[Added 8-10-2023 by L.L. No. 6-2023]
A. Purpose and applicability. The purpose of this district is to define
a location where billboards may be appropriate and specific requirements
for the review and approval of billboards.
B. Establishment of the district. The BO District is an overlay zone
and is not defined as of the date of the adoption of the Town of Dryden
Zoning Map. When the Zoning Law is amended to create the BO District,
the Zoning Map will delineate the boundaries of the BO District.
C. Bulk requirements, permitted principal and accessory uses, site plan,
and special permit requirements for uses other than billboards. Any
property designated as a BO District is subject to the district regulations
of the underlying district upon which it is imposed as well as the
district regulations set forth herein. In the case of any conflict
between the district regulations applicable in an existing district
upon which the BO District is imposed and the district regulations
set forth herein, these regulations shall be controlling.
D. Special permit required. Prior to the construction or placement of
a billboard, it shall receive special permit approval. In considering
applications for special permit approval, in addition to the other
requirements of this chapter, the Town Board shall take into consideration
the size, type of construction, design, location, its effect on surrounding
property, safety of vehicular traffic and maintenance provisions,
including a provision for removal of the billboard, if abandoned.
E. Location and spacing. All billboards erected pursuant to this section
shall comply with the following location and spacing requirements:
(1)
The minimum distance from other existing billboards, including
those located outside the boundaries of the Town, shall be 0.5 mile,
except that the minimum distance for electronic billboards from other
existing billboards (including other electronic billboards) shall
be one mile.
(2)
The minimum distance from any and all single- or multiple-family
dwelling(s), including those located outside the boundaries of the
Town, shall be 500 feet. Under all circumstances, light shall be shielded
from such properties.
(3)
Billboards shall not be located on top of, cantilevered over
or otherwise suspended above any building or structure.
(4)
Billboards shall not be located closer than five feet to any
state, county or Town right-of-way, or 30 feet to the street, highway,
or road lane of travel, whichever is greater.
(5)
Billboards shall not be located closer than 500 feet to a street,
highway or road intersection.
(6)
Billboards shall, in addition to the foregoing requirements,
be located in areas with minimum other distractions.
F. Illumination.
(1)
All billboards with standard illumination shall be equipped
with a timer so as to only illuminate such billboard for the time
period between 1/2 hour prior to sunset and 1/2 hour after sunrise.
(2)
All electronic billboards shall be equipped with a mechanism
to automatically adjust the brightness in response to ambient conditions
and to produce a distinct reduction in the level of illumination for
the time period between 1/2 hour prior to sunset and 1/2 hour after
sunrise. Electronic billboards shall also be equipped with a means
to immediately turn off the display or lighting if they malfunction,
and the owner thereof shall immediately turn off the electronic messages
or lighting when notified by the Town that it is not in compliance
with this section.
(3)
The maximum brightness levels of all billboards shall not exceed
a brightness of 5,000 candelas per square meter during the daytime
and 150 candelas per square meter during the nighttime.
G. Height. The height of the billboard shall not exceed 20 feet in height,
including support, measured from the elevation base of the sign. In
addition, the billboard's height shall not exceed 30 feet above
the highest level of the nearest roadway upon which the billboard
faces or to which the message upon the billboard is directed. In the
event that a billboard is situated upon or facing two roadways having
different levels, the height of the billboard shall be measured from
the higher roadway.
H. Size; surface area.
(1)
The surface display area of any side of a billboard shall not
exceed 300 square feet.
(2)
The surface display area of a billboard shall be measured to
include the entire area within a regular geometric form, or combinations
thereof, comprising all of the display area of the billboard, including
all of the elements of the matter displayed. Frames and structural
members, excluding necessary supports or uprights, shall be included
in computation of surface display area. In the case of a sphere, spheroid,
or similarly shaped billboard (e.g., a ball), the total surface display
area shall be divided by two for determining the maximum surface display
area permitted.
(3)
Tandem or stacked billboards are prohibited.
(4)
V-style and double-sided billboards are permitted.
I. Construction and maintenance.
(1)
All billboards shall be constructed in such a fashion that they
will withstand all wind and vibration forces that can normally be
expected to occur in the vicinity and in compliance with all applicable
codes.
(2)
All billboards shall be maintained so as to assure proper alignment
of structure, continued structural soundness and continued readability
of message.
(3)
All billboards must be otherwise kept in good repair, be clean,
neatly painted or placarded, and free from all hazards, including,
but not limited to, faulty wiring, loose fastenings, or damaged supports.
The billboard shall not be dangerous to the public health or safety.
If the Code Enforcement Officer shall find that any such billboard
violates any of these provisions, he or she shall give written notice
of such violation to the owner of the land, and the billboard shall
be removed or the deficiencies corrected within a period set in such
notice but not less than 30 days from such notice.
(4)
In the event that the owner of the billboard or the owner of
the land on which it is situate shall fail or refuse to repair or
remove such billboard within any required period, the Code Enforcement
Officer may remove or repair such billboard. All costs and expenses
incurred in the removal or repair of such billboard shall be collected
from the owner of the land or the owner of the billboard in an action
at law, or such costs and expenses may be assessed against the owner
of the land upon which the billboard is situate and shall be collected
as part of the Town tax next due. No such amount shall be so assessed
and collected unless a notice, in writing, of the amount due has been
sent to the owner of the land on which the billboard is erected prior
to the first day of September of the next year in which the amount
is to be assessed and collected along with the Town tax.
J. Electronic images and messages.
(1)
Format.
(a)
Electronic billboards shall contain only a single, contiguous
electronic message on each billboard face, or a single, contiguous
electronic message on one billboard face and a nondigital/nonelectronic
image or message on the other billboard face.
(b)
Images and messages displayed on electronic billboards shall
be static or still images. Animation, video streaming, moving images,
or other pictures and graphics displayed in a progression of frames
that give the illusion of motion or moving objects is prohibited.
(c)
Sequential messaging as part of an electronic message is prohibited.
The images and messages displayed on all electronic billboards shall
be complete within themselves without continuation in content to the
next image or message or to any other billboard.
(2)
Size. Every line of copy and graphics in an electronic message
shall be at least 12 inches in height, except that any copy or graphic
required by law (e.g., political, alcohol, health advertisements)
may be at least five inches in height. If there is insufficient room
for copy and graphics of this size within the actual copy and graphic
area of a billboard, then no electronic message shall be permitted.
(3)
Duration.
(a)
The display or message on a digital billboard may change no
more frequently than once every eight seconds.
(b)
The transition from one static image or message to another shall
be instantaneous, without delay or special effects.
(4)
Emergency and public messages. Digital billboards shall be made
available to the Town, county, and state emergency services in case
of emergency or for such matters as Amber Alerts.
(5)
Safety and security technology. Electronic billboards shall
be designed and equipped to freeze the device in one position if a
malfunction occurs. Electronic billboards must also be equipped with
a means to immediately discontinue their display if they malfunction
or are accessed by persons not authorized to do so, and the owner
thereof must immediately stop the electronic message or image when
notified by the Town that it is not complying with the standards of
this section. Prior to issuing any necessary permits for an electronic
billboard, the applicant shall submit to the Town a data security
plan to prevent unwanted content from being displayed and written
verification from the manufacturer that the electronic billboard is
so designed and equipped.
K. Other applicable laws. All billboards must comply with all applicable
provisions of federal and state law, and all other relevant regulations
and ordinances of the Town.