Zoning Department

For more information, please see the Environmental Planning section of our website. There you can find the Comprehensive Plan, Zoning documents, Design Guidelines, Trail Maps, and more.

Asbestos Information:
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Department Responsibility:

To enforce Town of Dryden Zoning Ordinance, Building Codes including any permits for construction, demolition, zoning, Flood Plain Development, Subdivision Regulations, Flood Plain Administrator, Site plan Review, Special Permits.

Local Regulation Information:

Design Guidelines ** NEW **
Stormwater Management Information

Downloadable Forms:

Stormwater Form – PDF This is a 10.5 Mb file and may take a while to download.
Building Permit Application Form
Seasonal Use Vehicle Registration Form
Site Plan Review Application Form
Special Permit Application Form
Subdivision Application Form
Zoning Permit Application Form
Zoning Variance Application Form

Local Laws:

Local Law 2 of 1981: Allowing for repair or removal of unsafe buildings and collapsed structures.

Local Law 1 of 2007
Highway Specs

Department History:

Town of Dryden adopted zoning regulations which went into effect on September 29, 1969 and have been amended at various times in response to changing conditions evolving as a living document designed to enhance the quality of life while at the same time encouraging appropriate development. The most recent Zoning Ordinance was printed in May of 1988. Copies are available with all amendments since 1988 included. A $5.00 fee is required.

The Town of Dryden developed its first Comprehensive Plan in 1968 which was known as the, “The Dryden General Plan “. Although not an official document, the 1968 Comprehensive Plan has served as a guide for Town of Dryden ever since. Currently the Town is considering the revision and adoption of a Comprehensive Plan consistent with current and anticipated conditions. The proposed Comprehensive Plan could require some adjustment of the current Zoning Ordinance as preservation of open space and development in areas where municipal services currently exist may be encouraged.

Statewide Building Codes for all New York State communities first appeared in 1972 with the New York State Code Manual available in 1977. New York State, except New York City and Buffalo , was unified with the advent of the Uniform Fire Prevention and Building Code in 1984. Where the 1972 and 1977 Codes were voluntary, the 1984 Uniform Code became a mandatory regulation for all communities in New York State with exception of any city with a population exceeding 1 million persons. The 1984 Uniform Code includes inspection of existing public assembly facilities, businesses both commercial and industrial and multiple dwellings and the enforcement of current construction code conformance for all construction activities within the Town of Dryden including the Village of Dryden.

The Village of Dryden , one of two municipalities located within the Town of Dryden Code Enforcement activities have been a duty of our department beginning in January 1998. The Village of Freeville, the second municipality located within the Town of Dryden continues to administer the Uniform Code and their local codes.

The Zoning and Building Department provides many services in addition to code enforcement. The office is open to the general public 7:30 Am until 4:30 PM Monday through Friday. We may be reached by phone at 607-844-8888 ext. 216 during those hours. You may also reach the office staff via fax at 607-844-8008 as necessary. E-mail communication is also possible at Zoning as necessary. The staff is available to assist anyone with code, zoning or subdivision related questions.

Since 1969 the Dryden Town Zoning Department has grown from a part time Zoning Officer to the present staff of 4 persons. The first Zoning Officer, Sib Stewart, served from September 1969 through December 1986. With the adoption of the Uniform Code, administration and enforcement of the uniform code became necessary. Beginning in July 1984, the Town of Dryden contracted with Gary L. Wood for Code Enforcement and administration. Sib and Gary worked together throughout December 1986. Beginning in January 1987 the Town of Dryden combined the two part time positions retaining Henry Slater as a full time code enforcement officer responsible for all Uniform Code and local zoning regulations. The Zoning Department expanded its staff in 1989 when former Town Supervisor Clinton E. Cotterill joined the stall as a part time code enforcement officer remaining at that position until the end of 1997 when he retired. In 1991, Nita Baldwin joined the staff and served as an administrative assistant to this department. She retired in Spring 2006.

January 1998, Kevin Ezell joined our staff as a full time code enforcement officer. Ever increasing responsibility and agreeing to provide code and zoning enforcement services for the Village of Dryden created a need for a second full time code enforcement officer. Kevin had several years experience prior to joining the Town of Dryden as Kevin had previously been a code enforcement officer with the City of Cortland and an independent enforcement agency.

Also during 2003 our department began an internship with the Dryden Central High School Business Education Department. Brandi Ludlam joined us in a technical position to assist us in the conversion of 50 plus file draws of department records to an electronic data base form. Dryden High School Students still serve as interns to this department.

What will the future bring? The staff certainly has a vision which includes continued service to the community and to provide support to the numerous functioning boards. We continue to take advantage of the explosion in electronic technologies which are being utilized to support the department. An example is Geographic Information System, (GIS), which permits us to produce accurate zoning maps, soil maps local unique natural areas tax maps, flood zones and both state and federal wetland maps.

SUBDIVISION:

The Town of Dryden first adopted Subdivision Regulation in 1964. A Subdivision Ordinance was adopted in 1976. The Subdivision Ordinance is administered by the Dryden Town Planning Board. The Planning Board was first organized in 1964. The first Chairperson was Peter Curtis of Etna. The next Chairperson was Alton Reed of Turkey Hill Road. In 1971 Barbara Caldwell was appointed Chairperson and has performed the duties of the chair ever since. The Planning Board meets on the third Thursday of each month beginning at 7 or 7:30 PM depending on their work load. Visit the Planning Board page for more information.

In some instances, a zoning permit cannot be obtained without a variance. Those applications go before our Zoning Board of Appeals (ZBA). Visit the Zoning Board of Appeals Page for more information.

The newest volunteer group is the Conservation Board (CB). Visit the Conservation Board Page for more information.