It is the intent and purpose of the Village of Scottsville,
by enactment of these regulations, to:
A. Promote the safety, comfort and well-being of the users of streets,
roads, and highways in the Village.
B. Reduce distractions and obstructions from signs that would adversely
affect traffic safety and to alleviate hazards caused by signs projecting
over or encroaching upon public highways.
C. Preserve or enhance Village character by requiring signage which
is:
(1) Compatible with the surroundings and appropriate to the historic
architectural character of the buildings and/or districts on which
the signs are placed.
(2) Appropriate to the type of activity to which it pertains.
(3) Expressive of the identity of individual proprietors or of the community
as a whole.
(4) Appropriately sized in its context, so as to be easily readable.
D. Promote signs which clearly present the visual message in a manner
that is compatible with its surroundings. The appearance, character
and quality of the community are affected by the location, size, construction
and graphic design of its signs. Therefore, such signs should convey
their messages clearly and simply to enhance their surroundings.
E. Protect property values, create a more attractive economic and business
climate and enhance and protect the physical appearance of the community.
The following rules and regulations shall be applicable for
the erection of signage in all districts of the Village of Scottsville:
A. Sign permit application procedures.
(1) No sign shall be erected until an application has been filed, and
a permit for such action has been issued. Applications shall be on
forms prescribed by the Village of Scottsville and shall be submitted
to the Village Office for review by the Code Enforcement Officer.
(2) The Code Enforcement Officer shall act within 30 days of receipt
of a sign application together with the required fee. The Code Enforcement
Officer's action or failure to act may be appealed to the Zoning Board
of Appeals.
(3) At a minimum, all applications shall include a scale drawing specifying
dimensions, materials, illuminations, letter sizes, colors, support
systems and location on land or buildings, with all relevant measurements.
B. Measurement.
(1) The area of a sign shall be determined by the smallest rectangle
that encompasses all of the letters or symbols that make up the sign,
together with the area of any background of a different color or material
than the general finish of the building, whether painted or applied.
(2) The area of supporting framework (for example, brackets, posts, etc.)
shall not be included in measuring the sign area if such framework
is incidental to the display.
(3) When a sign has two or more faces, the area of all faces shall be
included in determining the area, except where two faces are placed
back-to-back and are at no point more than two feet from each other.
In this case, the sign area shall be taken as the area of either face,
and if the faces are unequal, the larger shall determine the area.
(4) The height of any sign shall be measured from the surface of the
road, sidewalk or natural ground level up to the highest point of
the sign, and shall not exceed 16 feet.
C. Safety standards. No person may erect or maintain a sign which:
(2) Constitutes a hazard to public safety and health for any reason.
(3) Obstructs free entrance or exit from a required door, window or fire
escape.
(4) Obstructs light or air or interferes with proper functioning of the
building.
(5) Is not safeguarded from electrical shock.
D. Location.
(1) No person may erect a sign that is affixed to a fence, utility pole
or utility structure, tree, shrub, rock or other natural object.
(2) Where an auxiliary entrance to a commercial or office building faces
a parking lot or driveway, one identification sign, not to exceed
5% of the square footage of the facade upon which it is located, may
be erected at that auxiliary entrance in addition to the sign(s) permitted
by this article.
(3) Temporary or permanent signs resting on or attached to vehicles shall
not be used as a means to circumvent the provisions of this article.
(4) Wall signs identifying commercial establishments shall generally
be placed within a signboard immediately above the storefront where
a signboard exists. The signboard shall be confined to the vertical
distance separating windows on the ground floor and the second floor.
(5) The original signboard of the building is to be used when it exists,
unless approved for removal by the Code Enforcement Officer in consultation
with the Historic Preservation Commission.
(6) Signs shall not be located so as to cover or cause the removal of
architectural details such as, but not limited to, arches, sills,
moldings, cornices and transom windows.
E. Design.
(1) Any illuminated sign or lighting device shall employ only lights
emitting a light of constant intensity. No sign shall be internally
lighted, and no sign shall be illuminated by or contain flashing,
intermittent, rotating or moving light or lights. In no event shall
an illuminated sign or lighting device be so placed or directed so
as to permit the beams and illumination therefrom to be directed or
beamed upon a public street, highway, sidewalk or adjacent premises
so as to cause glare or reflection that may constitute a traffic hazard
or nuisance.
(2) A certificate of approval from a qualified inspection agency approved
by the Village must be submitted for every electrically illuminated
sign.
(3) No neon or backlighted signs shall be permitted in any residential
district.
(4) Signs shall not contain Day-Glo and fluorescent colors.
(5) No sound amplifiers, public address systems or other sound devices
shall be used as a means of advertising.
(6) All permanent signs, except awning signs, shall be made of wood,
stone, or metal, or material that has the appearance of wood or metal.
All must be weather-resistant and well-maintained.
(7) Signs on adjacent storefronts within the same buildings shall be
coordinated in height and proportion.
F. If there are any conflicts, ambiguities or inconsistencies between
this article's standards and specific standards of the Local Fire
Code, then the specific standards of the Local Fire Code shall control.
All signage erected within the Village of Scottsville shall
require the issuance of a sign permit, unless otherwise stated within
this chapter. The following regulations shall serve as the standards
by which the Code Enforcement Officer or their designee shall approve
or deny a sign permit.
A. Wall signs. A wall sign shall be attached to or incorporated in the
building wall. Such sign shall have:
(1) A maximum area of two square feet for each horizontal foot of wall
parallel to frontage on which it is mounted.
(2) A maximum width of 75% of the building wall's horizontal measurement,
except that, where such horizontal measurement is 20 feet or less,
the maximum width may be 90% of such measurement.
(3) Wall signs are not permitted in residential districts.
B. Freestanding signs.
(1) Freestanding signs shall be set back 15 feet from the public right-of-way.
(2) No sign shall exceed 16 feet in height above the ground level nor
have more than nine feet clearance from the ground level to the bottom
of the sign.
(3) The maximum square feet per face of a double-sided sign shall not
exceed 16 square feet with a maximum width of four feet.
(4) Freestanding signs shall not be placed so as to cause any interference
with sight distance.
(5) Freestanding signs in residential districts shall be no more than
four feet in height and six square feet in area.
C. Projecting and hanging signs.
(1) A projecting or hanging sign may be erected, perpendicular to the
front wall of the building, not to protrude more than 48 inches.
(2) Sign dimensions not to exceed three feet long by three feet high.
(3) The minimum clearance from ground level to the bottom of the sign
shall be nine feet.
(4) Existing and new signs which overhang a public way (including sidewalks)
shall be covered by public liability insurance policy or indemnity
and hold the Village harmless (i.e., have sign owner sign a waiver).
(5) Projecting and hanging signs are prohibited in residential districts.
D. Awning signs. A sign located on an awning shall constitute a permitted
sign for that location and shall conform to the following:
(1) Awning signs must be painted on or attached flat against the surface
of the awning, but not extended beyond the valance or be attached
to the underside.
(2) Awning signs must be a minimum of nine feet above the sidewalk level
for pedestrian clearance.
(3) Awning signs may not be illuminated.
(4) Awning signs are prohibited in residential districts.
E. Window signs.
(1) Window signs shall not exceed 30% of window area.
(2) Window signs shall only be located within the building premises.
F. Illuminated signs.
(1) Signs shall be illuminated only with steady, stationary, shield light
sources directed solely onto the sign without causing glare.
(2) Exterior neon signs are prohibited. However, in the Central Business
District, two interior neon signs are permitted per commercial use.
(3) Gas-filled light tubes shall be allowed for indirect illumination
and when placed in such a manner that the tubes are not exposed to
view from any point along the public roadway or sidewalk.
(4) Signs located in residential districts shall not be illuminated.
G. Sandwich-board signs.
(1) One sandwich sign per use shall be allowed and displayed in the Central
Business District and General Business District.
(2) Such sign shall be displayed only during business hours.
(3) Such sign shall be erected on the premises of the business and no
part of the sign shall be located so as to hinder or endanger pedestrian
and vehicular traffic.
H. Public and semipublic use signs. Public, semipublic, and religious
institutions in any district are permitted two signs without a permit,
provided the following conditions are met:
(1) Each sign shall not be over 12 square feet in area, on each public
street frontage of its property.
(2) Such signs shall be either fixed on the main wall of the building
or located in the required front yard, provided that it is set back
at least 15 feet from the front property line and at least 25 feet
from all other property lines.
(3) Such signs may be double-faced.
(4) Such signs may be lighted only by shielded light sources attached
to the sign.
I. Temporary signs. Temporary signs include those that are not intended
for a long-term use (i.e., in excess of 90 days). Noncommercial message,
real estate, construction, and political signs are considered temporary
signs for the sake of this chapter, including any sign that promotes
or supports a candidate or candidates for any public office, or which
advocates a position on upcoming ballot propositions, or which expresses
a personal opinion or belief, or which advertises a specific event,
including, but not limited to, grand openings, special events, community
events, etc. Temporary signs proposed in any district do not require
a permit, provided they are in accordance with the following regulations:
(1) Temporary signs shall not be illuminated.
(2) Temporary signs shall be a maximum of eight square feet.
(3) Temporary signs shall be set back a minimum of 10 feet from any lot
line.
(4) Temporary signs shall be of a height no greater than four feet above
grade.
(5) Temporary signs shall be removed within five days after the completion
of their intended advertising purpose.
(6) There shall be no more than three signs per lot.
(7) The owner or occupant of the property must give permission to erect
a temporary sign, and the owner of said sign shall be responsible
for removal.
(8) Such signs shall not be affixed to fences, trees, and utility poles,
bridges, or traffic signs and in no way obstruct traffic.
(9) Such signs shall not be erected within the right-of-way of public
streets or roads.
(10)
Such signs shall be located only the property on which it is
associated.
J. Subdivision signs.
(1) Subdivision signs shall have a maximum area of 32 square feet with
a 15-foot setback or a maximum area of 12 square feet with a five-foot
setback, from the nearest right-of-way line.
(2) Such signs shall be one sign per access road, a maximum of two per
subdivision.
(3) Subdivision identification signs may be illuminated if approved as
part of the subdivision plan approval.
(4) Temporary directional signs indicating the location of a real estate
subdivision shall be permitted under the provisions of this article
for a period of one year during the active selling of subdivision
properties. Additional periods of one year shall be the subject of
applications to the Planning Board.
A schedule of fees for sign permits may be established and amended
from time to time by the Board of Trustees. These fees may include,
but will not be limited to, application, removal, change of design,
renewal, etc.