New Bolton Zoning Code

 The next Zoning Update Committee meeting is on

 March 10, 2009 at 4pm

 in the Bolton Town Hall.  The public is invited to attend, but most likely will not be included in the meeting discussions.

If you are interested in what can be done to protect Lake George within a Zoning Ordinance, review the Queensbury DRAFT Zoning Ordinance that they are fianlizing at this time (see Waterfront Residential).  The new ordinance addresses; size of structure on small lots, planting of vegetation and buffers on the shoreline and restricted use of fertilizers.

The Town of Bolton Zoning Ordinance is being Updated

The revised Zoning Ordinance will define growth for the Town of Bolton and some of the proposed codes will have an impact on Lake George's water quality in the future. 

  An upcoming Zoning Revisions meeting for the committee members will be held on

March 10, 2009 at 4pm 

(the public is invited and encouraged to attend and listen, but unfortunately, there is no open discussion at this meeting)

The Importance of Being Involved:  The Public information meetings have taken place to inform the community of the activiites of the committee and are an opportunity to get involved before the required Public Hearing.  This initial involvement is critical, and your letters and comments will help shape the final document.  There is much that needs to be defined, addressed or clarified in the new Updated Zoning Ordinance.  Environmental restoration and preservation has not been incorporated into the new Zoning Ordinace, which is contrary to the majority of the community resident's responses when they were asked to complete surveys in 2001.  These survey results were incorporated in the development of the Town of Bolton's Comprehensive Plan.

All residents and property owners should participate in the process NOW before the opportunity is lost 

Important Documents to be reviewed:

Click here to view the existing adopted Comprehensive Plan or click on the Comprehensive Plan cover below.

Click here for a copy of the new draft Zoning Ordinance (revised December 16, 2008).  You can also review all survey results that were included in the Comprehensive Plan and by law, are intended to shape the new Zoning Ordinance. 

The Issues:  The Updated Zoning code's new format is intended to reduce ambiguity and create a document that simplifies the required development process.  Changes to the code should eliminate the opportunity for subjective interpretation of the code.  What this new DRAFT (latest version dated 12/16/08) does not do is adequately define specific components of the code, nor address the fact that zoning should be "...undertaken in accordance with a comprehesive plan..." (as reqired by New York State law).

See the article in the Lake George Mirror regarding the updated Zoning Ordinance.

You can review the Waterkeeper's comments on the Zoning Update, the majority of which have previously been submitted to the committee.  Support for any of these issues or any components of our recommendations can be included in your letters to the committee.  Your input is the key to creating a document that can grow with the community and continue to reflect Bolton's desire to retain its unique and rural character, and protect its most treasured natural resource, Lake Geroge.

A summarization of the issues that have been identified by the Waterkeeper as important to water quality and the protection and restoration of Lake George are available for you to use in your letters to the committee. 

CALL TO ACTION

We encourage you, the residents and property owners of Bolton,  to make your voices heard.  Letters to the Zoning Update Committee should be submitted with your request that the committee strengthen and improve the zoning in the Town of Bolton. 

Any comments or recommendations that you may have for the committee to review and discuss should be submitted in the form of a letter or an email. 

Post Comments through the Town of Bolton Website or Click here and then scroll down to:

DRAFT new Zoning Ordinance and 'Please Click here to email your Zoning Draft Questions and Comments'.

Mail Correspondence directly to:

Supervisor Kathleen Simmes
Town of Bolton
PO Box 698
Bolton Landing, NY 12814

Email comments: supervisor@town.bolton.ny.us

 Call the Waterkeeper (518-668-5913) for assistance, or to answer any questions that you may have regarding the revisions to the Town of Bolton Zoning Ordinance