Greenwood Lake Planning Board and ZBA Board Will Combine, While Golf Carts Are Exiled from Public Roads for Now
A combined Greenwood Lake Planning Board and Zoning Board of Appeals, with five members, will begin meeting on April 1.
By Vera Miller
A proposal to combine the Village of Greenwood Lake Planning Board and Zoning Board of Appeals had a public hearing at the Jan. 17 Board of Trustees meeting, with few attendees. The hearing resumed last week at the Feb. 21 meeting, where it was approved. The new combined board will have five members and two alternates.
Combining the two boards could save money for both the applicants and the Village, Mayor Matt Buckley said. For instance, only one attorney would be required instead of two. Planning and zoning appeals would be streamlined, processes that have been in place for 70 years, he said.
“The process becomes easier and less costly to navigate when the entire process, from beginning to end, is controlled by one entity,” Buckley said. “Applicants deal with only one board when applying for variances.”
Village Attorney Brian Nugent indicated that combining the boards would not result in losing a layer of protection. The same process as before would be in effect for appeals. The combination does not change or eliminate board responsibilities. Board effectiveness will depend more on who is appointed to it.
However, Nugent also indicated that the Village would not have to live with the new configuration forever. It can be amended at a later date. Imposing liens for costs resulting from investigating applications was also discussed.
An attendee at the hearing suggested online instructions for negotiating planning and zoning appeals processes, providing information about requirements for each step, so applicants can prepare needed documents and information before their meeting with the board, to reduce follow-up sessions and attorney fees.
The combined planning and zoning board of appeals will begin convening on April 1 to coincide with the official beginning of the boards’ year.
Village Trustees passed a resolution to correct and confirm Village Zoning Board of Appeals and Planning Board member terms to comply with applicable state laws regarding staggering of terms. This step was required whether or not the two boards are combined.
Public Hearing on Golf Carts
Village Attorney Brian Nugent explained that a review of current applicable New York State law revealed that golf cart use on Village roads can’t be legalized because they fail to meet state criteria for street legal vehicles. The state already allows a class of vehicles known as “low speed wehicles” (LSV). If the Village drafts a law allowing another class of vehicle, that law would be preempted by the existing state law. The attorney indicated that the Village could pursue home rule legislation with Senator Skoufis’ office, but success is uncertain. Information about whether a particular model of vehicle qualifies as an LSV is available from the dealerships selling those vehicles.
One important difference between golf carts and LSVs is that LSVs require a valid driver’s license, while golf carts allow operators as young as 14 years of age. Trustees decided to accept the attorney’s recommendation regarding compliance with applicable state laws.
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What a well written and informative article.