +19292056099,,7142580644#
Dial by phone: +1 929 205 6099

Zoning Commission Meetings:
March 30, 2021 Agenda Minutes Video
April 13, 2021 Agenda Minutes Video
Grant Chart Draft
April 27, 2021 Agenda Minutes Video
Danby Zoning Ordinance
May 25, 2021 Agenda Minutes Video
Site to be Visited by Planner
June 8, 2021 Agenda Minutes Video
Moratorium Law Comp Plan
Moratorium Extension
June 22, 2021 Agenda Minutes Video
Article 1 Title & Purpose 6821
Zoning Checklist v2
July 13, 2021 Agenda Minutes Video
Maps in GoogleDrive Folder
July 26, 2021 Agenda Minutes Video
Decision Matrix
August 10, 2021 Agenda Minutes Video

August 24, 2021 Agenda Minutes Video

September 14, 2021 Agenda Minutes
Ag District Planning Notes

September 28, 2021 Agenda Minutes Video
Annotated Table of Contents

October 12, 2021 Agenda Minutes Video

October 26, 2021 Agenda Minutes Video

November 9, 2021 Agenda Minutes Video

November 16, 2021 Agenda Minutes Video

November 30, 2021 Agenda Minutes Video

INFORMATIONAL MEETINGS
December 2, 2021 Informational Webinar Video
December 5, 2021 Informational In-person Meeting Video (Q&A begins at 100:00:53)
Powerpoint Presentation
FAQs from Zoning Commission
Questions posed at meeting
Informational Maps presented (not part of draft Zoning Law):

December 6, 2021 Agenda Minutes Video

December 14, 2021 Agenda Minutes Video

January 11, 2022 Agenda Minutes Video Part 1
Video Part 2
   Draft Caroline Zoning Law_12-28-21
   Quick Guide
Checklist
January 25, 2022 Agenda Minutes Video

February 8, 2022 Agenda Minutes   Video

February 22, 2022 Agenda Minutes Video

March 08, 2022 Agenda Minutes Video

March 22, 2022 Agenda Minutes (Video not recorded)

March 29, 2022 Agenda Minutes Video

April 14, 2022 Agenda Minutes Video

April 26, 2022 Agenda Minutes Video

May 03, 2022 Agenda Minutes Video

May 10, 2022 Agenda Minutes Video

May 24, 2022 Agenda Minutes Video

Jun 07, 2022 Agenda Minutes Video

Jun 21, 2022 Agenda Minutes Video

May 2022
Draft Zoning Law, Articles I - IV Map

Informational Sessions
June 28, 2022 Video
June 30, 2022 Video

July 19, 2022 Agenda Minutes Video

July 26, 2022 Agenda Minutes Video

Aug 01, 2022 Agenda Minutes Video

Aug 16, 2022 Agenda Minutes Video

Aug 30, 2022 Agenda Minutes Video

Sep 13, 2022 no meeting this day

Sep 20, 2022 no meeting (see Sep 27)

Sep 27, 2022 Agenda Minutes Video

Information about the Zoning Process:
The Town Board has charged the Zoning Commission with the following:
a) examine existing conditions
b) through a process which encourages and accommodates public input recommend the boundaries of the zoning districts and appropriate regulations to be enforced therein
c) make a preliminary report of this information
d) hold public hearings on the preliminary report
e) submit a final report to the Town Board

Zoning Commission Members:
Tim Murray, Town Board Liaison
Jean McPheeters (jeanmcpheeters@gmail.com), Chair
Ernie Bayles
Bill Podulka, Planning Board Chair
Michele Brown, Planning Board
Barbara Knuth, Planning Board
Bruce Murray
Val Warke, Planning Board

Questions or comments to the Zoning Commission may be emailed to Chairperson Jean McPheeters at jeanmcpheeters@gmail.com with copy to Town Clerk Jessica Townsend at clerk@townofcaroline.org.

Caroline Zoning Commission Documents
Article 1 Title & Purpose Caroline ZC Draft 9/28/21
Article 1 Title & Purpose Caroline ZC draft 6/22/21

Zoning Commission Documents
PPT Danby Zoning Ordinance 4/27/21

Town of Ulysses zoning code https://ecode360.com/28859962
map https://www.ulysses.ny.us/pdf/Zoning_Final_Dec_2019.pdf
Town of Dryden
zoning map http://dryden.ny.us/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/DrydenZoningMap2019-1.pdf
zoning resource page: There is the 2015 law and several amendments.
http://dryden.ny.us/departments/planning-department/zoning/
Town of Danby
map: https://towndanby.digitaltowpath.org:10768/content/Generic/View/19:field=documents;/content/Documents/File/996.pdf
ordinance: This page has the ordinance and appendices as well as PDZ regs and links to the maps.
https://towndanby.digitaltowpath.org:10768/content/Generic/View/19
Town of Groton
Code: https://lfweb.tompkins-co.org/WebLink/DocView.aspx?id=21719&searchid=adbc7e99-9a0c-4733-bcdc-adb78eb5ff3a&dbid=6&repo=Groton
Town of Hector proposed zoning ordinance (map included in early pages)
https://www.hectorny.us/sites/g/files/vyhlif696/f/uploads/hector_zoninglaw_finaldraft_1_15_20cr_1.pdf

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