The purpose of this chapter, is to provide equitable methods
for individuals, businesses and services to identify themselves, express
opinions, reduce signage conflicts, promote traffic and pedestrian
safety, and increase the aesthetic value and economic viability in
the Village of Brockport. At no time should these be interpreted to
regulate any aspect of the content of any sign.
For the purpose of this chapter the following words and terms
shall be construed as follows, unless otherwise expressly provided.
If no specific definition is set forth therein, all words shall have
their usual English language meanings.
A-FRAME SIGN
A portable sign with two sides that are connected at the
top and spread at the bottom to make it stable yet moveable. An A-frame
sign is not considered to be a temporary sign.
ABANDONED SIGN
Any sign or portion thereof (see "sign" definition this section)
that contains a message or advertisement that no longer represents
any existing personal, public or business interests.
BILLBOARD OR POSTER SIGN
A panel for the display of either advertisement or public
messaging in a public place, such as alongside highways or on the
side of a building.
CHANGEABLE MESSAGE SIGN
A sign which contains numbers, letters, or symbols, designed
to be moved, interchanged, or replaced by means of removable letters
or other devices.
FREESTANDING SIGN
Any sign not affixed to a building but standing apart therefrom,
whether fixed to the ground or movable. The area of such sign shall
be considered to be the maximum height times the maximum width.
HUMAN PERSON SIGN
Someone who applies or carries an advertisement on their
person, most commonly holding or wearing a sign which includes advertising.
Such advertising shall not include logos worn for the purpose of clothing.
MARQUEE
A permanent roofed structure attached to and supported by
the building and projecting more than two feet from the face of a
building that may or may not extend over a public way.
NONCONFORMING SIGN
Any sign which lawfully exists prior to the effective date
of this chapter, but which, due to the requirements adopted herein,
no longer complies with its height, area, placement regulations or
other provisions.
PENNANT SIGN
Any lightweight plastic, fabric, or other material, whether
or not it contains a message of any kind, suspended from a rope, wire
or string, designed to move in the wind.
PORTABLE SIGN
A sign that is not permanently affixed to a building, structure,
or the ground that is designed to be moved from place to place.
PROJECTING SIGN
A sign other than a wall sign projecting more than 12 inches
from a building or structure via a pole, standard, wires or chains.
RIGHT-OF-WAY
An area of land over which facilities such as highways, sidewalks
or the locations of utility lines are built and which may include
an area between a public sidewalk and a street, including, but not
limited to, the area of land commonly referred to as the "tree lawn."
SHOPPING CENTER
A group of retail, personal services businesses, professional
private and civic offices or other commercial establishments that
is planned, developed, owned and managed as a single property.
SIGN
Any symbol, emblem, or display of lettering, logos, designs
or pictures, whether or not attached to a building or window or to
a freestanding structure, and visible to the public, and which either
conveys a message or advertises, directs, invites, announces or draws
attention to a land use, events, goods, products, services or facilities
available.
SIGN AREA
The surface area of a sign that is within view of a public
right-of-way, visible from any one point of view. For measurement
purposes, the sign surface area shall be calculated as follows:
A.
For rectangular wall signs: that area of the smallest rectangle
that can be placed over the entire sign, including its lettering,
pictorial matter or devices, frame and decorative moldings along its
edges and background, if of a different color from the predominant
color surrounding the sign.
B.
For irregular wall signs: that area defined by the edges of
the sign, including all lettering, pictorial matter or devices, frame
and decorative moldings and background, if of a different color from
the predominant color surrounding the sign.
C.
For letters, pictorial matter or devices not attached to frames
or freestanding: that area defined by the smallest rectangle or rectangles
that can be placed over any series of letters, pictorial matter or
devices which can be considered as a unit. In the event that both
uppercase and lowercase letters are used, the area shall be defined
by the smallest rectangles that can be placed over the series of lowercase
letters plus the area of the smallest rectangles that can be placed
over the individual uppercase letters. In the event that a letter
or letters or other pictorial matter is placed as a separate unit
on background boards, the sign area shall be calculated as the sum
of the areas of the background boards.
D.
For freestanding double-faced signs: the area of one entire
side of the sign calculated as above.
E.
For multiple-sided signs: the maximum area visible from any
one point of view.
F.
For signs on other than flat surfaces: the maximum actual surface
area visible from any one point of view.
TEMPORARY SIGN
Any sign constructed of cloth, paper, canvas, plastic or
light fabric, wallboard or other light, impermanent material with
or without frames intended to be displayed for a limited period of
time only.
WALL SIGN
A sign attached to or painted onto a wall of a building or
structure, with the exposed face of the sign in a plane approximately
parallel to the face of said wall which does not project more than
12 inches.
WINDOW SIGN
A sign attached to or painted on a window; also, a sign that
is within five feet inside a window and visible from any public right-of-way.
Only the following signs shall be permitted in any residential
zone:
A. One sign, identifying a permitted residential professional office or approved home occupation, which shall indicate only the name of the professional office or home occupation located at the residence, shall not be situated closer than 10 feet to any property line. Such signs shall not exceed four square feet in area, may be two-sided, and shall not exceed a height from grade of more than 48 inches. They shall not be illuminated. (See Village of Brockport Zoning Code §
58-9A(5) regarding home occupations).
B. One sign, identifying a school, church, public building, playground,
or other such use, which shall be situated on the property to which
it relates, not less than 10 feet from a street (unless the building
is closer than that to the street, in which case it shall be not less
than 1/2 the distance from building to street). Such signs shall not
exceed 10 square feet in area, may be two-sided, and shall not exceed
a height from grade of more than 48 inches. They may be only externally
illuminated.
C. One identifying sign relating to an apartment complex site, which
may show or include the name of the complex, the presence or lack
of vacancies, the location of the rental agent's office and his/her
telephone number, and the complex address. Such signs shall not exceed
25 square feet in area and may be two-sided. They shall only be externally
illuminated. Such signs may be located in any of the required yard
areas but shall not be situated closer than 10 feet to any property
line or the street line (unless the building is closer than 25 feet
to the street, in which case it shall not be less than 1/2 the distance
from building to street or 10 feet, whichever is greater).
D. One identifying sign relating to a residential development site,
which may show or include the name of the residential development.
Such signs shall not exceed 25 square feet in area, may be two-sided,
and shall only be externally illuminated. Such signs may be located
in any of the required yard areas but shall not be closer than 10
feet to the property line or street line.
Any person, corporation or other entity who violates the provisions
of this chapter shall be guilty of a violation and shall be subject
to imprisonment not to exceed 15 days or a fine not to exceed $250,
or both such fine and imprisonment. Each day of continued violation
shall constitute a separate offense.
Any ordinance or part of an ordinance inconsistent with the
provisions of this chapter, including references to signs in the Zoning
Ordinance of the Village of Brockport, is hereby repealed to the extent
of such inconsistency.
This chapter shall take effect immediately upon filing in the
office of the New York State Secretary of State in accordance with
§ 27 of the Municipal Home Rule Law.