The purpose of this chapter is to promote and protect the public health,
welfare and safety by regulating existing and proposed advertising signs of
all types. It is intended to protect values, create a more attractive economic
and business climate, enhance and protect the physical appearance of the community,
preserve the scenic and natural beauty and provide a more enjoyable and pleasing
community. It is further intended hereby to reduce sign or advertising distractions
and obstructions that may contribute to traffic accidents, reduce hazards
that may be caused by signs overhanging or projecting over public rights-of-way,
provide more visual open space and curb the deterioration of the community's
appearance and attractiveness.
[Amended 9-7-1995 by L.L.
No. 2-1995; 6-12-1997 by L.L.
No. 3-1997]
As used in this chapter, the following terms shall have the meanings
indicated:
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
interests of any person or business or cause when such is placed in view of
the general public.
A.
AWNING SIGNAny visual message incorporated into an awning attached to a building.
C.
DIRECTIONAL SIGNA sign limited to providing information on the location of an activity, business or event.
D.
FREESTANDING SIGNAny sign not attached to 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.
E.
ILLUMINATED SIGNAny sign illuminated by electricity, gas or other artificial light, either from the interior or exterior of the sign, and which includes reflective and phosphorescent light.
F.
OFF-PREMISES SIGNA sign unrelated to a business or a profession conducted or to a commodity or service sold or offered upon the premises where the sign is located.
G.
PERMANENT SIGNAny sign which is painted on, etched into or otherwise structurally attached to the ground, a building, a structure or another permanent sign.
H.
PORTABLE SIGNA 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 another sign.
I.
PROJECTING SIGNA 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 a sign which is perpendicular to the face of such wall or structure.
K.
TEMPORARY SIGNAny sign fabricated of paper, plywood, fabric, window whitewash or other light, impermanent material, which relates to a single activity or event having a duration of no more than 30 days.
L.
WALL SIGNA 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.
M.
WINDOW SIGNA sign visible from a sidewalk, street or other public place, painted or affixed on glass or other window material or located inside within two feet of the window.
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 30º,
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.
STREET
A.
COLLECTORNorth Street, South Street, Eaton Street and Cedar Street.
B.
MAJORMain Street (United States Route 20).
[Amended 6-12-1997 by L.L.
No. 3-1997]
A. Except as otherwise provided, no person shall erect, alter or relocate any permanent sign without first obtaining a permit from the Code Enforcement Officer. Within 90 days following the effective date of this chapter, a permit shall also be obtained for any permanent sign in existence as of the effective date of this chapter, unless excluded by the exempt signs provision under §
151-4A. Subsequent to this initial application, no permit shall be required for a sign to be repainted, repaired or have its message changed.
B. Application procedure.
(1) Applications shall be made in writing to the Code Enforcement
Officer, on forms prescribed and provided by the Village of Morrisville, and
shall contain the following information:
(a) The name, address and telephone number of:
[2] The owner of the property.
(b) The location of the building, structure or land upon
which the sign now exists or is to be erected.
(c) If a new sign is to be erected, elevation and plan drawings
to scale shall be included. In addition, a full description of the placement
and appearance of the proposed sign shall be included and shall cover the
following:
[1] Location on the premises; specifically, its location
in relation to adjacent buildings, structures and property lines.
[2] The method of illumination, if any, and the position
of lighting or other extraneous devices and a copy of the electrical permit
and/or the lighting manufacturer's requirements related to the electrical
connections.
[3] Graphic design, including symbols, letters, materials
and colors.
[4] The visual message, text, copy or content of the sign.
(d) Written consent or a copy of the contract made with the
owner of the property upon which the sign is to be erected, if the applicant
is not the owner.
(e) A letter-size, self-addressed, stamped envelope.
(2) Incomplete applications shall not be reviewed and must
be resubmitted. The applicant shall be notified in writing, via regular United
States mail, if the application is incomplete. The incomplete application
shall also be returned to the applicant at that time.
C. Permit. Upon the filing of a completed application for a sign permit and the payment of the required fee, the Code Enforcement Officer shall examine the plans, specifications and other data submitted and the premises on which the sign is to be erected or now exists. If it shall appear that the sign is in compliance with all the requirements of this chapter, he/she shall then, within seven days, forward the application to the Planning Board for review at its next scheduled meeting. The Planning Board shall examine the application, determine whether the requirements of §
151-6 of this chapter have been met and then either approve the application, deny the application or approve the application upon the imposition of appropriate conditions. Upon approval of the application, and/or the applicant's compliance with any conditions imposed upon such approval, the Planning Board shall issue the sign permit. The issuance of a permit shall not excuse the applicant from conforming to the other laws and ordinances of the Village of Morrisville. If the erection of the sign authorized under any such permit has not been completed within six months from the date of issuance, the permit shall become null and void but may be renewed within 30 days prior to the expiration, for good cause shown, for an additional six months upon payment of 1/2 of the original fee.
D. Permit period. The sign permit shall remain effective
for the life of the sign, provided that all provisions of this chapter are
complied with.
E. Permit fee. A one-time fee as set forth from time to
time by the Board of Trustees shall be imposed for each permanent sign, except
that there shall be no fee to obtain a permit for a permanent sign existing
as of the effective date of this chapter if such application is made within
90 days of such effective date.
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,
provided that whenever the requirements of this chapter are at variance with
the requirements of any other lawfully adopted regulations, rules or ordinances,
the most restrictive or those which impose the highest standards shall govern.