A first for Canadice: Zoning

The Town Board enacted zoning for the first time last week, making it the last town in Ontario County to do so.

"I'm very pleased that the zoning proposal has been adopted," said Supervisor Bonnie Drake. "For a while, we didn't want to talk zoning too loudly," she added.

Independent-minded Canadice residents had been adamantly opposed to more property regulations, but a committee formed in 2004 came up with a proposal that many found acceptable.

The intent of the zoning project was to consolidate into a single package the town laws that had been in place for several decades and reflect the goals set out in the 1996 comprehensive plan. In short, the plan reflects what Canadice is already, not a new direction.

The newly adopted code has divided the town into three districts:

A conservation and preservation district encompassing the woodlands, wetlands and open space surrounding Hemlock and Canadice lakes.

A rural district on the higher elevations that would blend agricultural, woodland and residential properties, including home occupations and small-scale commercial uses.

A Honeoye Lake shore district addressing the needs of the more populated area along County Road 36 where there are concerns about height, setbacks from property lines and enforcement of building-code safety regulations.

The public will be able to view the new zoning code in four to six weeks after it is certified and filed with the Department of State in Albany.

Copies will then be available for purchase from the Canadice Town Clerk and available at Canadice online (www.canadice.org), and at the Honeoye and Wayland libraries.

Contact Barbara Rathbun at (585) 394-0770, Ext. 256, or at messenger@mpnewspapers.com.