[HISTORY: Adopted by the Town Board of the Town of Coeymans 9-24-2012 by L.L. No. 2-2012. Amendments noted where applicable.]
This chapter shall be known as the "Signs Law."
This chapter is hereby adopted pursuant to the provisions of
the New York State Municipal Home Rule Law.
In accordance with the Comprehensive Plan of 2006 for the Town
of Coeymans, it is the intent of this chapter to promote and protect
the public health and welfare of the residents of the Town of Coeymans
by regulating existing and proposed on-premises advertising signs
and signs of all types within the Town of Coeymans. This chapter is
intended to create a more attractive economic and business climate,
enhance the physical appearance, scenic and natural beauty of the
community.
A.
No person, firm or corporation shall hereafter erect, reerect, construct
or structurally alter a sign or sign structure without first obtaining
a permit issued by the Building Inspector.
B.
Every application for a sign permit shall be accompanied by plans
to scale showing the area of the sign; the position of the sign in
relation to nearby buildings or structures; the location of the building,
structure or lot to which or upon which the sign is to be attached
or erected; the method of illumination, if any; and statements indicating
compliance with appropriate construction standards.
C.
No sign shall be erected which, in the opinion of the Building Inspector,
may cause hazardous or unsafe conditions. If such signs exist, they
shall be removed upon direction of the Building Inspector following
notification to the owner.
D.
No sign, with the exception of an official traffic sign, a civic
organization sign and/or a religious organization sign, shall be erected
within the right-of-way of any public street or highway.
A.
Unless otherwise provided for in this chapter, no sign shall have
more than two sides. The maximum allowable square footage of a two-sided
sign shall be the sum of both sides, unless otherwise specified.
B.
All illuminated signs shall bear the Underwriters Laboratories, Inc.,
seal in conformance with U.L. 48 or be inspected by an authorized
electrical inspection company.
C.
All freestanding signs shall be designed and constructed to withstand
a wind pressure of not less than 90 pounds per square foot of surface
area.
D.
All signs, including wall signs and projecting signs, shall be securely
anchored and shall not swing or move in any manner.
E.
All signs shall be constructed of durable materials and shall be
maintained in a good condition.
F.
Projecting signs shall have no more than two sides. The exterior
edge of a projecting sign shall extend not more than five feet from
the building face or one-third the width of the sidewalk over which
it is suspended, whichever is less. No part of a projecting sign shall
extend into a vehicular traffic area. A projecting sign suspended
over a pedestrian traffic area shall have a clearance of not less
than seven feet six inches. No sign shall project from an awning.
G.
On multistory buildings, projecting signs shall be attached to the
building above first-story windows and below second-story windowsills.
On one-story buildings, projecting signs shall be attached above first-story
windows and below the roofline. The size and location of a projecting
sign shall complement neighboring signs.
H.
No wall sign shall be higher than the building to which it is attached.
A maximum height of 30 feet is permitted.
I.
Illumination of any sign shall not produce a direct glare beyond
the limits of the property. Ground-mounted spotlights used to illuminate
a sign shall be shielded.
J.
All billboards of more than 150 square feet will be permitted with
a special use permit issued through the Planning Board/Zoning Board
of Appeals. (A billboard sign is one on which illustrated posters,
or painted equivalents, are displayed).
[Amended 2-25-2020 by L.L. No. 1-2020]
K.
All freestanding signs of more than 150 square feet will be permitted
with a special use permit issued through the Planning Board/Zoning
Board of Appeals. (A freestanding sign shall mean a sign not attached
to a building).
[Amended 2-25-2020 by L.L. No. 1-2020]
L.
Freestanding signs shall be set back a minimum of 10 feet from any
highway right-of-way, or 35 feet from any highway center line, whichever
is greater.
A.
On all residential and mixed uses, one freestanding or wall sign
is permitted, the total area of which shall not exceed 12 square feet.
Freestanding signs shall be set back 35 feet from the highway center
line. The height of the freestanding sign shall not exceed six feet
above the finished grade.
B.
On multifamily premises, one freestanding and one wall sign are permitted.
Wall signs shall have a maximum area of 20 square feet maximum. Freestanding
signs shall have maximum area of 12 square feet per side and a maximum
height of six feet.
C.
One sandwich/sidewalk sign of 12 square feet or less per side is
permitted, provided that such signage is not placed so as to impede,
restrict or otherwise interfere with pedestrian or vehicular traffic.
Such signs shall not be permanently affixed to any structure, shall
be displayed only during hours of operation, and shall be located
between the building facade and the street.
D.
Signs in these districts may be lit by external means only.
A.
On all nonresidential premises, wall signs and one freestanding sign
are permitted. Wall signs shall have a maximum area of 50 square feet
and shall not exceed 25% of the wall area to which it is attached.
Freestanding signs shall have a maximum area of 150 square feet per
side and a maximum height of 30 feet in height above the finished
grade. Freestanding signs shall be set back 35 feet from any highway
center line.
B.
Home occupations shall allow one freestanding or wall sign. Such
sign shall not exceed 12 square feet in area and shall be set back
35 feet from the highway center line. No freestanding sign shall exceed
six feet in height above the finished grade.
C.
Signs attached to buildings.
(1)
No business sign shall exceed in area 25% of the area of the wall
to which such sign is attached, nor shall such sign project more than
12 inches beyond the exterior face of such wall.
(2)
Signs projecting above building roofs. One roof sign, per building,
not to exceed 32 square feet and not more than 30 feet above grade
and/or ground level shall be permitted.
(3)
Freestanding signs. Not more than one freestanding sign, with the
area of one side of such sign not to exceed 150 square feet, shall
be erected on any lot for each 10 acres and/or each 400 feet of street
frontage, or fraction thereof, of such lot; hereinafter, no such signs
shall encroach on any required front yard.
D.
One sandwich/sidewalk sign of 12 square feet or less per side is
permitted, provided that such signage is not placed so as to impede,
restrict or otherwise interfere with pedestrian or vehicular traffic.
Such signs shall not be permanently affixed to any structure, shall
be displayed only during hours of operation, and shall be located
between the building facade and the street.
A.
Home occupations shall allow one freestanding or wall sign. Such
sign shall not exceed 12 square feet in area and shall be set back
not less than 35 feet from the highway center line. No freestanding
sign shall exceed six feet in height above the finished grade.
B.
Approved commercial uses in the Residential/Agricultural District shall be regulated by the commercial/industrial districts portion of this chapter (§ 135-7, Signs in commercial/industrial districts).
C.
All residential uses in the Residential/Agricultural District shall be regulated by the residential district portion of this chapter (§ 135-6, Signs in residential districts).
D.
Agricultural uses are to be considered as commercial uses.
A.
Notwithstanding any other provision of this chapter, a shopping center
or shopping mall is permitted one freestanding sign per store. Freestanding
sign(s) shall not exceed 300 square feet in area per side and shall
not exceed 30 feet in height. Sign(s) shall be set back 35 feet from
any highway center line, and shall not be placed less than 15 feet
of any other property line.
B.
Each tenant is permitted one wall sign. Such wall sign shall not
exceed 25% of the store front. Such sign shall not exceed the height
of the facade. If the space such tenant occupies has more than one
side of the enclosed center/mall building and therefore more than
one facade, the tenant shall be allowed a maximum of two signs to
be placed on the building's facade, one on each facade.
C.
Portable signs are prohibited except for sidewalk/sandwich board
signs with a maximum area of 12 square feet per side that are permitted
between the building and the parking.
Signs that were legally erected before the adoption of this
chapter and which do not conform to the provision of this chapter
may continue to be maintained as legal nonconforming signs, provided
that such signs shall not be enlarged, reworded (other than in the
case of theater or cinema signs or other signs that were designed
to periodically change message, including signs designed to list multiple
tenants), redesigned or altered in any way, including repainting in
a different color, except to conform to the requirements of this chapter.
Routine maintenance, including repainting of a nonconforming sign
in the same color and design, shall be allowed.
A.
No off-premises signs shall be allowed other than as permitted for
agricultural premises and as stated in the exempt signs provisions
of this chapter.
B.
No sign shall be illuminated by or contain flashing, intermittent,
rotating or moving lights, except to show time, date and/or temperature.
C.
No sign shall contain any moving parts.
D.
No sign shall impair or cause confusion of vehicular or pedestrian
traffic in its design, color or placement.
E.
Signs which appear animated or projected, or which are intermittently
or intensely illuminated or of a traveling, tracing, scrolling, or
sequential light type, or signs which contain or are illuminated by
animated or flashing light are prohibited.
The following signs are exempt from these provisions:
A.
Decorative banners, flags, posters, placards and streamers on residential
premises.
B.
Decorative banners on nonresidential premises not containing any
words, labels, figures or descriptions.
C.
Permanent monument signs as part of a decorative entryway for pedestrian
or vehicular traffic.
D.
Historical markers, tablets and statues, memorial signs and plaques;
names of buildings and dates of erection when cut into any masonry
surface or when constructed of bronze, stainless steel or similar
material; and emblems installed by governmental agencies or religious
or nonprofit organizations, not exceeding six square feet.
E.
Flags and insignia of any government.
F.
On-premises directional signs for the convenience of the general
public, identifying public parking areas, fire zones, entrances and
exits, not exceeding four square feet per face and six feet in height.
Business names and personal names shall be allowed, excluding advertising
messages.
G.
Number and name plates identifying residences mounted on the house,
building, apartment or mailbox, not exceeding two square feet in area.
H.
Lawn signs identifying residences, not exceeding one square foot.
Such signs are to be non-illuminated except by a light that is an
integral part of a lamppost if used as a support.
I.
Private owner merchandise sale signs for garage sales and auctions
located on the premises, not exceeding four square feet, for a period
not exceeding seven days in any one month.
J.
On-premises "No Trespassing" or "Private Property" or similar signs.
K.
Real estate signs.
(1)
Temporary, nonilluminated "For Sale," "For Rent," and "For Lease"
real estate signs and signs of a similar nature concerning the vacant
or improved real property upon which the sign is located, provided
such signs do not exceed six square feet per side in a residential
district and 32 square feet per side in a nonresidential district.
(2)
Temporary "Opening Soon," "Coming Soon," and "Grand Opening" signs,
and signs of a similar nature concerning the vacant or improved real
property upon which the sign is located, provided such signs do not
exceed 32 square feet per side, are limited to one such sign per property
and are displayed only during the period of project construction and/or
for a period not to exceed 30 days from the issuance of a certificate
of occupancy for the establishment(s) advertised by said sign. In
no instance shall said signs be displayed for a period exceeding one
year from the date an application is submitted for the initial building
permit for the project.
L.
Temporary, nonilluminated window signs and posters not exceeding
10% of the total window surface of a building.
M.
At a gasoline dispensing station, integral graphics or attached price
signs on gasoline pumps and one portable sign per station not exceeding
16 square feet.
N.
Drive-through menu boards.
O.
Temporary informational and directional signs for meetings, conventions
and other assemblies displayed only for the duration of the event.
P.
One sign, not exceeding six square feet in a residential district
or 32 square feet in a nonresidential district, listing the architect,
engineer, contractor and/or owner on premises where construction,
renovation or repair is in progress.
Q.
Political posters and similar signs as long as they are not placed
within the right-of-way of any Town street or highway or on any other
Town-owned property.
R.
Temporary grand opening banners, advertising banners that do not
exceed 60 square feet in area, are limited to one banner per establishment
and are displayed only during that period commencing on the date of
issuance terminating 30 days thereafter.
S.
Temporary "brand" advertising signs, which do not exceed 32 square
feet and are displayed only for a period not longer than 60 days.
T.
A flag flown by a business with copy limited to the word "open,"
provided that said flag is attached to the building housing the business,
the size of the flag is no greater than 15 square feet, the flag is
removed when the business is closed, and no more than one flag is
displayed per establishment.
U.
Signs that display time and/or temperature, electronic-message-center-type
(LED, LCD) signs which display electronically changeable messages
consisting of illuminated text or graphics that do not exceed 12 square
feet.
There is currently no charge for obtaining a sign permit. Application fees may be set, from time to time, and at the discretion of the Town Board as per the Town of Coeymans Town Code Ch. A170, Permit Fees.
Any sign authorized pursuant to this chapter may contain a noncommercial
message constituting a form of expression in lieu of other copy.
The Code Enforcement Official shall enforce this chapter and/or
assistants duly authorized by the Town of Coeymans shall enforce this
chapter.
