As used in this chapter, the following terms shall have the
meanings indicated:
A-FRAME SIGN
Any upright, rigid supporting frame in the form of a triangle
or an inverted "V."
AWNING
An unenclosed roof-like structure protruding outward from
any exterior wall of a building facade, supported entirely by the
commercial building to which it is attached and which may be of a
stationary or retractable type.
A.
DROP AWNINGAny structure made of cloth, steel or any approved material mounted on a rigid or collapsible frame.
B.
CANOPY AWNINGAny dome-shaped structure made of cloth, steel or any approved material mounted on a rigid or collapsible frame.
AWNING SIGN
Any visual message incorporated into an awning attached to
a building.
BANNER SIGN
A sign of fabric, plastic, paper, or other light pliable
material, not enclosed in a rigid frame.
BOX SIGN
A sign created by using an enclosed box having geometric
or amorphic shape with a back plate and a front lens enclosing lighting
that illuminates the front lens either in a translucent manner or
lettering that is cut from the lens allowing the internal lighting
to be seen.
BUILDING INSPECTOR
Village personnel with civil service title of "Building Inspector"
or any authorized municipal officer in the Village Building Department
or Clerk's office.
COPY-CHANGE SIGN
A sign on which the visual message may be periodically changed.
DIRECTIONAL SIGN
A sign limited to providing information on the location of
an activity, business or event.
FACADE BAY
An architectural dimension that relates to the horizontal
width of a storefront, window display area, and/or building entrance,
the dimension of which is defined architecturally by the proportional
horizontal divisions in a building's facade.
FREESTANDING SIGN
Any sign not attached or part of any building but separate
and permanently affixed by any other means, in or upon the ground.
Included are pole signs, pylon signs and masonry wall-type signs.
GOOSENECK LAMPS
Any of various mechanical devices shaped like a goose's
neck; has an iron joint for pipes or a flexible rod for supporting
a lamp to illuminate signage and affixed to a building's facade.
HANGING SIGN
Any sign attached to, or projecting from, a building by means
of a decorative bracket, chain or other means that allows it to hang
parallel or perpendicular to the building facade. A blade sign shall
be considered a hanging sign.
ILLUMINATED SIGN
Any sign illuminated by electricity, gas or other artificial
light source, either from the interior or exterior of the sign, and
which includes reflective and phosphorescent light.
MAIN TENANT
Each building may have only one main tenant for the purposes
of this chapter, as determined by the landlord.
NEON
Multicolored tube-form light source created by electrically
charged gases, a traditional form of sign lighting. Neon can be in
exposed tubes, where tubing is visible, formed letters enclosed in
protective form, or indirect, where tubes illuminate painted or other
surfaces.
OFF-PREMISES SIGN
A sign unrelated to a business or profession conducted, or
commodity or service sold, or offered upon the premises where such
sign is located.
POLE SIGN
A sign built on a freestanding frame, mast, or pole(s).
PORTABLE SIGN
A sign, whether on its own trailer, wheels or otherwise,
designed to be movable and not structurally attached to the ground,
a building, a structure or other sign.
PRIMARY SIGN
Signage identifying the main tenant of a ground-floor commercial
space on a building's primary frontage and includes facade, soffit,
awning, detached or freestanding, hanging or wall-mounted signs.
PROJECTING (BLADE) SIGN
A sign which is attached to the building wall or structure
and which extends horizontally more than 15 inches from the plane
of such wall or structure, or a sign which is perpendicular to the
face of such wall or structure. A blade sign shall be considered a
projecting sign.
REPRESENTATIONAL SIGN
A three-dimensional sign built so as to physically represent
the object advertised.
SECONDARY SIGN
Signage identifying tenants other than the main tenant in
a building, including offices or other uses on the second floor of
a multistory downtown building, and may include facade, soffit, and
wall-mounted signs.
SIGN
Any material, structure or device, or part thereof, composed
of lettered or pictorial matter which is located out-of-doors or on
the exterior of any building, or indoors as a window sign, displaying
an advertisement, announcement, notice or name, and shall include
any declaration, demonstration, display, representation, illustration
or insignia used to advertise or promote the interest of any person
or business or cause when such is placed in view of the general public.
SIGN DIRECTORY
A listing of two or more business enterprises, consisting
of a matrix and sign components.
SIGN STRUCTURE
The supports, uprights, bracing and framework for the sign.
In the case of a sign structure consisting of two or more sides where
the angle formed between any two of the sides or the projections thereof
exceeds 30°, each side shall be considered a separate sign structure.
SIGN SURFACE AREA
The entire area within a single, continuous perimeter enclosing
all elements which form an integral part of the sign. The structure
supporting a sign shall be excluded unless the structure is designed
in a way to form an integral background for the display. Both faces
of a double-faced sign shall be included as surface or area of such
a sign.
STOREFRONT
Exterior facade of the building or portion of the building
that houses each commercial tenant measured by the width of that tenant's
interior space in linear feet.
SUPERINTENDENT OF BUILDINGS
A Building Inspector and the individual responsible for receiving
applications and examining plans and specifications, issuing permits
and enforcing the provisions of this chapter.
TEMPORARY SIGN
A sign related to a single activity or event having a duration
of no more than 30 days.
VILLAGE OF FARMINGDALE DESIGN GUIDELINES
Guidelines established, from time to time, by the Board of
Trustees, for the nonresidential districts of the Village, which shall
be set forth in a document entitled, "The Village of Farmingdale Design
Guidelines Manual." All signs in nonresidential districts shall comply
with The Village of Farmingdale Design Guidelines Manual.
WALL SIGN/WALL-MOUNTED SIGN
A sign which is painted on or attached to the outside wall
of a building with the face of the sign in the plane parallel to such
wall, and not extending more than 15 inches from the face of such
wall.
WINDOW SIGN
A sign visible from a sidewalk, street or other public place,
painted or affixed on glass or other window material, or located inside
within four feet of the window, but not including graphics in connection
with customary window display of products.
The following types of signs are illustrative of the kinds that
may be erected and maintained without permits or fees, provided that
such signs comply with the general requirements of this chapter and
other conditions specifically imposed by the regulations:
A. 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, religious
or nonprofit organizations; not exceeding six square feet.
B. Flags and insignia of any government, except when displayed in connection
with commercial promotion.
C. On-premises, directional signs for the convenience of the general
public, identifying public parking areas, fire zones, entrances and
exits and similar signs, internally illuminated or nonilluminated,
not exceeding two square feet per face and four feet in height. Business
names and personal names shall be allowed, excluding advertising messages.
D. Nonilluminated warning, private drive, posted or no-trespassing signs,
not exceeding two square feet per face.
E. Religious holiday decorations, including lighting, are exempt from
the provisions of this chapter and may be displayed in any district
without a permit during and three weeks after the holiday season.
F. At gasoline stations, integral graphics or attached price signs on
gasoline pumps.
G. Temporary directional signs for meetings, conventions and other assemblies.
H. One political poster, banner, promotional device and similar sign,
not exceeding four square feet in any residential district nor 32
square feet in any nonresidential district, provided that:
(1) Placement shall not exceed 30 days, and a period of 11 months shall
elapse between the last day of one period of showing and the first
day of the next.
(2) In the case of political signs regarding the election of candidates,
a political poster, banner or sign as described above is permissible
for each office appearing on the ballot of an election. For instance,
if an election is for two open board member seats, two political signs
may be on the property in question.
(3) No property shall have more than three such signs during any election.
The following signs are prohibited:
A. Off-premises signs shall be prohibited unless approved, in writing,
by the ARB.
B. Signs which are illuminated by or contain flashing, intermittent,
rotating or moving lights.
C. Signs which impair or cause confusion of vehicular or pedestrian
traffic in its design, color or placement; signs which impair visibility
for the motorist at a street corner or intersection by placement and
location within 25 feet of the intersection of the street or highway
lines.
D. Sign or sign supports which are placed upon the roof of any building
or the sides of a building at a greater elevation than the adjacent
properties.
E. Signs which contain an advertising message extended over more than
one sign placed along a street or highway on the building.
F. Wall signs which are painted on walls.
H. Projecting signs, other than hanging signs permitted pursuant to §
462-3G(9).
I. All signs identified in §
462-3I(9). All internally illuminated box signs shall be prohibited. All internally illuminated signs shaped as a letter, logo or graphic shall be prohibited.
K. In any residential district the following signs shall be prohibited:
(1) Nonilluminated warning, private drive, posted or no-trespassing signs,
which exceed two square feet per face.
(2) More than one on-premises sign, either freestanding or attached,
in connection with any residential building in any zoning district,
for permitted professional offices. Signs for permitted professional
offices shall also be prohibited if the sign exceeds one square foot;
or is set back less than 10 feet from the property line; or states
more than the name and vocation of the professional; or is illuminated
with a direct glare beyond the limits of the property line. A permit
shall be required for the installation, alteration, or relocation
of a sign for a professional office permitted by this chapter.
(3) Number and nameplates identifying residents, mounted on a house or
mailbox, which exceed one square foot in area or contain additional
messages thereon.
(4) Lawn signs identifying residents, which exceed one square foot, or
two square feet if double-faced or are illuminated except by a light
which is an integral part of a lamppost if used as a support; or where
there is an advertising message thereon or if the illumination thereof
produces a direct glare beyond the limits of the property line.
(5) Private-owner merchandise sale signs for garage sales and auctions
on the premises, which exceed four square feet or which are displayed
for a period which exceeds two days.
(6) More than one temporary nonilluminated "for sale," "for rent," real
estate sign and signs of similar nature, concerning the premises upon
which the sign is located which are greater than six square feet and
which is not removed within 24 hours of the transfer of the title
to the property or the giving of possession of the property, whichever
event first occurs. Notwithstanding the above, "open house" real estate
signs shall be removed at the conclusion of the open house.
(7) Temporary, nonilluminated window signs and posters which exceed 25%
of the window surface.
(8) Religious holiday decorations, including lighting, which are not
removed within three weeks after the holiday season.
(9) More than one temporary sign listing the architect, engineer, contractor
and/or owner, on premises where construction, renovation or repair
is in progress. Any such sign which exceeds eight square feet shall
be prohibited.
(10)
Signs which do not comply with the requirements of §
462-4.
(11)
Any sign which is inconsistent with §
462-1.
In the event that a sign lawfully erected prior to the effective
date of this chapter does not conform to the provisions and standards
of this chapter, then such signs shall be modified to conform or be
removed according to the following regulations:
A. All nonconforming signs for which no permit was issued shall become
prohibited and unlawful structures on the effective date of this chapter
and shall be removed. Such nonconforming signs may be removed by the
Superintendent of Buildings without notice to the property owner or
owner of the sign.
B. Notwithstanding §
462-6A, if a sign permit application for a conforming sign (to replace a nonconforming sign) is submitted to the Village in conjunction with the Village's Community Development Block Grant Program (CDBG), and such application is compliant with all Village requirements, the nonconforming sign shall be permitted until the CDBG sign permit application is approved, or at the expiration of two years from the effective date of this chapter, whichever time period is shorter. Upon the expiration of such shorter time period, the nonconforming sign shall be removed. The Board of Trustees may extend, upon good cause shown, the time within which a nonconforming sign must be replaced with a conforming sign, provided that a complete application pursuant to this section has been submitted.
C. Any sign, existing on or after the effective date of this chapter,
which no longer advertises an existing business conducted or product
sold on the premises upon which such sign is located, shall be removed.
If the Superintendent of Buildings shall find that any sign regulated
in this chapter is not used, coded in advertising, is abandoned, unsafe
or insecure, or is a menace to the public, such sign shall be removed.
The Superintendent of Buildings shall revoke any permit issued for
such sign and shall give written notice to the named owner of the
business or the land upon which it is located, who shall remove or
repair the sign within 30 days from the date of the notice.
D. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this section, the Superintendent
of Buildings may cause any sign which is a source of immediate peril
to persons or property to be removed immediately and without notice.
E. A nonconforming sign shall not be enlarged or replaced by another
nonconforming sign.
F. The Superintendent of Buildings is authorized to remove or repair
any sign in violation of this chapter. The costs associated with such
repair or removal shall be assessed onto the owners of the land upon
which the sign is located or the business owner located upon such
land.
Any person aggrieved by a decision of the Superintendent of
Buildings relative to provisions of this chapter may appeal such decision
in writing to the ARB. Any person aggrieved by the decision of the
ARB may appeal to the Zoning Board of Appeals.
In their interpretation and application, the provisions of this
chapter shall be held to be minimum requirements, adopted for the
promotion of the public health, morals, safety or the general welfare.
It is not intended to interfere with, abrogate or annul other rules,
regulations or ordinances. Whenever the requirements of this chapter
are at variance with the requirements of any other lawfully adopted
regulations, rules or ordinances, or whenever conflicts exist within
this chapter, the most restrictive, or those which impose the highest
standards, shall govern.