| If the information below is inconsistent with the current
code, the user is advised to rely exclusively upon the original
records available at the Village Hall.
General Information
Beach, Park and Wooded Village Areas
The Buildings Department
Noise
Trees
Street Sweeping
Garbage Collection
Parking
Snow Removal and Related Problems
Leaves
Pets
Swimming Pools
Cesspools
Fences, Retaining Walls and Land Contour
Voter Registration
Board of Zoning Appeals
Planning Board
Landmarks Preservation Commission
Village Court
Village Taxes
Village Rights of Way
Baxter Estates is one of 30 incorporated villages in the
Town of North Hempstead, County of Nassau. It ranks second
smallest in size according to area (109 acres) and population
(1006 as of the 2000 census). The Village is in the Third
Congressional District. For the New York State Legislature,
the Village is represented in the 16th Assembly District and
in the 7th Senatorial District.
Some of the benefits of living in a village include: zoning
protection, control of construction through local building
permits, curbside leaf pick-up, road maintenance, street sweeping,
and snow removal. As a result of this local control, there
can be greater efficiency that leads to lower taxes.The Village
of Baxter Estates is governed by a four-member Board of Trustees
and a Mayor, all unsalaried and elected for two year terms
in elections held the third Tuesday in March. The Mayor and
two Trustees are elected in odd-numbered years and the other
two Trustees in even-numbered years. Any resident may vote
who is 18 years of age, a U.S. citizen, and has been a resident
of the state and village for at least 30 days.
The Board meets at 7:30 P.M. on the first Thursday of each
month. The annual meeting is held on the third Monday in April.
All meetings are held in the Village Office at 2 Harbor Road
and are open to the public.
Board members all serve on various committees pertaining
to Village affairs. In addition, Board members are always
available to the public by leaving a message at the village
office or by email.
The Village Clerk is the chief administrator of the Village
and carries out Village policies as directed by the Mayor,
Trustees, and other Village officials. The duties of the Clerk
include; supplying information to residents, acting as secretary
at Village meetings, acting as a liaison with other Villages,
the Town, County and State, preparing the tax roll, receiving
taxes, and dealing with contractors concerning daily maintenance
of the Village. The Village Clerk is also responsible for
publicizing all legal notices and sending out notices for
Village meetings. She oversees general conditions in the Village.
The Village Attorney writes contracts, drafts local laws,
provides legal advice to the Board of Trustees and the Board
of Zoning Appeals, and represents the Village in civil litigation.
He attends all Village meetings.
The Village Treasurer prepares the yearly budget for the
approval of the Board of Trustees and Mayor. In addition,
he attends monthly meetings and advises the Board on matters
of financial investments and expenditures.
Barbara Johnson Park and Preserve at Baxter’s Pond
is our most active park area and is owned and maintained by
Nassau County. The natural setting of the meandering stream
and seating areas around the pond provide residents with a
peaceful sanctuary from the stress of daily living. Baxter
Estates Beach is maintained by the Village and offers a beautiful
vista of Manhasset Bay. The passive park area adjacent to
the Town of North Hempstead parking lot located on Shore Road
offers seating areas and dockside fishing. Several wooded
areas are located within, and maintained by, the Village.
One area abuts Central Drive, behind the Pierre Apartments
and the J.P. Morgan Chase Bank on Main Street. Another abuts
the backyards of private homes on Hilltop Road, extending
to Overlook Drive. Yet another abuts the Port Washington Water
District, extending to homes on Bayside Avenue, Hillside Avenue
and Sandy Hollow Road. Encroachments and dumping on Village
property are prohibited. Offenders are subject to a fine and
will be responsible for the costs incurred by the Village
for removal of debris if the resident fails to comply with
such notice.
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The Building Inspector enforces zoning ordinances, inspects
plans and issues building permits and certificates of occupancy.
Since permits are required for all alterations and additions
or other structural changes, residents are advised to check
with the Village office when planning changes to their homes.
The Building Inspector is available at the Village office
on Wednesdays only from 9:00A.M. to 1:00 P.M. Messages for
the Building Inspector can be left with the Village Clerk,
who may also make appointments for him when necessary or he
can be emailed directly through this web site.
Required permits:
Accessory Building Permit
Air Conditioning Permit
Antenna Permit
Awning Permit
Building Permit
Cesspool Permit
Demolition Permit
Dumpster Permit
Fence Permit
Generator Permit
Pool Permit
Sewer Installation Permit
Shed Permit
Sign Permit
Special Event Permit
Street Opening Permit
Tree Permit
Wood Deck Permit
Applications and forms
Information for permits
Excessive noise of any kind in an outdoor living area before
8:00 A.M. or after 10:00 P.M. is prohibited if the sound is
audible and could constitute a disturbance to other residents.
Construction is permitted Monday to Friday from 8:30 A.M.
to 6:00 P.M. and on Saturdays from 9:00 A.M. to 6:00 P.M.
The operation in a residential district of any power equipment
for grounds improvement or maintenance is permitted between
the hours of 8:30 A.M. and 6:00 P.M. on Mondays through Fridays,
9:00 A.M. and 5:00 P.M. on Saturdays and 10:00 A.M. and 4:00
P.M. on Sundays. In addition, owners themselves may operate
power equipment between 6:00 P.M. and 7:00 P.M Monday through
Friday. Power equipment includes generators, lawn mowers,
garden tools, snow removal equipment, power saws, chain saws,
leaf blowers, lawn edgers, and wood, branch and leaf chippers.
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Homeowners have almost unlimited opportunity to landscape
their property. There are several restrictions and ordinances,
however, that are necessary for public safety and to maintain
the unique, park like setting of Baxter Estates. A permit
from the Village Office must be obtained to cut down any tree
that is twenty inches or more in circumference when measured
at a height of three feet. Homeowners should observe the following
guidelines concerning the trees and shrubs on their ”property”.
• “Property” includes all in front of your
home to the curb.
• Dead tree limbs should be removed when they are lower
than eight feet to ensure safe passage for pedestrians and
vehicles.
• Shrubs cannot encroach upon sidewalks.
• Shrubs on corners and those bordering driveways should
not be more that thirty inches in height so they do not obstruct
a motorist’s visibility.
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The Village is serviced by Meadow Carting Corporation for
garbage collection.
Waste generated from the normal day to day operations
of the household and kitchen is collected three times a
week, on Monday, Wednesday and Friday.
Yard waste, including grass, leaves, hedge clippings and
tree limbs (no larger than three inches by four feet) is
collected each Monday, beginning the first week of April
and continuing until the second week of December. Christmas
trees are picked up the first two weeks of January.
Recycling items (paper, bottles and cans) are collected
on Friday.
Bulk items (a maximum of two at one time) such as furniture,
mattresses, rugs, appliances, etc. are collected on Friday.
Holiday Schedule
There will be no collection on the following days:
New Years Day January 1, 2009
Martin Luther King Day January 19, 2009
Presidents Day February 16, 2009
Memorial Day May 25, 2009
Independence Day July 4, 2009
Labor Day September 7, 2009
Columbus Day October 12, 2009
Veteran's Day November 11, 2009
Thanksgiving Day November 26, 2009
Please contact Meadow Carting if you have any questions at
(516) 338-0121.
Due to the residential nature of the Village there are a
few parking rules which must be followed. There is no parking
on Baxter Estates Streets from 3 A.M. to 6 A.M. Village parking
rules are posted on Village streets and must be observed at
all times. Village of Baxter Estates (VBE) stickers are available
at the Village office to help the Police identify parked vehicles
which do not belong to Village residents. Parking tickets
will be issued by the Port Washington Police for failure to
comply with the parking ordinances. Parking tickets are to
be paid at the Village office.
Parking for special events (parties, etc.) can be arranged
by contacting the Village office.
Please call (516) 767-4628 for information regarding parking
at the Port Washington branch of the Long Island Railroad
Station.
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During the winter season our snow removal services have been
successful because of the cooperation of our residents and
our snow removal personnel. To ease the snow removal process
and enable plows to clear each street, the following suggestions
should be observed:
• Cars should be parked in garages and driveways.
• Garbage cans should be placed within the driveway
or on a cleared, off-street area.
• Sidewalks must be cleared by the homeowner within
a reasonable amount of time after snow stops falling to ensure
safe pedestrian passage. If required for safety purposes,
the Village will clear sidewalks and bill the homeowner for
this service.
• Shoveling snow or pushing plowed snow into streets
creates a hazard for drivers and is illegal.
• Fire hydrants covered by snow should be made accessible
and identified with a pole stuck in the snow.
While the many mature trees that shade our community enhance
the beauty and the quality of life in Baxter Estates, they
also shed large volumes of leaves in the autumn. Leaves may
not be burned, either on the street or on private property.
As a service to residents, the Village has, for many years,
contracted to dispose of loose leaves placed at the curb.
There are leaf pick-ups beginning the first week of November
and ending the second week of December. Before and after these
official pick-ups, all leaves must be bagged, tied and left
for regular garbage pick-up. Twigs, grass clippings or garden
debris must be left for regular garbage pick up.
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Pets are permitted although pigeons, chickens, farm animals
and any animal classified as “wild” are prohibited.
As a common courtesy, dog owners are requested to pick up
and dispose of dog wastes. Dogs must be on a leash when not
on the owner’s property and are not permitted to bark
excessively.
All swimming pools and hot tubs must have a permit, which
can be obtained at the Village office. The following safeguards
have been established by the Village so that a pool does not
become a danger or nuisance to neighbors.
• The pool area must be completely enclosed with a good
quality fence four feet in height. Every gate in the fence
must be equipped with self-closing and self-locking devices.
• Pools must be completely drained in the winter and
provided with tight fitting covers.
• Provisions must be made on the premises for draining
the pool. A pool should never be emptied into the street.
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Proper maintenance of a cesspool is essential. Animal fats,
vegetable oils, or waste water used in stripping off wax from
vinyl floor tiles should not be disposed of in your cesspool.
Use of kitchen food disposals is not recommended. If there
is a problem with a cesspool, detergents should not be used
in the washing machine. An enzyme conditioner from a hardware
store can be used to put new enzymes into the cesspool to
break down the fats. A treatment like this is recommended
before leaving on vacation to clean out piping and the cesspool
while the homeowner is away.
Before putting up a fence, constructing a retaining wall or
changing the level of the land, the homeowner must obtain
a permit from the Village office. Fences cannot be higher
than four feet unless otherwise permitted by the Board of
Zoning Appeals. Retaining walls cannot be higher that the
ground which they support. The existing grade and contours
of any property cannot be altered or modified by excavating,
terracing, filling, or any other means without obtaining a
permit from the Village office.
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To register to vote in all village elections, residents should
go to the Village office ten days prior to the election. A
register-by-mail form is available from the Village office.
Registration with the County Board of Elections qualifies
a resident to vote in village and general elections.
The Board of Zoning Appeals is appointed by the Mayor with
the consent of the Board of Trustees and acts as an independent
body to hear petitions for variances of the zoning ordinance
of the Village. The five member Board meets on request. One
of the primary advantages of being incorporated as a village
is the ability to control community growth and development
through zoning ordinances, which govern all improvements to
property in the Village. If building applications are denied,
property owners may petition for a variance to the Board of
Zoning Appeals. There are two kinds of variances, area variances
and use variances, each of which is treated differently. In
each case, the BZA must balance the benefit to the applicant
against the detriment to the health, safety and welfare of
the entire community. The application is added to the agenda
of the next public meeting of the Board of Zoning Appeals.
A notice of the hearing is published in the local newspaper
and adjoining neighbors are notified by mail. The applicant
will be advised of the hearing date at which time he will
present reasons why the application should be approved. Others
may then speak either in favor or in opposition to the petition.
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The Planning Board consists of all the members of the Board
of Trustees. The Planning Board meets to consider and decide
matters of property subdivisions, site plan reviews, special
use permits and other land issues.
The Landmarks Preservation Commission was created in 2003
to preserve our historic sites. It consists of 5 members appointed
by the Mayor, one of whom is designated as commissioner and
who serves as chairman.
In 2003 the Village created the offices of Village Justice
and Acting Village Justice to enforce the laws and ordinances
of the Village relating to parking, fire prevention and safety,
health, sanitation, building zoning and planning. The Village
enforcement personnel are authorized to issue appearance tickets.
The Village Court is held at the Village Office once a month
on a set date.
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Village taxes are based on the amount of money needed to fund
services provided by the Village. The annual tax rate is based
on assessed valuation of properties in the Village. The tax
rate is arrived at by first establishing the budget.
All costs of running the Village are assembled by the Mayor
and a proposed budget is prepared. A public hearing is held
and residents are invited to ask questions and express their
feelings about the proposed budget. Then the proposed budget
is submitted to the Board of Trustees. The budget must be
approved by the first Monday in May. Anticipated income from
state aid, building permits, etc., and any surplus from the
previous year are subtracted from the approved budget expenses
leaving the amount to be raised by real property tax.
Taxes must be paid by June 30th. Late penalties begin to
be assessed on the first business day in July. Exemptions
to the Village property tax are available to certain senior
citizens. Applications for senior citizen exemptions must
be made each year at the Village office between September
1 and December 31st.
Village ordinances prohibit construction of any posts, fences,
and other structures on the fifteen-foot strip of land that
abuts the road, which is Village property, not the homeowner's.
Additionally, any lawn sprinkler pipes, electrical wires or
other underground installations are done at the homeowner’s
risk and expense. The Village is not responsible for any subsequent
damage to pipes, wires, etc. done by Village employees and/or
contractors working on Village rights of way.
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