Elma Town Board plans update of commercial code
As a result of a work session of the Elma Town Board on Wednesday night, a new regulation establishing a two-year maintenance bond for new businesses in specific areas will be advanced.
The addition comes a week before a public hearing on the code updates that are 1z years in the making.
The Planning Board will decide the cost of the bond and the code enforcement officer will be responsible for enforcing it.
The moratorium on new commercial building and additions is scheduled to expire in October. The proposed addition to town code would deal with screening requirements, dead vegetation and plants, and make owners responsible if they cut down trees that are required for screening purposes.
Supervisor Michael Nolan called the work on the commercial code book excellent.
“It is the result of an enormous amount of work and many meetings — a professional job,” he said. “This is not a Band-Aid but a commercial code for years to come. It is fair to the landowners and residents who want to see smart development.”
And, it is the first time in more than 40 years that Elma has updated its commercial codes.
The code updates will be posted on the town’s Web site — www.elmanewyork.com . Councilman Dean Puleo, who chaired the commercial code committee during lengthy deliberations, said, “The residential code update is not too far behind.”
The town is also considering a separate brochure to help commercial property owners who plan to update their buildings. The brochure would be a design guideline, featuring renderings of what the town would like a building to look like. It can be periodically updated for businesses ready to change their facade.
