Lisbon approves changes to site plan review

LISBON — The town board approved several changes to the site plan review law following a brief public hearing Wednesday.

All of the changes had been discussed at length in previous meetings, and no one from the public commented during the public session.

The changes were based on recommendations from former code enforcement officer and Planning Board Chairman Glen Harris.

The majority of changes were intended to remove ambiguity from definitions of items like mobile homes and agricultural structures. Maximum fees associated with violations were also raised from $50 to $250.

Oswegatchie Code Enforcement Officer Timothy C. Tuttle reviewed the law while serving as interim code enforcement officer last February. Mr. Tuttle said several parts of the law were outdated or too vague.

One of the changes proposed by Mr. Tuttle would have waived the site plan review process on single-family dwellings. He said site-plan review often delays construction. The board rejected that change based on Mr. Harris’s recommendation.

The board had also considered removing a requirement allowing property owners to build multiple homes on a single deeded property, but it was reinstated.

The board voted 3-0 in favor of the law. Councilors C. Roger Shoen and Susan Duffy were not present.