Clarendon now requires permit for structures as small as 64 square feet

By Kristina Gabalski, Correspondent Posted 22 April 2016 at 12:00 am

CLARENDON – Town Board members on Thursday evening approved an amendment to the Town’s Zoning Ordinance Sec. 301 and adopted related Local Law No. 1 of 2016, regarding building permits for buildings or structures 64 sq. ft. or greater within the town.

The amendment to Zoning Ordinance Sec. 301 adds a new Subsection B which states: “All buildings or structures 64 sq. ft. or greater within the Town of Clarendon shall require a building permit.”

The previous Subsection B is now Subsection C and states: “No building permit shall be issued for any buildings, structures, dwellings, their customary accessory structures and common farm related structures unless a Site Plan has been submitted to and approved by the Planning Board.”

The amendment notes that the Ordinance Inspection Officer may waive the need for a site plan review for buildings or structures provided such building or structure is single width, is a single story and is not permanently attached to the soil or any other structure.

Local Law No. 1 of 2016 relates to the Zoning Ordinance changes and gives the code enforcement officer broader authority in issuing building permits for detached structures. It amends Local Law No. 1 of 2007 to change the size of structures requiring a building permit. The new law states: “No permit shall be required for…. construction or installation of one story detached structures associated with one or two family dwellings or multiple single family dwellings (townhouses) which are used for tool and storage sheds, playhouses, or similar uses, provided that the gross floor area is less than 64 sq. ft.”

Other provisions of Local Law No. 1 of 2007 remain unchanged.

Prior to the vote, Deputy Town Supervisor Allen Robinson, who sat in for Supervisor Richard Moy, noted the County Planning Board had approved the changes and commended Clarendon for consistently being proactive on zoning/building related issues.

Councilperson William Campbell was the only board member to vote no on both the amendment and the local law.

During a public hearing on the changes conducted March 15, Supervisor Moy stated the changes, which reduce the minimum size for structures and buildings requiring a building permit, will help the town assessor to keep track of structures which are part of property appraisals, as well as help prevent structures from being placed directly on property lines.

No residents spoke during the March public hearings, but Councilperson Campbell stated he could not see the benefit of decreasing the size of structures which require a building permit.

“It means more work on the Planning Board and more work on the CEO,” Campbell said. “I don’t see the benefits to the Town of Clarendon. We should be looking to make things easier for residents.”

In other business during Thursday’s meeting, Town Board members congratulated Town Historian and Ordinance Inspection Officer/CEO Melissa Ierlan (who was not present at the meeting) on being awarded the C. W. “Bill” Lattin Award for Excellence in Municipal History as part of the third class of Orleans County Heritage Heroes.

Deputy Supervisor Robinson read a letter from the Heritage Heroes Award Committee which stated the Lattin Award is new this year, making Ierlan the first recipient. The committee called Ierlan, “A great advocate of local history.”

Robinson said Ierlan always, “goes above and beyond the call of duty.”

The 2016 class of Heritage Heroes will be recognized in a ceremony at Genesee Community College in Albion on Friday, April 29, at 7 p.m.