Model Ordinances for Municipalities

One of the recommendations from the Joint Land Use Study was to assist municipalities with model ordinances as a way to protect against certain types of encroachment. The study identified solar, vertical obstructions, light, and noise as the most common encroachment issues affecting Fort Drum. Below are model ordinances that were created in consultation with Community Planning and Environmental Associates, Berne, NY, to be used as templates for zoning in your community. For questions or additional information on these model ordinances, please contact Michelle Capone, the Development Authority’s Director of Regional Development, at mcapone@danc.org, or (315) 661-3200.

Height Restrictions for Compatible Development

Some types of tall structures can have an impact on military training. This model ordinance works to protect the designated military operating areas and military training routes or other restricted airspace from encroachment, and limit the exposure of impacts to persons, property, and facilities in proximity of the airfield to keep these areas clear of vertical obstructions to ensure a safe operating environment for military pilots. This ordinance seeks to regulate and restrict the height of structures in order to maintain compatibility between airfield operations and existing and future land uses in the municipality.

Solar Development

Future solar development in the region may cause impacts on Fort Drum depending on siting locations. Adopting regulations that consider potential impacts to the installation, including glint and glare, is imperative. As per Strategy LG-1A of the Fort Drum Joint Land Use Study, draft model solar regulations have been created for municipalities to use as a template for siting large scale solar projects that may have an impact on the mission and training at Fort Drum.

Light Issues

Large sources of light in the region, such as commercial lots like car dealerships, can produce a lot of ambient light that can impact night training at Fort Drum. As per Strategy LG-1A of the Fort Drum Joint Land Use Study, lighting standards for all fixtures have been created to educate constituents and adopt such lighting regulations in their zoning laws. 

Military Disclosure Statements

Modified Site Plan Review

This is a modified site plan review process that could be applied in any municipality with site plan review in their zoning law. It is for any type of larger agricultural project. There is often a request to make the process as simple as possible and not very onerous for farmers  - a quick turn around for a decision, no surveyed site plan needed, etc.  only for those ag structures to be built when in a town designated noise or safety overlay district.  Of course, the modified site plan review could be applied in any town with site plan for any type of larger ag project.I tried to make it as simple as possible and not very onerous for farmers  - a quick turn around for a decision, no surveyed site plan needed, etc.