§ 7-730 Subdivision review; approval of plats; additional requisites.
1. Purpose. Before the approval by the planning board of a plat showing
lots, blocks or sites, with or without streets or highways, or the
approval of a plat already filed in the office of the clerk of the
county wherein such plat is situated if the plat is entirely or
partially undeveloped, the planning board shall require that the land
shown on the plat be of such character that it can be used safely for
building purposes without danger to health or peril from fire, flood,
drainage or other menace to neighboring properties or the public health,
safety and welfare.

2. Additional requirements. The planning board shall also require
that:

(a) the streets and highways be of sufficient width and suitable grade
and shall be suitably located to accommodate the prospective traffic, to
afford adequate light and air, to facilitate fire protection, and to
provide access of firefighting equipment to buildings. If there be an
official map, village comprehensive plan or functional/master plans,
such streets and highways shall be coordinated so as to compose a
convenient system conforming to the official map and properly related to
the proposals shown in the comprehensive plan of the village;

(b) suitable monuments be placed at block corners and other necessary
points as may be required by the board and the location thereof is shown
on the map of such plat;

(c) all streets or other public places shown on such plats be suitably
graded and paved; street signs, sidewalks, street lighting standards,
curbs, gutters, street trees, water mains, fire alarm signal devices
(including necessary ducts and cables or other connecting facilities),
sanitary sewers and storm drains be installed all in accordance with
standards, specifications and procedures acceptable to the appropriate
village departments except as hereinafter provided, or alternatively
that a performance bond or other security be furnished to the village,
as hereinafter provided.

3. Compliance with zoning regulations. Where a zoning ordinance or
local law has been adopted by the village, the lots shown on said plat
shall at least comply with the requirements thereof subject, however, to
the provisions of section 7-738 of this article.

4. Reservation of parkland on subdivision plats containing residential
units. (a) Before the planning board may approve a subdivision plat
containing residential units, such subdivision plat shall also show,
when required by such board, a park or parks suitably located for
playground or other recreational purposes.

(b) Land for park, playground or other recreational purposes may not
be required until the planning board has made a finding that a proper
case exists for requiring that a park or parks be suitably located for
playgrounds or other recreational purposes within the village. Such
findings shall include an evaluation of the present and anticipated
future needs for park and recreational facilities in the village based
on projected population growth to which the particular subdivision plat
will contribute.

(c) In the event the planning board makes a finding pursuant to
paragraph (b) of this subdivision that the proposed subdivision plat
presents a proper case for requiring a park or parks suitably located
for playgrounds or other recreational purposes, but that a suitable park
or parks of adequate size to meet the requirement cannot be properly
located on such subdivision plat, the planning board may require a sum
of money in lieu thereof, in an amount to be established by the village
board of trustees. In making such determination of suitability, the
board shall assess the size and suitability of land shown on the
subdivision plat which could be possible locations for park or
recreational facilities, as well as practical factors including whether
there is a need for additional facilities in the immediate neighborhood.
Any moneys required by the planning board in lieu of land for park,
playground or other recreational purposes, pursuant to the provisions of
this section, shall be deposited into a trust fund to be used by the
village exclusively for park, playground or other recreational purposes,
including the acquisition of property.

5. Character of the development. In making such determination
regarding streets, highways, parks and required improvements, the
planning board shall take into consideration the prospective character
of the development, whether dense residence, open residence, business or
industrial.

6. Application for area variance. Notwithstanding any provision of law
to the contrary, where a plat contains one or more lots which do not
comply with the zoning local law regulations, application may be made to
the zoning board of appeals for an area variance pursuant to section
7-712-b of this article, without the necessity of a decision or
determination of an administrative official charged with the enforcement
of the zoning regulations. In reviewing such application the zoning
board of appeals shall request the planning board to provide a written
recommendation concerning the proposed variance.

7. Waiver of requirements. The planning board may waive, when
reasonable, any requirements or improvements for the approval, approval
with modifications or disapproval of subdivisions submitted for its
approval. Any such waiver, which shall be subject to appropriate
conditions, may be exercised in the event any such requirements or
improvements are found not to be requisite in the interest of the public
health, safety, and general welfare or inappropriate because of
inadequacy or lack of connecting facilities adjacent or in proximity to
the subdivision.

8. Installation of fire alarm devices. The installation of fire alarm
signal devices including necessary connecting facilities shall be
required or waived pursuant to this section only with the approval of:
(a) the town board if the village is included in a central fire alarm
system established pursuant to subdivision eleven-c of section
sixty-four of the town law, (b) the board of supervisors or legislative
body of the county if the village is included in a central fire alarm
system established pursuant to paragraph (h) of subdivision one of
section two hundred twenty-five of the county law, or (c) the board of
fire commissioners of the village in any other case unless the
installation is to be made in a fire district within the village, in
which event only the approval of the board of fire commissioners of such
fire district shall be necessary. The planning board may, with the
approval of the appropriate board, completely waive any or all
requirements in connection with the installation of fire alarm signal
devices including necessary connecting facilities. When required, such
installation shall be made in accordance with standards, specifications,
and procedures acceptable to such board.

9. Performance bond or other security. (a) Furnishing of performance
bond or other security. As an alternative to the installation of
infrastructure and improvements, as above provided, prior to planning
board approval, a performance bond or other security sufficient to cover
the full cost of the same, as estimated by the planning board or a
village department designated by the planning board to make such
estimate, where such departmental estimate is deemed acceptable by the
planning board, shall be furnished to the village by the owner.

(b) Security where plat approved in sections. In the event that the
owner shall be authorized to file the approved plat in sections, as
provided in subdivision seven of section 7-728 of this article, approval
of the plat may be granted upon the installation of the required
improvements in the section of the plat filed in the office of the
county clerk or register or the furnishing of security covering the
costs of such improvements. The owner shall not be permitted to begin
construction of buildings in any other section until such section has
been filed in the office of the county clerk or register and the
required improvements have been installed in such section or a security
covering the cost of such improvements is provided.

(c) Form of security. Any such security must be provided pursuant to a
written security agreement with the village, approved by the village
board of trustees and also approved by the village attorney as to form,
sufficiency and manner of execution, and shall be limited to: (i) a
performance bond issued by a bonding or surety company; (ii) the deposit
of funds in or a certificate of deposit issued by a bank or trust
company located and authorized to do business in this state; (iii) an
irrevocable letter of credit from a bank located and authorized to do
business in this state; (iv) obligations of the United States of
America; or (v) any obligations fully guaranteed as to interest and
principal by the United States of America, having a market value at
least equal to the full cost of such improvements. If not delivered to
the village, such security shall be held in a village account at a bank
or trust company.

(d) Term of security agreement. Any such performance bond or security
agreement shall run for a term to be fixed by the planning board, but in
no case for a longer term than three years, provided, however, that the
term of such performance bond or security agreement may be extended by
the planning board with consent of the parties thereto. If the planning
board shall decide at any time during the term of the performance bond
or security agreement that the extent of building development that has
taken place in the subdivision is not sufficient to warrant all the
improvements covered by such security, or that the required improvements
have been installed as provided in this section and by the planning
board in sufficient amount to warrant reduction in the amount of said
security, and upon approval by the village board of trustees, the
planning board may modify its requirements for any or all such
improvements, and the amount of such security shall thereupon be reduced
by an appropriate amount so that the new amount will cover the cost in
full of the amended list of improvements required by the planning board.

(e) Default of security agreement. In the event that any required
improvements have not been installed as provided in this section within
the term of such security agreement, the village board of trustees may
thereupon declare the said performance bond or security agreement to be
in default and collect the sum remaining payable thereunder; and upon
the receipt of the proceeds thereof, the village shall install such
improvements as are covered by such security and as commensurate with
the extent of building development that has taken place in the
subdivision but not exceeding in cost the amount of such proceeds.

10. Suffolk county sewer districts. If in the county of Suffolk the
plat is not entirely situate within a county, town or village sewer
district and the county department of environmental control or the
county health department shall have directed that disposal of sewage
from the plat shall be provided for by a communal sewerage system,
consisting of a treatment plant and collection system, then the Suffolk
county sewer agency shall determine, specify and direct the means and
method by which the aforesaid system shall be best provided by and at
the expense of the developer. Among the alternative means and methods
the Suffolk county sewer agency may direct, shall be: (a) that the
developer, at its own cost and expense, install, build and construct
such system according to such plans, specifications, conditions and
guarantees as may be required by the Suffolk county sewer agency, and
upon satisfactory completion thereof, the developer shall dedicate and
donate same, without cost to the Suffolk county sewer agency, or its
nominee, and the developer shall also petition to form a county
district, but if the Suffolk county sewer agency shall determine that a
suitable complete communal sewerage system of adequate size cannot be
properly located in the plat or is otherwise not practical, then, (b)
the developer shall install, build and construct temporary cesspools or
septic tanks together with a sewage collection system according to such
plans, specifications, conditions and guarantees as may be required by
the Suffolk county sewer agency, and upon satisfactory completion
thereof, the developer shall dedicate and donate same, without cost, to
the Suffolk county sewer agency or its nominee, and in addition thereto,
the agency may also require the payment to the Suffolk county sewer
agency of a sum of money in an amount to be determined by the Suffolk
county sewer agency, and the developer shall also petition to form a
county district, or (c) the developer shall install, build and construct
temporary cesspools or septic tanks and, in addition thereto, shall pay
to the Suffolk county sewer agency a sum of money in an amount to be
determined by the Suffolk county sewer agency and the developer shall
also petition to form a county district, or (d) the developer shall
provide such other means and methods or combination thereof as the
Suffolk county sewer agency may determine, specify and direct.

Any sums paid to the Suffolk county sewer agency pursuant to any
provisions of this section, shall constitute a trust fund to be used
exclusively for a future communal sewerage system which shall be owned
and operated by a county sewer district, which district shall include
the subject plat within its bounds. Such moneys and accrued interest,
if any, when paid to such district, shall be credited over a period of
time determined by the district, pro rata, against the sewer assessment
of each tax parcel of the subject plat as may exist at the time of the
payment of such moneys and accrued interest to such district.

The useable value of any sewage collection system built under
paragraph (b), (c) or (d) of this subdivision shall be credited over a
period of time determined by the district, pro rata, against the sewer
assessment of each tax parcel of the plat as may exist at the time such
system is incorporated into a county sewer district which shall include
the subject plat within its bounds.