Macedon Village City Zoning Code
ARTICLE XII
Sign Regulations
§ 301-58 Purpose.
The intent of these regulations is to promote and protect the public health, welfare, and safety by regulating and restricting the erection, construction, repair, removal, alteration, and maintenance of signs and other advertising devices in the Hamlet. The regulations are intended to promote and protect public health, welfare and safety by regulating and restricting existing and proposed signs and advertising devices of all kinds. It is intended to promote the interests of any person or business or cause when such is placed in view of the general public while promoting a more attractive economic climate and enhancing the scenic and natural beauty of the Hamlet.
§ 301-59 General conditions and regulations.
A.
Except for those signs specifically identified in § 301-62, no sign shall be erected in the Hamlet without a permit issued by the Zoning Officer.
B.
Except for temporary signs, no sign permit shall be issued by the Zoning Officer without the approval of the Planning Board.
C.
All signs shall be securely attached to a building or a structurally sound support, and their display surfaces shall be kept neatly painted and in good repair at all times.
D.
No illuminated signs or outdoor illumination shall direct light in a way which would create a traffic hazard or nuisance or be unreasonably detrimental to adjoining or neighboring properties.
E.
No sign shall be illuminated by or contain flashing, intermittent, rotating or moving light or lights. Lighting devices shall employ only lights emitting light of constant intensity.
F.
No projecting sign shall be erected or maintained which extends a distance of more than 48 inches from the front or face of a building. In no event shall a projecting sign interfere with pedestrian or vehicular traffic or overhang or project onto any public right-of-way except as provided for in this article.
G.
No sign or part thereof shall contain or consist of banners, posters, pennants, ribbons, streamers, spinners, or similar fluttering devices.
H.
No sign shall consist of animated or moving parts. No movable or portable signs shall be placed on any premises.
I.
No sign shall be attached to fences, utility poles or trees.
J.
No sign shall be erected or maintained upon the roof of any building or structure.
K.
No motor vehicle, mobile home or trailer on which is placed or painted any sign shall be parked or stationed in a manner primarily intended to display the sign.
L.
No sign shall be erected or maintained within the right-of-way, nor within 25 feet of the pavements of any public street or within 10 feet of any property line unless attached to a building.
M.
No sign shall be permitted which advertises a business, use or service other than that which exists on the premises on which said sign is located.
N.
The regulations specified herein shall not apply to any sign or directional device erected by any governmental agency, nonadvertising signs identifying underground utility lines, or "posted" or preserve signs erected pursuant to the Environmental Conservation Law of the State of New York.
O.
No sign shall be erected in such a manner as to confuse or obstruct the view of any traffic sign, signal or device.
P.
Signs advertising a temporary situation may be displayed during the duration of those services or until the final day of the event. Such signs may include but not be limited to political, charitable, social, and educational functions, real estate sale, lease, or rental signs, and signs advertising services of a temporary nature incident to a business or property.
Q.
No sound amplifiers, public address systems or other sound devices shall be used as a means of advertising or to attract attention to a sign.
§ 301-60 Specific conditions and regulations.
A.
Not more than one sign per each side of a building facing a street and containing advertising or otherwise relating to a single business or activity may be erected or maintained on a single property, except in the case where the entrance to each single business does not face a street. Such signs may be illuminated.
B.
The permitted sign may be a ground, wall or projecting sign.
C.
The area of a sign erected on a single property to advertise a specific business or activity shall not exceed one square foot for each linear foot of building facade on any street.
D.
Directional signs that do not exceed two square feet in sign area and are limited to such texts as "Office," "Entrance," "Exit," "Parking," and "No Parking" shall be excluded from the limitation on the number and area of signs permitted.
E.
No ground sign shall be more than 20 feet in height, measured from the highest level of natural ground immediately beneath the sign to the highest point of the sign or the supporting structure thereof.
§ 301-61 Regulations for multiple uses on single property.
Notwithstanding the standard governing the number of signs permitted to be erected or maintained on any parcel of real property set forth in § 301-60 above, the following standards shall guide the regulation of all private signs associated with projects when more than one principal building or business use or activity is proposed to be conducted on a separate and discrete basis upon a single parcel of real property associated with the project, such as in the case of a shopping center, plaza or mall, or other multiple commercial use facility or industrial park.
A.
A single ground sign of up to 40 square feet in area and not more than 20 feet in height may be erected which identifies the name of the center or facility as a whole and does not advertise any individual business activity.
B.
Ground signs advertising individual businesses within a shopping center or joint development project shall be prohibited.
C.
One sign identifying individual businesses or uses may be erected for each separate principal activity. Individual business signs may be attached to the face of the building or hung from a canopy. Such signs shall not exceed the lesser of one square foot of area for each linear foot of frontage or 15% of the surface area of the wall on which the sign is to be attached.
D.
In a multiple commercial use facility or industrial park, there may be one directory sign at any location therein, provided that no such sign shall exceed 40 square feet in area. In addition, at each point of entrance and exit for vehicular traffic into such multiple commercial use facility or industrial park, one other directory sign shall be permitted. Such signs shall not exceed a total area of 12 square feet.
E.
An overall sign design plan for any such center or facility shall be submitted with the application for the site development permit. The sign design plan shall include plans for each principal activity therein, and shall reflect a reasonable uniformity of design, lettering, lighting and material.
§ 301-62 Signs in residential districts.
The following additional requirements shall apply to signs in Residential Districts:
A.
A sign indicating the name and address of the occupant or identifying a home occupation may be permitted, provided that such sign shall not be larger than four square feet in area. If such signs are freestanding, they shall not exceed four feet in height above the ground level at the sign's location. Said signs shall not be illuminated, except indirectly.
B.
For multiple-family dwellings, churches, libraries, social clubs, public buildings and other similar uses, a single identification sign not exceeding 16 square feet in area, and indicating only the name and address of the building, may be displayed. Such signs shall not be closer to any lot line than 1/2 of the required setback and shall not project more than four feet in height above grade. Said signs shall not be illuminated, except indirectly.
C.
No more than two signs advertising the sale, lease or rental of the premises upon which the sign is located shall be permitted. Such signs shall not exceed six square feet in area, provided such sign is erected or displayed not less than 10 feet inside the property line, and not more than four feet in height. Said signs must be removed from the premises within seven days after the property has been leased or title transferred.
D.
A permanent sign may be erected to indicate a subdivision, which sign shall not exceed 16 square feet in area nor more than four feet in height.
E.
A temporary sign, not exceeding 16 square feet in area, the height of which is not greater than four feet, shall be permitted for a period of three years from the time of final subdivision approval for advertising the sale of property within such subdivision.
F.
Signs advertising a business other than a home occupation in a residential district shall not exceed eight square feet in area. If freestanding, such signs shall not project more than four feet in height above grade. Said signs shall not be illuminated, except indirectly.
§ 301-63 Signs permitted in all districts.
The following signs are permitted in all districts without a permit:
A.
Signs bearing the name of the principal occupant and/or the street address of a private dwelling which do not exceed one square foot in area.
B.
Professional nameplates which do not exceed one square foot in area.
C.
Signs advertising the sale, lease or rental of the premises upon which the sign is located which do not exceed six square feet in area.
§ 301-64 Temporary signs.
A.
Temporary signs advertising any political, educational, charitable, civic, religious or like campaign or event may be erected for a consecutive period not to exceed 60 days in any calendar year. Said signs shall be removed within seven days following the campaign or event.
B.
If such temporary signs are not removed within the seven-day period, the Zoning Officer is authorized to remove said signs and to charge all costs incident to the removal of the sign or signs to the organization responsible for the placement of the signs.
C.
No temporary sign shall be attached to fences, trees, utility poles, bridges, or traffic signs, and temporary signs shall not obstruct or impair vision or traffic in any manner or create a hazard or disturbance to the health and welfare of the general public.
D.
No temporary sign shall exceed 12 feet in area.
§ 301-65 Nonconforming signs.
A.
Nonconforming signs shall not be altered, rebuilt, enlarged, extended or relocated, unless such action changes a nonconforming sign into a conforming sign as provided herein. The failure to keep any such nonconforming sign in good repair within a period of 30 days after due notification by the Zoning Officer shall constitute abandonment of the sign. An abandoned sign shall not be reused and shall be removed by or at the expense of the property owner.
B.
If a project subject to zoning review(s) is proposed for a parcel of property upon which a legally preexisting sign which does not conform to these standards is located, that reviewing agency shall require that the nonconforming sign be brought into compliance as a condition of the approval of the proposed action.
§ 301-66 Application for permit.
All applications for sign permits shall be made in writing, in triplicate, upon the forms prescribed and provided by the Zoning Officer and shall be accompanied by the required fee.
A.
All applications shall contain the following information:
(1)
Name, address and telephone number of the applicant.
(2)
Location of building, structure, or land to which or upon which the sign is to be affixed or erected.
(3)
A detailed drawing or blueprint showing a description of the construction details of the sign and showing the lettering and/or pictorial matter composing the sign; position of lighting or other extraneous devices; a location plan showing the position of the sign or any buildings or structures, including any private or public street or highway.
(4)
Written consent of the owner of the building, structure or land to which or on which the sign is to be affixed or erected, in the event the applicant is not the owner thereof.
B.
All applications for a sign permit, except those for a temporary sign, shall be forwarded to the Planning Board for review. Prior to rendering its decision, the Planning Board shall: review the design, size and location of the proposed sign to determine whether the proposed sign is in compliance with the regulations set forth in this article. Upon the completion of its review, the Planning Board may approve, approve with conditions or reject the application. All decisions of the Planning Board shall be made in writing to the Zoning Officer within 45 days of the receipt of an application. If the Planning Board fails to act within this period, the Zoning Officer may issue the permit if the proposed sign is in compliance with these regulations.
§ 301-67 Issuance of permit; time frame for completing work.
It shall be the duty of the Zoning Officer, upon the filing of an application for a permit, to examine all of the data submitted to the Zoning Officer with the application, and if necessary, the building or premises upon which it is proposed to erect the sign or other advertising structure. If it shall appear that the proposed sign is in compliance with all of the requirements of this article, and other rules and regulations of the Hamlet, and has been approved as provided for herein, a permit for the erection of the proposed sign shall be issued. If the sign authorized under any such permit has not been completed within six months from the date of the issuance of such permit, the permit shall become null and void, but may be renewed for one additional six-month period upon the approval by the Planning Board and upon payment of an additional fee. A request which cites the reason for requesting the extension for the completion of the sign shall be submitted in writing to the Planning Board not more than 30 days following the first six-month expiration period.
§ 301-68 Notice of violation; removal of signs.
A.
The Zoning Officer shall notify the owner of any sign which no longer serves the purpose for which the permit was granted or which is unsafe, insecure or is a menace to the public, or which has been erected or installed in violation of this chapter, in writing, to remove or correct the unsatisfactory condition of said sign within 30 days from the date of such notice.
B.
Upon failure to comply with such notice within the prescribed time, the Zoning Officer is hereby authorized to remove or cause removal of such sign, and shall charge all costs and expenses incurred in said removal to the owner of the sign and/or the owner of the land or building on which such sign is located.
C.
The Zoning Officer may cause any sign which is a source of immediate peril to persons or property to be removed summarily upon written notice to that effect. Failure to comply within 24 hours of such notice will serve as an authorization to the Zoning Officer to remove or cause removal of such sign, with all costs and expenses charged as provided for above.