A.
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.
B.
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.
[Amended 12-10-2012 by L.L. No. 3-2012]
A.
On or after the effective date of this chapter, no new billboard
shall be erected or placed anywhere within the Village of Hudson Falls.
B.
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.
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.
Signs shall be considered accessory uses and
shall not be permitted as a principal use. Wherever located and whatever
their nature, signs shall conform to the following requirements:
A.
No sign in any residential district may extend over
a sidewalk or other public way so as to cause a hazard.
B.
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.
C.
Signs in any district shall be located a minimum of
five feet from the street line or paved roadway.
D.
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.
E.
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.
F.
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.
G.
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.
H.
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.
I.
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.
J.
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.
K.
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.
[Amended 12-10-2012 by L.L. No. 3-2012]
A.
These sign regulations recognize three types of temporary signs:
All new signs and replacement of signs, unless
otherwise exempted, shall require the issuance a permit prior to placement
or construction. Application for a sign permit shall be made upon
a form prescribed by the Code Enforcement Officer and shall, at a
minimum, contain the following information:
A.
The name, address and telephone number of the applicant.
B.
The location of the building, structure or land upon
which the sign is to be erected.
C.
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.
D.
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.
[Amended 12-10-2012 by L.L. No. 3-2012]
A commercial establishment may have no more
than one attached sign and one freestanding sign located on its premises.
Where there are multiple commercial establishments located in a common
facility, each establishment may be permitted a wall sign. A window
sign shall be considered an attached sign. Size, number and placement
of signs are further regulated as follows:
|
Table 9
Sign Requirements
|
|
District, Use or Type
|
Number and Type
|
Area and Height
(square feet)
|
|---|---|---|
|
Professional office
|
1 freestanding and
|
16
|
|
1 attached or wall-mounted
|
3 per professional occupant
| |
|
Village Centre Overlay
|
1 freestanding (per property) and
|
16
|
|
1 attached, wall-mounted or window
|
35
| |
|
Retail/commercial/community facility
|
1 freestanding (per property) and
|
35
|
|
1 attached, wall-mounted or window or
|
35
| |
|
2 attached, wall-mounted or window (if no freestanding
sign is on the property)
|
35
| |
|
Realty
|
1 per property/separate road frontage
|
16
|
|
Temporary
|
2 per property
|
25
|
The Code Enforcement Officer is designated as
the enforcement officer for these regulations.
A.
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.
B.
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.
Any sign in existence prior to the effective
date of this chapter may be continued, provided that the owner can
substantiate the sign was installed in conformance with the local
laws at the time the sign was established. All other signs shall be
removed in accordance with a schedule to be established by the Village
Board.
