The Village Office often receives inquires from residents and businesses regarding building permits. These questions are always welcome, and finding answers to them can often save property owners time, money, and needless aggravation. Here is a list of the most common types of projects that require permits or approvals:

• Exterior renovations (replacement of doors, windows, siding, roofing, etc.). Requires approval from the Architectual and Preservation Review Board (APRB) in most cases. A building permit is required after approval.
• Fences and accessory structures. APRB approval and building permit required.
• Chimney installation or repair. APRB approval usually required; building permit required.
• Solid-fuel appliances (woodstoves, fireplaces). Building permit required.
• Gas appliances (furnaces, hot water heaters, gas logs). Building permit required.

• Interior remodeling (residential). A building permit amy be required if the project involves structural changes, plumbing, or electrical work.
• Interior remodeling (commercial). Building permit required
• New commercial occupancies (new stores, offices). Building permit or tenant change permit and certificate of occupancy required.
• Signs. APRB approval and permit required.
• Temporary signs. Limited types of temporary signs are permitted, permit required.
• Demolition. Building permit required, may require APRB approval.

Pittsford's Assessor Explains Village/Town Reassessments

The owners of some seven hundred parcels of land within the Village ~ homes, businesses, and other properties ~ received notice last month of their property(ies) newly reassesed value. This is the third reassessment since 1986, when Pittsford turned into a full-market-value assessment standard.

Steve Robson, assessor for both the Village and Town, says that property reevaluation is determined by examining recent sale proces of properties similiar to those being reassessed. The reevaluation is done to maintain equity, he says, ensuring that similiar properties are taxed in similiar ways. Considering in the

reassessment checklist are architectural style, size, condition, location, number of bathrooms, and number of bedrooms. Improvements are determined by examining building permits issued since the last reassessment.

"It's important to understand that the reassessment process is not undertaken to raise tax monies for the town or village," says Robson. "For instance, if the taxable value of the town or village increases and budgets remain the same, the tax rate might actually decrease." All properties have been reassessed, in what Robson describes as "an ongoing process.

Village Business Association Board Members

Board members for the year 2000:
(left to right)

Greg Messner, Messner Carpeting;
Jack Levine, Shoe Concepts;
Remegia Mitchell, The Pedestal;
Jim Cronin, Pittsford Pendleton Shop;
Diana Miller, Port of Pittsford Gifts;
Kim Pelletier, of Canaltown Coffee
Roasters, was absent for this photo.