Onondaga City Zoning Code
§ 285-34
Sign regulations.
[Amended 10-1-2007 by L.L. No. 8-2007; 12-6-2010 by L.L. No. 9-2010]
A.
Legislative intent. It is the purpose of this section to provide standards for the regulation of the height, size, location, appearance and maintenance of signs and other advertising devices in the Town of Onondaga for the purpose of:
(1)
Promoting the public health, welfare and safety of the inhabitants of the Town of Onondaga.
(2)
Promoting public safety.
(3)
Protecting and enhancing property values and neighborhood character.
(4)
Creating a more attractive economic and business climate.
(5)
Enhancing the scenic and natural beauty of the Town of Onondaga.
(6)
Providing a more enjoyable and pleasing community and preserving and improving the appearance of the Town of Onondaga as a place to live and work.
(7)
Reducing sign distractions and obstructions to motorists and pedestrians that may contribute to traffic accidents.
(8)
Encouraging safe signing practices.
(9)
Providing more open space.
(10)
Curb the deterioration of natural beauty and community environment while also permitting businesses and professionals to make use of signage that is important to their individual and collective successes.
(11)
Preventing excessive and confusing sign displays.
B.
Schedule of permitted signs.
(1)
No sign or other device for advertising purposes, whether new or existing, shall be erected, established or altered in any district in the Town except in conformity with the provisions of this section.
(2)
The following schedule of number and type of permitted signs shall apply to all premises according to the district in which it is located on the Zoning Map.
(b)
Neighborhood Shopping, Neighborhood Shopping Nedrow, Commercial and Planned Economic districts.[1]
(e)
Onondaga Hill Business District (OHBD)
[Added 3-18-2019 by L.L. No. 4-2019]
C.
General provisions for all signs.
(1)
The surface area of a sign shall be determined by the total area that encompasses all of the letters or symbols which make up the content of the sign, together with any border and/or background of a different color or material. Double-sided signs will be treated as single-sided signs for the purposes of sign area calculations.
(2)
In no case shall lighted signs be so located that they constitute a hazard to vehicular traffic.
(3)
The outlining by direct illumination of all or part of a building, such as a cable, roof, wall, side or dormer, shall be prohibited.
(4)
Temporary or permanent signs resting on or attached to vehicles shall not be used as a means to circumvent the provisions of this section.
(5)
No person, firm or corporation shall erect, post, or maintain any sign within the right-of-way of a street or highway; no portion of any sign shall extend into such right-of-way.
(6)
Signs prohibited in all districts:
(a)
Flashing, oscillating or revolving signs.
(b)
Signs which unreasonably illuminate neighboring properties. No sign shall produce illumination in excess of one footcandle at a distance of four feet. No illumination shall cause direct light rays to cross any property line. All permanent outdoor lights, such as those used for area lighting or building floodlighting, shall be steady, stationary, shielded sources directed so as to avoid causing a hazard to motorists, pedestrians, or causing direct light rays in neighboring properties. The marginal increase in light, as measured at any property line other than a street line, shall not exceed one footcandle.
(c)
Animated signs. An animated sign is a sign or any portion thereof having movement effected by mechanical or natural means, including, by way of illustration and not limitation, rotating signs, wind signs and signs where movement is simulated by illumination devices. This term shall include the use of blinking, flashing and general intermittent light, as opposed to light of a constant intensity and value. This term shall also specifically include signs which contain electronic messages that change, flash or revolve more than once in a twelve-hour period. All time and/or temperature devices shall not be considered animated, whether or not they contain or are incorporated into a sign.
(7)
Maintenance.
(a)
All signs shall be maintained in good condition and in accordance with all requirements of this section.
(b)
All signs, including their illumination sources, shall be erected, placed and maintained in a state of good and safe repair at all times and shall comply with all building codes, including, if applicable, the Electrical Code.
(c)
Signs shall not be allowed to continue in an unkempt, blistered or faded condition, and the area immediately surrounding said signs shall be kept clear of all untended vegetation and debris so as to comply with the intent of this section.
(d)
Unsightly, damaged or deteriorated signs and signs in danger of falling shall be repaired or removed.
(8)
Signs, abandoned, obsolete or in disrepair. A sign which: is not used for 12 successive months; no longer serves an on-going business; or is in a state of disrepair shall be deemed abandoned and shall be dismantled and removed from the property at the expense of the property owner. Failure to abide by and faithfully comply with this section or with any and all conditions that may be attached to the granting of any permit shall constitute grounds for the revocation of the permit by the Town. In addition, failure to remove an obsolete or unused sign in accordance with this section shall be a violation of this section. In addition to all other remedies available under the Zoning Code, if said abandoned sign is not dismantled and removed within three months of abandonment, the Town may dismantle and remove said sign and the cost of removing the sign shall be a lien on the property and added to the property owner's tax bill.
D.
Provisions applicable to specific signs.
(1)
Professional signs.
(a)
General: Signs may be double-faced and may be exterior-lighted by shielded floodlights such that there is no glare or distraction to drivers on nearby roads or glare onto adjoining properties. Except in Residential and Country R-C, Residential R-1, R-2 and R-3, Planned Residential and Planned Residential Community Districts, signs may be interior lighted with nonglaring lights.
(b)
Surface area: two square feet maximum.
(c)
Height: six feet, maximum dimension, grade to top of sign.
(d)
Location: affixed to building wall or freestanding in front yard with setback of 15 feet, minimum dimension, from all property lines.
(2)
Announcement signs.
(a)
Announcement signs for churches or other places of worship, fire stations, and emergency service facilities.
[Amended 9-19-2022 by L.L. No. 6-2022]
[1]
General: Signs may be double-faced and may be exterior-lighted by shielded floodlights such that there is no glare or distraction to drivers on nearby roads or glare onto adjoining properties. Except in Residential and Country R-C, Residential R-1, R-2 and R-3, Planned Residential and Planned Residential Community Districts, signs may be interior lighted with nonglaring lights.
[2]
Surface area: 12 square feet maximum.
[3]
Location: affixed to building wall or freestanding in front yard with setback of 15 feet, minimum dimension, from front property line and 25 feet, minimum dimension, from other property line.
(3)
Tract name designation signs.
(a)
General: Signs may be double-faced and may be exterior-lighted by shielded floodlights such that there is no glare or distraction to drivers on nearby roads or glare onto adjoining properties. Intermittent or flashing lights and moving or animated signs or their components are prohibited.
(b)
Location: 20 feet, minimum distance, from street line.
(c)
Surface area: 32 square feet, maximum.
(4)
Identification signs.
(a)
General: Signs may be double-faced and may be interior-lighted with nonglaring lights or may be exterior-lighted by shielded floodlights such that there is no glare or distraction to drivers on nearby roads or glare onto adjoining properties. Intermittent or flashing lights and moving or animated signs or their components are prohibited.
(b)
All districts, where permitted.
[1]
Wall-mounted identification signs.
[a]
Location: affixed to building wall.
[b]
Surface area: two square feet, maximum area, per horizontal lineal foot dimension of building wall surface; maximum length to be 75% of horizontal lineal dimension of building wall surface.
[c]
Depth: one foot maximum from sign surface area to surface of building wall.
[d]
Projection: no projection above top of building wall and no extension into space beyond building wall.
[2]
Ground identification sign.
[a]
Front yard: 20 feet, minimum dimension, from front property line.
[b]
Side yard: must meet the general setback requirements in the underlying district.
[c]
Surface area: 32 square feet maximum.
[d]
Height: 18 feet, maximum dimension, grade to top of sign; must not exceed the horizontal dimension as measured from sign location to any property line.
[e]
Clearance: three feet, minimum open space, grade to bottom of sign.
(c)
Light Industrial Districts.
[1]
The proposal for signs shall be submitted to the Town Board. In the case of proposed new buildings, the proposal shall be submitted concurrently with the information and documents submitted in connection with the application for a building permit.
[2]
The proposal shall include all signs on the premises, including traffic directional signs, and shall contain complete details submitted in scale drawing form with specifications.
(5)
Shopping center designation signs.
(a)
General: Signs may be double-faced and may be interior-lighted with nonglaring lights or may be exterior-lighted with nonglaring lights or may be exterior-lighted by shielded floodlights such that there is no glare or distraction to drivers on nearby roads or glare onto adjoining properties. The proposal shall include all signs on the premises, including traffic directional signs, and shall contain complete details submitted in scale-drawing form with specifications.
(b)
Submittal: The proposal for signs shall be submitted to the Town Board. In the case of proposed new buildings, the proposal shall be submitted concurrently with the information and documents submitted in connection with the application for a building permit.
(c)
Maximum height: 25 feet.
(d)
Size: maximum size allowed as set forth below:
Size of Center (square feet) | Size of Sign (square feet) | |
|---|---|---|
Under 50,000 | 50 | |
50,000 to 500,000 | 100 | |
Over 500,000 | 120 |
(6)
Temporary signs:
(a)
General: includes real estate development or construction signs and subdivision signs. Signs must be ground mounted; signs may be double-faced, but may not be lighted.
(b)
Surface area: 12 square feet maximum, except 32 square feet maximum on plus five-acre site.
(c)
Termination: such real estate or construction signs, including subdivision signs, shall be removed at the termination of the selling or construction period.
(d)
Extension of time: Temporary directional signs indicating the location of a real estate subdivision shall be permitted on approval of the Board of Appeals for periods of one year during the active selling of subdivision properties. Additional periods of one year shall be the subject of a further application to the Board of appeals.
(7)
Off-premises signs:
(a)
General: The total square footage of any off-premises sign may not exceed 450 square feet per sign side. Off-premises signs may be exterior-lighted by shielded floodlights such that there is not any glare or distraction to drivers on adjoining highways or neighboring properties and may be lit by no more than four halogen lamps. Each halogen lamp may not exceed 400 watts. If lit by any other type of lighting mechanism (i.e., LED), the equivalent lumens may not be exceeded.
(b)
No off-premises sign or portion thereof shall have a height which exceeds 35 feet above the street or highway elevation to which they are oriented.
(c)
Setbacks.
[1]
All off-premises signs shall be set back from all property lines, public road rights-of-ways and power lines a distance equal to at least 110% of the height of said off-premises sign.
[2]
No off-premises sign shall be permitted within 500 feet of any other off-premises sign.
[3]
No off-premises sign shall be permitted within 500 feet of any school, religious institution, or park.
[4]
Notwithstanding the foregoing, if the property upon which the off-premises sign is located is bounded by a New York State highway or highway right-of-way, the above-referenced setback requirements shall not be applicable to said property boundary. Rather, the Department of Transportation requirements for setbacks shall solely govern the setbacks from relative to said highway boundary and highway signs. As to all other boundaries, the above-referenced setback requirements shall remain applicable.
[5]
All setback requirements required hereunder shall be measured from the base of the pole of the off-premises sign, measured from the base of the pole closest to the boundary line or other item being set back from.
[6]
Additional setbacks may be required based upon specific circumstances in order to provide for the public safety, health and welfare.
(d)
All applicable required county, state and federal (e.g., New York State Department of Transportation) permits or approvals, if any, shall be the responsibility of the applicant and must be obtained before construction of an off-premises sign may be commenced.
(f)
No off-premises sign may be placed within 500 feet of any intersection, if such off-premises sign would, by use or simulation of colors, design or placement, tend to confuse, detract from or in any manner obstruct the utilization of traffic regulatory devices. All determinations of this type shall be made by the Codes Enforcement Officer, who shall consider, but not be limited to, the following aspects of such off-premises signs:
[1]
The use of words such as "stop," "go," "look," "caution," "danger," "warning," and similar nomenclature.
[2]
The use of colors and lights in the spectrum of colors utilized for traffic regulatory devices.
[3]
The use of blinking, intermittent, flashing or other animated forms of illumination or light and all sources of illumination which through direct or indirect means create glare.
(g)
Off-premises signs shall not flash, oscillate or revolve, either physically or electronically. Time and/or temperature devices are allowed, provided that they shall not change/flash more than once every 15 seconds.
(h)
All off-premises signs are subject to the general restrictions for signs as set forth in this chapter, as applicable.
E.
Approval process for signs.
(1)
Permit required. A permit must be obtained from the Codes Enforcement Officer for any sign which is 25 square feet or less in size.
(2)
Site plan approval. In addition, no sign in excess of 25 square feet shall be erected, placed, replaced, removed, relocated, repaired, altered, modified or maintained unless and until site plan approval is granted by the Town of Onondaga Town Board, either in conjunction with general project or approval or as a separate application, in accordance with this section.
(a)
Exceptions. No site plan approval shall be required for the following:
(b)
Procedure. Prior to the erection or structural repair of any sign requiring a site plan, the applicant shall apply to the Town Board of the Town of Onondaga for a site plan approval and shall include the following:
[1]
The name, address, and telephone number of the owner of the property and the person, firm or corporation erecting or maintaining the sign.
[2]
A plot plan or survey of the parcel, showing the location of the building, structure or lot to which or upon which the sign is to be attached or erected.
[3]
The type, size, location and a rendering or drawing of the sign.
[4]
Two copies of the plans and construction specifications of the sign and the structure for attachment to the building or ground.
[5]
Certified drawings from a New York State certified engineering certifying that the structure is designed for dead load and wind pressure in any direction in the amount required by this section and/or the New York State Uniform Fire Protection and Building Code or any other similar code for a similar-sized sign.
[6]
Any electrical permit required and issued for the sign.
[7]
Filing and processing fee in the amount set by the Town Board of the Town of Onondaga by resolution, from time to time.
[8]
Such other and further information as the Town Board of the Town of Onondaga may deem reasonably necessary to ensure compliance with this section.
(c)
Findings. As a prerequisite to the approval of any site plan approval for any off-premises sign, in addition to any other restrictions applicable thereto, the following findings shall be made:
[1]
The proposed sign in not in conflict with the general prohibitions contained in this law.
[2]
The proposed sign will not have any adverse impact upon the character or integrity of any land use having a unique cultural, historical, geographical, or architectural significance.
[3]
The proposed sign will not adversely affect the character of a district in close proximity within which such signs would be prohibited.
[4]
The proposed sign will not hide, obstruct or in any way shield other signs from view.
[5]
The proposed sign is otherwise compatible within the context of its visual and physical environment within the district in which the sign is proposed; in making this determination, consideration shall be given to existing and allowable land use activities within the subject district and also to the scale of structures located within close proximity.
[6]
The proposed sign is compliant with all applicable New York State rules and regulations regarding the control of outdoor advertising.
(d)
Criteria. In making a determination as to compliance with any one or more the findings prescribed above, consideration shall be given but need not be limited to the following criteria:
[1]
Size, bulk and mass.
[2]
Texture and materials.
[3]
Colors.
[4]
Lighting and illumination.
[5]
Orientation and elevation.
[6]
General and specific location.
[7]
Proximity to streets and highways.
[8]
Design, including size and character of lettering, logos and related content.
[9]
Background or field, including the skyline.
[10]
Character of structural members.
[11]
Animation.
[12]
Frequency and nature of all general and business signs and official regulatory signs and devices which are in the immediate field of vision.
[13]
Land use and zoning.
(e)
Power to impose conditions. In granting any site plan approval, the Town Board may impose conditions to the extent that such reviewing authority concludes that such conditions are necessary to minimize any adverse effect of the proposed sign on neighboring properties.
(f)
Technical consultants. The Town Board may retain technical consultants as it deems necessary to provide assistance to the review of the site plan application for an off-premises sign. The applicant shall bear all reasonable costs associated with such consultation which shall be assessed as an additional application fee.
F.
Enforcement. In addition to any other relief available to the Town, including any penalties or fines applicable pursuant to § 285-41 of this chapter, the Codes Enforcement Officer is authorized to remove any sign erected in violation of this chapter. All costs and expenses incurred by the Town for such removal shall be initially paid out of Town funds and shall be charged to and reimbursed by the person, firm or corporation erecting the sign, or, if such reimbursement cannot be obtained by the Town, shall be charged to and reimbursed by the owner of the property on which the sign is erected and collected in the manner provided by law or shall be assessed against the land on which said sign is or was located.