It is the intent of the Board of Trustees of the Village of Hudson Falls to implement ways to improve the appearance and quality of the signage in the Village as well as to address various concerns as they pertain to new billboard construction in the Village. It is further the purpose of this chapter to fulfill the Village's constitutional, statutory and legal obligations to protect and preserve the public health, welfare and safety of the citizens of the Village of Hudson Falls, and in particular to protect the value, use and enjoyment of the property in the Village and to prohibit the installation of new billboards within the Village.

This chapter is further intended to protect property values, create a more attractive economic and business climate, enhance and protect the physical appearance of the community, preserve the scenic and natural beauty and provide a more enjoyable and pleasing community, both for residents and visitors. This chapter is further intended to reduce sign or advertising distractions and obstructions that may contribute to traffic accidents, reduce hazards that may be caused by signs overhanging or projecting over public rights-of-way and provide more visual open space.

On or after the effective date of this chapter, no new billboard shall be erected or placed anywhere within the Village of Hudson Falls.

Any preexisting nonconforming sign may be repaired and/or replaced in kind. Notwithstanding the provisions of this chapter, all preexisting nonconforming billboards shall be removed within the time period prescribed by General Municipal Law § 74-c.

No sign or graphic description of any nature shall be permitted to be painted on exterior walls. However, the Planning Board may grant an exception for such a sign after review of neighborhood impacts, artistic content, size, material and maintenance plan.

No sign in any residential district may extend over a sidewalk or other public way so as to cause a hazard.

No projecting signs shall be erected or maintained so as to extend from the front or face of a building the distance of more than three feet.

Signs in any district shall be located a minimum of five feet from the street line or paved roadway.

No sign attached to a building located within the Village of Hudson Falls shall project above the height of the wall to which it is attached.

No illuminating sign or outdoor illumination shall be erected or used so that light will directly reflect toward residences on adjoining lots, toward residential districts within 1,000 feet or toward a highway so as to create a traffic hazard.

All accessory advertising devices of commercial enterprises other than signs permitted by the above regulations, such as, but not limited to, pennants, pinwheels or streamers, are prohibited.

Advertising displays on any structure shall be regarded as a sign subject to this section with the exception of temporary signs and signs in residential districts.

The design, location and size of signs is subject to approval by the Code Enforcement Officer and shall require a permit as set forth below.

No sign advertising the sale or rental of real property shall be placed or installed on real property which is not the real property advertised for sale or rent on the sign.

No sign shall contain a flashing, intermittent, rotating or moving light or lights. Signs may employ only lights emitting light of constant intensity, and no luminous sign shall be placed or directed so as to cause glare upon any public street, highway or sidewalk or adjacent premises or otherwise to cause glare or reflection that may constitute a traffic hazard or nuisance. Mirrors or mirror-like surfaces cannot be utilized.

No vehicle on which is placed or painted any sign shall be parked or stationed for more than seven days in any calendar year on a single parcel within the Village which is primarily intended to display the sign for advertising purposes.

These sign regulations recognize three types of temporary signs:

The name, address and telephone number of the applicant.

The location of the building, structure or land upon which the sign is to be erected.

A detailed drawing or blueprint depicting the sign, including all lettering and/or pictorial matter, and detailing the proposed location of the sign on any building or land area.

If the applicant is not the owner of the building, structure or land to which or on which the sign is to be erected, written consent of such owner.

Payment of the appropriate fee as set forth in § 215-118 of this chapter of the Village Code or as established by the Village Board.

Obsolete signs. Any sign which no longer advertises a bona fide business being conducted on the premises or within the Village shall be removed from said premises by the record owner or beneficial user of the premises within 10 days from receipt of a written order to do so from the Code Enforcement Officer. In default of said removal, the Code Enforcement Officer is authorized to effectuate the removal of said sign and to charge all costs incident to the removal to the record owner and/or the beneficial user of the premises. The Code Enforcement Officer at the direction of the Village Board of Trustees may waive the removal of obsolete signs if the Board finds the signs to be of a historical or unique character.

Revocation of permits. Any permit granted hereunder may be revoked by the Zoning Board of Appeals after due hearing after not less than 10 days' written notice to the person holding such permit in the event that the holder of such permit violates any of the conditions of issuance thereof; if such sign is not maintained in good condition; or if conditions at the site of such sign, and the judgment of the Zoning Board of Appeals, require a reconsideration of the location of such sign.