This chapter shall be known and may be cited
as the "Sign Ordinance of the City of Glen Cove, Nassau County, New
York."
As used in this chapter, unless the context
or subject matter otherwise requires, the following words and phrases
shall have the meanings respectively ascribed to them:
AWNING
A roof-like covering of canvas or duck attached to a metal
frame and attached to or supported entirely from a building.
FRONT FACE
The outer surface of a building which is visible from any
private or public street.
HANGING SIGN
A sign designed to project beyond the front face and perpendicular
to it.
ILLUMINATED SIGN
Any sign illuminated by electricity, gas or other artificial
light, including reflective or phosphorescent light.
INTERIOR SIGN
Any sign that is affixed to or painted on the interior of
a window or any sign located within three feet of the inside face
of the window, which sign is designed to be visible from the exterior
of the window.
MARQUEE SIGN
A sign attached to a marquee, canopy or other covered structure
projecting from and supported by the building.
PERSON
Any person, firm, corporation, partnership, association,
company, institution or organization of any kind.
ROOF SIGN
A sign which is erected, constructed or maintained on, above
or as part of the roof of any building.
SIGN
Any structure or part thereof, or any device attached to
a building, pole, tree, structure or device, or painted or represented
thereon, which shall display or include any letter, word, model, banner,
pennant, insignia, device, trade flag, symbol or representation which
is in the nature of, or which is used as, an announcement, direction
or advertisement for commercial purposes or otherwise. A sign includes
any message, neon tube, string of lights or similar device outlining,
hung, painted upon or attached to part of a building or lot, but does
not include the flag or insignia of any nation or group of nations
or of any governmental agency or of any political, educational, charitable,
philanthropic, civic, professional, religious or like campaign, drive,
movement or event. Excluded from this definition are signs not to
exceed four square feet in area, which are solely devoted to prohibiting
trespassing, hunting or fishing.
SIGN AREA
Sign area shall be measured as follows:
A.
When such sign is on a plate or framed or outlined,
all of the area of such plate or the area enclosed by such frame or
outline, including such frame or outline, shall be included.
B.
When such sign consists only of letters, designs
or figures engraved, painted, projected or in any manner affixed on
a wall, the total area of such sign shall be deemed the area of the
smallest triangle, rectangle or circle within which all of the matter
of which such sign consists may be inscribed.
SIGN REVIEW COMMITTEE
A duly constituted body comprised of the Building Department
Administrator (BDA), the Chairman of the Planning Board and the Director
of the Community Development Agency; at least two members shall be
present to constitute a quorum to conduct business and adopt resolutions.
[Added 3-24-1998]
TEMPORARY SIGN
A sign which is designed to advertise or announce a particular
event or series of events, to solicit political support or to announce
the availability for sale of a particular item or items which will
be available for a limited period.
WALL SIGN
A sign which is attached directly to the building and is
parallel to the building.
[Amended 5-27-1997 by L.L. No. 2-1997; 3-24-1998; 6-24-2003]
Any person who is aggrieved by the decision of the Sign Review Committee in relation to any application for a permit for a sign as provided in this chapter may apply to the Zoning Board of Appeals for relief pursuant to the provisions of Chapter
280, Zoning, Article
VII, of the City Code.
[Amended 3-24-1998]
Upon approval of the application by the Sign
Review Committee, or after any conditions for approval established
by the Sign Review Committee are satisfied, the BDA shall issue a
permit for construction of such sign.
The applicant shall, upon completion of the
installation, relocation, repair or alteration, notify the BDA who
shall cause an inspection to be made, and if such sign has been constructed,
relocated, altered or repaired in accordance with the construction
permit, he or she shall issue a final permit for operation and continued
maintenance of such sign.
[Amended 2-8-2005]
If the BDA shall find that any sign regulated
herein is unsafe or insecure, or is a menace to the public, or has
been erected in violation of the provisions of this chapter, he or
she shall give written notice to the permittee thereof. If the permittee
fails to move or alter the sign so as to comply with the standards
herein set forth within 48 hours after such notice, such sign may
be removed or altered to comply by the BDA or his or her authorized
agent at the expense of the permittee or owner of the property on
which it is located. The BDA shall refuse to issue a permit to any
permittee or owner who refuses to pay costs so assessed. The BDA,
upon direction and authorization of the Chief of Police or the Director
of Public Works, may cause any sign which is an immediate peril to
persons or property to be removed summarily and without notice.
All signs shall have displayed thereon only
the name and nature of the business and products available or activity
for which the building or premises is used, except that any such signs
used in connection with or to advertise a place of amusement may have
displayed thereon the name and nature of the amusement attraction.
An interior sign, or combination of signs, temporary
or permanent, shall not cover more than 15% of each window upon which,
or in which, it is affixed, displayed or painted.
Signs shall not be permitted on any marquee,
other than signs built into and forming a part of the structure of
the marquee. Such signs shall not exceed a height of three feet, a
total area of 21 square feet on any one side of the marquee and shall
not extend beyond the edge of the marquee. In addition to the foregoing,
only that portion of the marquee containing such sign shall be illuminated.
The erection, installation or maintenance of temporary signs, as defined in §
228-3, is hereby prohibited, except as follows:
A. The City Council may grant special permission for
the maintenance of a temporary sign or signs to a municipal, charitable,
political or nonprofit organization for a period not to exceed 30
days.
B. A temporary sign announcing anticipated occupancy
of a site or building shall be permitted for a period not to exceed
six months without Sign Review Committee review. Such sign shall not
exceed 24 square feet if it is freestanding and shall not exceed the
maximum permitted for a permanent sign if it is affixed to a building.
[Amended 3-24-1998]
C. Temporary signs announcing special sales or events
shall be permitted in a commercial district without Sign Review Committee
approval for a period not to exceed 15 days. Any such temporary signs
must conform to the size and location requirements applicable to permanent
signs.
[Amended 3-24-1998]
The provisions and regulations of this chapter shall not apply to the following signs; provided, however, that such signs shall be subject to the requirements of §
228-8 on unsafe and unlawful signs and §
228-9 on abandoned signs.
A. Bulletin boards. Bulletin boards or signs not over
16 square feet in area for public, charitable or religious institutions
where the same are located on the premises of said institutions.
B. Construction signs. A sign not exceeding 16 square
feet in area, denoting the architect, engineer and contractor when
placed upon public property where work is under construction. Such
signs shall have the written approval of the Sign Review Committee
with regard to length of time that the sign can be maintained.
[Amended 3-24-1998]
C. Directional signs, etc. Directional signs, name or
number plates and professional signs, not more than two square feet
in area.
D. Memorial signs and tablets. Memorial signs or tablets,
names of buildings and date of erection when cut into any masonry
surface or when constructed of bronze or similar material and affixed
directly to the front face of the building and parallel to such front
face and which shall not exceed four square feet in area.