As used in this chapter, the following terms shall have the
meanings indicated:
FACE AREA OF A SIGN
The surface devoted to the conveying of the message, exclusive
of the structure to support it, trim and framing device and any appurtenances
required by building codes. In the case of open sign structures not
having a solid surface or a sign not otherwise inscribed in a definitive
area, the area of the sign shall be taken as the area required to
circumscribe all letters and devices, exclusive of supports. For double-faced
signs where both faces are parallel, or angled from each other by
no more than 45°, only one display face shall be measured in determining
total sign area. When the faces are angled from each other by greater
than 45°, all faces shall be measured in determining the total
sign area.
SIGN
A name, identification, description or illustration containing
letters, numbers or symbols which is affixed to or painted or represented
or installed on any part of a building, structure, vehicle or parcel
of land, in view of the general public, and which directs attention
to a person, institution, organization, activity, place, object, product
or business.
SIGN, BILLBOARD
An off-premises sign having more than 100 square feet of
face area.
SIGN, BUSINESS DIRECTIONAL
An off-premises sign of three square feet or less to provide
direction to business and facilities not located on state highways.
SIGN, CANOPY
A pedestrian-oriented sign attached to the underside of a
permanent canopy, perpendicular to the building frontage.
SIGN, FREESTANDING
A sign attached to the ground by means of an integral base
or one or more poles or standards. Freestanding signs include both
pole signs and ground signs.
SIGN, OFF-PREMISES
Any sign attracting attention to an object, product, service,
place, activity, institution, organization or business not available
or located on the site where the sign is located.
SIGN, WALL
Any sign integral with or attached to and parallel to the
face of the outside wall of a building.
SIGN, WINDOW
Any sign placed inside or upon a window facing the outside
and which in intended to be seen from the exterior.
The following signs are permitted in all districts.
A. No sign permit required.
(1) One sign for each building or lot advertising the sale, rental or
lease of the premises or part thereof on which the sign is displayed,
not exceeding three square feet in residential districts and 12 square
feet in commercial and industrial districts.
(2) Official signs, notices or direction devices erected or maintained
by a federal, state, county or local government or agency thereof.
(3) One sign denoting the name and address of the occupants of the premises,
which shall not exceed two square feet in face area.
(4) One sign denoting the architect, engineer or contractor placed on
the premises where construction, repair or renovation is in progress,
which sign shall not exceed 32 square feet in face area. This sign
must be removed from the premises within seven days after such construction,
repair or renovation is completed.
(5) One sign for a home occupation not to exceed four square feet.
(6) One sign for the selling of farm produce grown on the premises, not
to exceed 15 square feet in face area, not to be illuminated and to
be promptly removed at the end of the growing season.
B. Sign permit required.
(1) Professional nameplates that shall not exceed four square feet in
face area.
(2) Parking lot markers, directional signs, entrances and exit signs
and other such signs which are erected on the premises which shall
not exceed four square feet in face area and shall not contain any
advertising of the use of the premises.
(3) One sign or bulletin board which may be illuminated, not exceeding
16 square feet in face area, located on the premises of a public or
quasi-public organization or institution and not less than 25 feet
from any lot line and not more than six feet in height above finished
grade.
(4) One sign identifying the name of a residential area or subdivision,
not to exceed 25 square feet of face area nor eight feet in height
above finished grade, shall be permitted at each major entrance to
the area.
(5) Business directional signs shall not exceed three square feet in
face area; shall be limited to providing directional information only;
shall be limited to locations along state highways at or near the
intersection of the appropriate street; and shall be placed a minimum
of one foot from the right-of-way, except when regulated by New York
State Department of Transportation directional sign programs. Other
off-premises signs are prohibited.
(6) All signs of a temporary nature, such as political posters, banners,
promotional devices and other signs of a similar nature, may be granted
a temporary permit for a period not to exceed 30 days, provided that
such signs are not attached to fences, trees, utility poles or the
like, and further provided that such signs are not placed in a position
that will obstruct or impair vision or traffic or in any manner create
a hazard or disturbance to the health and welfare of the general public.
A fee, as determined by the Town Board, shall be paid upon the issuance
of a permit for such sign or group of signs. Upon termination of the
campaign for which said signs, posters, banners or promotional devices
were erected, the same shall be immediately removed from said property.
The following signs are permitted in R-C, C and M Districts,
and a sign permit is required:
A. All appropriate signs as permitted and regulated in §
279-4 above.
B. The following sign types within the permitted number and total maximum face area as set forth in §
279-7, Sign schedule:
(1) Wall signs, not to exceed 100 square feet in face area, not to project
above or beyond the ends of the building or its parapet or the highest
point of the roof, whichever is higher, and not to project more than
one foot beyond the outside wall of the building.
(2) Ground signs, not to exceed 50 square feet in face area, not to exceed
eight feet in height and to be located not less than 25 feet from
any adjacent business or industrial lot or 50 feet from an adjacent
residential lot or 15 feet from a street right-of-way.
(3) Pole signs, not to exceed 50 square feet in face area; not to exceed
25 feet in height, nor shall the lowest member, excluding the pole,
be less than eight feet from the finished grade of a paved walk, drive
or parking area; to be located not less than 50 feet from an adjacent
residential lot line; and not to project over any public right-of-way
or encroach upon the property of another.
(4) Canopy signs, not to exceed nine square feet in face area, not to
have any members less than eight feet above finished grade of a paved
walk and not to have a vertical dimension exceeding 12 inches.
C. Multiple developments.
(1) In addition to regulations set forth above, signage, in such multiple
developments as shopping plazas, office parks and industrial parks
shall exhibit a degree of uniformity so as to impart a sense of unity
and harmony to the development. In all multiple developments, a coordinated
signage plan shall be part of the site plan review process as regulated
in the Zoning Law and Chapter
109, Building Code Administration. Wall, ground and canopy signs shall be permitted for individual establishments in multiple developments. One pole sign limited to identifying the name of the multiple development itself may be erected in C Districts only. Otherwise, the standards for the location, number and size of signs in multiple developments are basically intended to conform to those standards for individual establishments. The Planning Board, in its review of the coordinated signage plan, may modify these standards if it finds that such signage plan meets the intent of these regulations.
(2) No owner, tenant or other user of a multiple development, or part
thereof, shall erect, permit to be erected or use any sign deviating
from or not included in the approved coordinated signage plan. Any
new occupants of individual establishments whether new or existing,
shall also abide by the above, obtaining Planning Board approval for
any change in signage.
[Added 6-2-2008 by L.L.
No. 3-2008]
A. LED and EVMS are permitted only in R-C, C and M Zoning Districts.
B. The face area of the sign shall be limited to 50% of the allowable
freestanding sign or 40 square feet, whichever is less.
C. The frequency of the electronic display/displays will be limited
to a maximum of one message display per minute.
D. The message displays will be presented only in alphanumeric format.
Moving pictures, digital movies and sound will not be utilized. However,
still graphics may be utilized as backdrops to message displays.
E. Message displays will be instantaneous, without scrolling, fading
in, dropping in, or similar moving copy changes.
F. Brightness shall be no more than 1,250 units from sunset until sunrise
and 5,000 units from sunrise until sunset.
The following sign schedule shall apply to signs in the R-C,
C and M Districts:
Legend:
|
C – Canopy sign
|
G – Ground sign
|
P – Pole sign
|
W – Wall sign
|
|
Zoning District
|
Total Face Area(a)
|
Maximum Number Allowed
|
Type Allowed(b)
|
---|
Individual Establishment
|
R-C Districts
|
0.3
|
1
|
G, W
|
|
C Districts
|
1.5
|
3
|
G, P, W
|
|
M Districts
|
1.0
|
2
|
G, W
|
Multiple Developments
|
R-C Districts
|
(c)
|
(d)
|
G, W
|
|
C Districts
|
(c)
|
(d)
|
C, G, P, W
|
|
M Districts
|
(c)
|
(d)
|
G, W
|
Notes:
|
---|
(a)
|
Total maximum face area for all signs (other than temporary
signs) in square feet per linear feet of building frontage. [Where
no building is involved, or for sites with a building of 100 square
feet or less, the above face area factors shall be applied to the
linear feet of street frontage (instead of building frontage), with
the maximum face area not to exceed 20 square feet.]
|
(b)
|
Freestanding signs shall be limited to one sign per individual
establishment.
|
(c)
|
Sign standards to be determined during site plan review process and development of a coordinated signage plan. See § 279-5C above.
|
(d)
|
Additional signs identifying the name of the multiple development may be permitted at each major entrance to the area. See § 279-5C above.
|
Any person aggrieved by any decision of the Code Enforcement
Officer relative to the provisions of these regulations may appeal
such decision to the Zoning Board of Appeals.
Sign permit fees shall be as determined by the Town Board.
Any person who violates any provision of this chapter or any
regulation adopted hereunder is guilty of an offense punishable by
a fine not exceeding $350 for the first violation; a minimum of $350
and a maximum of $700 for a second violation within five years; and
a minimum of $700 and a maximum of $1,000 for a third or subsequent
violation within five years; or imprisonment for a period not to exceed
six months, or both. Each week's continued violation shall constitute
a separate violation.
The Building Inspector shall be empowered to enforce this chapter
and the regulations set forth herein.
[Added 6-2-2008 by L.L.
No. 3-2008]
This chapter is applicable only to the unincorporated areas
of the Town of Alden and shall be construed as an exercise of the
powers of such Town to regulate, control and restrict the use of buildings,
structures and land in order to promote the health, safety, morals
or general welfare of the community, including the protection and
preservation of the property of the Town and of its inhabitants and
of peace and good order, for the benefit of trade and all other matters
related thereto.