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LOCAL LAWS&ORDINANCES\ENACTMENT\Chapter 137 Septic Inspection Upon Property Transfer-AMENDMENT-5-20-19
RESOLUTION ADOPTING LOCAL LAW NO. _ OF 2019
AMENDING QUEENSBURY TOWN CODE CHAPTER 137
RESOLUTION NO.: ,2019
INTRODUCED BY:
WHO MOVED ITS ADOPTION
SECONDED BY:
WHEREAS, by Resolution No. 380, 2018, the Queensbury Town Board adopted Local
Law 2 of 2018 entitled "Septic Inspection Upon Property Transfer" which is now set forth at
Queensbury Town Code Chapter 137, and
WHEREAS, at that time, the Town Board determined that there would be no significant
adverse environmental impacts resulting therefrom, and
WHEREAS, Town Code Chapter 137 requires inspection of Onsite Wastewater
Treatment Systems (OWTS) prior to the sale of certain real property, and
WHEREAS, Section 137-4(C) contains certain exemptions from this obligation, and
WHEREAS, the Town Board wishes to consider adding an additional exemption in cases
where property owners and/or prospective purchasers already know or believe that the OWTS
would not pass inspection and where the System is to be replaced within six (6) months of the
property transfer at issue, and
WHEREAS, a public hearing on proposed Local Law No.: of 2019 was duly noticed
and on Monday, May 20th, 2019 was duly conducted,
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT
RESOLVED, that Local Law No.: of 2019 constitutes a minor modification of a
previously reviewed SEQRA Action which will not result in any new, different or additional
environmental impacts which were not previously analyzed and, therefore, no additional SEQRA
Review is warranted, and
BE IT FURTHER,
RESOLVED, that Local Law No.: of 2019 is hereby adopted, and
BE IT FURTHER,
RESOLVED, that the Town Board authorizes and directs the Town Supervisor, Town
Clerk and/or Town Counsel to execute any required documents and take any and all action
necessary to effectuate all terms of this Resolution.
Duly adopted this 20th day of May, 2019, by the following vote:
AYES :
NOES :
ABSENT :
Chapter 137—Exemption From Property Transfer Septic Inspection—5-20-19
LOCAL LAW NO.: OF 2019
A LOCAL LAW TO AMEND QUEENSBURY TOWN CODE
CHAPTER 137 BY REPEALING AND REPLACING
SECTION 137-4 (C) TO INCLUDE AN ADDITIONAL
EXEMPTION FROM THE "SEPTIC INSPECTION UPON
PROPERTY TRANSFER" LAW
BE IT ENACTED BY THE QUEENSBURY TOWN BOARD AS FOLLOWS:
Section 1. Authority — This Local Law is adopted pursuant to Article 16 of the Town
Law and Article 3 of the Public Health Law
Section 2. Amendment of Town Code — Chapter 137 of the Queensbury Town Code is
hereby amended by repealing and replacing Section 137-4 (C) with the following:
C. Exemption from property transfer inspection. The following conveyances of real
property shall be exempt from the provisions of this article in the following situations and
pursuant to the terms identified below
(1) The property to be sold or transferred will not be inhabited, and the new owner
plans to demolish the existing structure. In order to qualify for the exemption, a
notarized affidavit must be submitted to the Building and Codes Enforcement Office
stating that the dwelling will not be inhabited and that it will be demolished with no
immediate plans to rebuild or the dwelling will not be inhabited, it will be demolished
and rebuilt, in which case the affidavit shall be accompanied by a site plan, including
adequate detail to demonstrate a lawful OWTS, together with a check payable to the
Town of Queensbury in the amount of$2,000. Such funds will be held in a non-interest-
bearing escrow account and will be released in the former case, upon issuance of a
demolition permit and, in the latter case, upon issuance of a certificate of occupancy
compliance from the Building and Codes Enforcement Office.
(2) An OWTS inspection was not able to be completed prior to the conveyance of
real property due to inclement weather. In order to qualify for the exemption, a notarized
affidavit from the new property owner to complete the requisite OWTS inspection within
six months of the date of the conveyance of real property, or June 1, whichever comes
first, must be filed with the Building and Codes Enforcement Office. A check payable to
the Town of Queensbury in the amount of$2,000 will be held in a non-interest-bearing
escrow account and shall be released upon the completion of a satisfactory OWTS
inspection from the Building and Codes Enforcement Office.
(3) The property to be sold or transferred contains an existing OWTS that does not
comply with the provisions of this Chapter and the prospective purchasers and/or the
Seller wish to foreo an inspection in favor of installing- an approved OWTS within 6
months of the transfer of property. In order to qualify for the exemption. a notarized
affidavit must be submitted to the Building and Codes Enforcement Office stating- that
the existing OWTS will be replaced within 6 months from transfer of property. The
affidavit must be accompanied by a site plan. including adequate detail to demonstrate
that the replacement OWTS will comply with this Chapter, together with a check payable
to the Town of Queensbury in the amount of$2.000. Such funds will be held in a non-
interest-bearing escrow account and will be released upon issuance of a certificate of
compliance from the Building- and Codes Enforcement Office.
(44) During the OWTS inspection, a failure of the septic system was determined. Due
to winter and frozen conditions, the repair to an existing OWTS could not occur or a new
OWTS could not be installed before the conveyance of real property. In order to qualify
for the exemption, a notarized affidavit from the new property owner to complete the
installation or repair of the septic system within six months from the date of the
conveyance of real property, or June 1, whichever comes first, must be filed with the
Building and Codes Enforcement Office. A check payable to the Town of Queensbury in
the amount of$2,000 will be held in a non-interest-bearing escrow account and shall be
released upon the completion of the repair or installation of a new septic system and a
satisfactory OWTS inspection from the Building and Codes Enforcement Office.
(45) There is record of the property's OWTS having passed Town inspection within
the last three years.
0-6) Failure to complete the inspection, obtain the permit or complete all
repairs/installations identified in the preceding subsections of this section within the time
provided or any subsequent deadline established by the Building and Codes Enforcement
Office will result in forfeiture of the moneys held in escrow, and the Town may use such
funds toward abating the conditions caused by each such violation of this article.
Section 3. Severability — The invalidity of any clause, sentence, paragraph or provision
of this Local Law shall not invalidate any other clause, sentence, paragraph or part thereof.
Section 4. Repealer — All Local Laws or Ordinances or parts of Local Laws or
Ordinances in conflict with any part of this Local Law are hereby repealed.