2026-552026-55
Resolution Introducing Local Law Of 2026 Amending Chapter 217 Expiration and Final Approval of
Subdivision Plats
At a Regular Meeting of the Town Board of the Town of Wappinger, Dutchess County, New York, held
at Town Hall, 20 Middlebush Road, Wappingers Falls, New York, on January 26, 2026.
The meeting was called to order by Joseph D. Cavaccini, Town Supervisor, and upon roll being called,
the following was recorded:
✓ Vote Record - Resolution RES -2026-55
Yes/Aye
No/Nay
Abstain
Absent
Q Adopted
❑ Adopted as Amended
Joseph D. Cavaccini
Voter
Q
❑
❑
❑
❑ Defeated
William H. Beale
Voter
Q
❑
❑
❑
❑ Tabled
Heather O'Dell
Voter
Q
❑
❑
❑
❑ Withdrawn
Christopher Phillips
Secondex
Q
❑
❑
❑
Al Casella
Mover
Q
❑
❑
❑
The following Resolution was introduced by Casella and seconded by Councilman Phillips.
BE IT RESOLVED, that proposed Local Law of the year 2026 of the Town of Wappinger, County of Dutchess
and State of New York, entitled "A Local Law Amending Chapter 217 of the Town Code of the Town of
Wappinger Relating to the Expiration and Final Approval of Subdivision Plats", which establishes
expiration deadlines for final subdivision approvals consistent with those applicable to preliminary
subdivision approvals (the "Local Law"), is hereby introduced to the Town Board of the Town of
Wappinger; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that copies of the aforesaid proposed Local Law be laid upon the desk of
each member of the Town Board; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Town Board shall hold a public hearing on said proposed Local Law
at the Town Hall, in the Town of Wappinger, New York, at 7 o'clock P.M. on February 9, 2026, or as soon
thereafter as the matter can be heard; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Town Clerk shall publish or cause to be published a public notice in
the official newspaper of the Town of Wappinger of said public hearing at least five (5) days prior thereto;
and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Town Clerk shall send or cause to be sent a copy of the proposed
Local Law to the Dutchess County Department of Planning in accordance with the applicable provisions
of Section 239 of the General Municipal Law at least ten (10) days prior to the date of the public hearing.
The foregoing was put to a vote which resulted as follows:
RESULT: ADOPTED [UNANIMOUS]
MOVER: Al Casella, Councilman
SECONDER: Christopher Phillips, Councilman
AYES: Cavaccini, Beale, O'Dell, Phillips, Casella
Dated: Wappingers Falls, New York
1/26/2026
The Resolution is hereby duly declared Adopted.
P. PAOLONI, TOWN CLERK
LOCAL LAW NO. OF THE YEAR 2026
A Local Law entitled "Local LawAmending Chapter 217 of the Town Code Amending
Final approval of subdivision plat."
BE IT ENACTED by the Town Board of the Town of Wappinger as follows:
Section L• Title.
This Local Law shall be known and cited as "Local Law Amending Chapter 217 of the
Town Code Amending Final approval of subdivision plat."
Section IL• Legislative Intent.
The Town Board of the Town of Wappinger hereby finds and declares that the timely and
orderly review of subdivision applications is essential to protecting the public health, safety,
and general welfare of the community.
The intent of this Local Law amending Chapter 217 of the Town Code, relating to the final
approval of subdivision plats, is to ensure that approved subdivision plans are acted upon
within a reasonable and predictable timeframe, consistent with current planning standards,
infrastructure capacity, environmental conditions, and community needs.
At present, subdivision plats may receive final approval and remain inactive for extended
periods of time—sometimes years or decades—before construction or implementation
occurs. When such approvals are later reactivated, the underlying plans may no longer reflect
contemporary zoning standards, environmental regulations, infrastructure conditions, orthe
Town's adopted planning goals, including those set forth in the Comprehensive Plan. This
practice undermines responsible land -use planning and can adversely impact roads,
schools, utilities, emergency services, and neighborhood character.
Accordingly, this Local Law establishes defined expiration deadlines for final subdivision
approvals, modeled after and consistent with the timelines applicable to preliminary
subdivision approvals. The law provides that final approval of a subdivision plat shall expire
after a period of three (3) years unless substantial progress has been made or an extension
has been duly granted.
The Town Board further intends that applicants retain the ability to request extensions of final
approval within the prescribed timeframe, subject to review and approval by the Planning
Board. However, where final approval has expired after three (3) years, the applicant shall be
required to return to the Planning Board for renewed review and approval under the then -
current Town Code, standards, and policies.
Section III: Addition of Section E. Expiration and extensions of final subdivision plat
approval.
§ 217-14 Final approval of subdivision plat.
A. Signing of plat.
(1) The Planning Board will endorse approval on the plat after all conditions of the
resolution have been satisfied.
(2) Approval will be endorsed on the tracing cloth original of the plat. A copy of the
plat to be signed is to be submitted to the Planning Board Secretary before the
signing of the original.
B. Plat void if revised after signature. No changes, erasures, modifications or revisions shall
be made to any subdivision plat after approval has been given by the Board and endorsed,
in writing, on the plat. In the event that any subdivision plat, when recorded, contains such
changes, the plat shall be considered null and void.
C. Filing plat with County Clerk. In accordance with Town Law § 276, Subdivision 11, the
plat shall be filed with the Dutchess County Clerk within 62 days of the date of signing. The
approval of any plat not so filed shall expire 62 days from the date of signing.
[Amended 9-13-1999 by L.L. No. 6-1999]
D. Submission of copies of filed plat. The applicant is required to submit six copies of the
subdivision plat, showing the endorsement of the County Clerk, to the Planning Board
Secretarywithin 30 days of the date of filing.
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