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Tug Hill Commission Announces Seven New and Revised
Papers on Local Municipal Topics
Published: July 11, 2023 at
07:00 p.m.
By: Press Release from NYS Tug Hill Commission
Seven New and Revised Papers on Local Municipal Topics
Watertown, NY – Tug Hill
Commission staff have been hard at work writing and updating technical and
issue papers on several municipal topics. All of these can be accessed
online at tughill.org/publications/technical-issue-papers/.
How to Write a
ZBA Decision
Zoning boards of
appeals (ZBAs) were created in the New York State planning statutes as a
“safety valve” for the zoning process. Because zoning can limit the freedom
of a property owner to develop their property in a way that they may
desire, a mechanism is needed to review specific instances of hardship or
improper classification of a property and give owners a vehicle to possibly
effect change. The goal of the zoning board of appeals is to come to a
well-reasoned decision in any case before them. While a written decision is
not required, one way that the ZBA’s hard work on each case can be shown is
via the written record and ultimately by a well written decision. This
paper focuses on the skills and tools needed to develop a good decision.
Introduction to
Municipal Websites
Although many
towns and villages in New York State have municipal websites, there remain
many that do not. While there is no law that requires a town or village to
have a website, there are good reasons to consider one, primarily to keep
the community informed of the services available to them, events,
legislative updates, and more. This paper discusses legally required
content as well as recommended content for municipal websites, and ways to
manage a town or village website efficiently and effectively.
Municipal
Insurance Coverage Annual Review
It is recommended
to review municipal insurance coverages annually to assess changes in the
municipality’s risk tolerance, to manage claims, and to anticipate future
risk exposure. However, municipal insurance coverage is a topic that often
flies under the radar during a time of the year when towns are inundated
with budgeting and other year-end obligations. This paper encourages early
annual review of municipal insurance coverages and includes a one-page
checklist.
Regulating
Home-based Businesses
Home-based
businesses, also known as home occupations, have long been operated on Tug
Hill and across upstate New York. This type of business occurs where the
occupant of a residential dwelling also use their
property to provide some type of retail service or sales, typically from a
space within the dwelling, but occasionally from an accessory structure.
Advances in technology, and the availability of high-speed internet, have
only increased the popularity of home-based businesses. Municipalities
should plan for and regulate home based businesses in a way that allows and
promotes them while being sensitive to their potential impacts on
neighboring properties and the community. This paper explores the tools
available to do so.
Use and
Regulation of Drones for Municipalities
Drones are used
widely for both public and private business purposes as well as for
recreation. A drone is any aerial vehicle that receives remote commands
from a pilot or relies on software for autonomous flight. Originally
developed for the military and aerospace industries, drones have found
their way into the mainstream because of the enhanced levels of safety and
efficiency they bring. In New York State, as of February 2023 there were
over 10,000 certificated Part 107 remote pilots. State agencies and
counties are regularly using drones, and local municipal governments are
beginning to find uses for them as well. This paper focuses on
understanding requirements around drones and how they can be used for
municipal purposes.
GIS Resources for
Local Governments
This paper serves
as an introduction to what a Geographic Information System is, why local
governments may be interested in developing or using a GIS, and things to
consider when considering a program.
Planning
Considerations for Solar Facilities Issue Paper
The revisions to
the commission’s solar paper, done in cooperation with multiple
organizations over the four-county area, builds upon the previous version,
including more examples of solar facilities from the region, resources and policies for municipalities to reference,
and sections for developers to better understand municipal concerns.
The New York State Tug Hill Commission is a
non-regulatory state agency charged with helping local governments,
organizations, and citizens shape the future of the region, especially its
environment and economy. The commission uses a grassroots approach to build
local capacity and provide technical assistance in land use planning,
community development, and natural resource management.
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