[HISTORY: Adopted by the Board of Trustees
of the Village of Rhinebeck as indicated in article histories. Amendments
noted where applicable.]
[Added 10-14-2008 by L.L. No. 3-2008; amended in its entirety 11-10-2015 by L.L. No. 3-2015]
This chapter shall be entitled "A Local Law Regulating Sidewalk
Sales and Displays of Merchandise Within the Village of Rhinebeck."
The Village of Rhinebeck recognizes that the Village merchants
must have an opportunity to conduct sidewalk sales, and other displays
of merchandise, outside their business premises in order to remain
economically viable. However, the Village also recognizes that such
sales and displays have the potential to disrupt pedestrian traffic,
produce litter and otherwise negatively impact the character of the
Village. The Village Board of Trustees, by this chapter, seeks to
reach an accommodation between the needs of the merchants and the
needs of the community by allowing, but regulating, sidewalk sales
and other displays of merchandise by Village merchants.
As used in this article, the following terms shall have the
meanings hereinafter indicated:
The organization applying to the Village Clerk for a sidewalk
sale license.
The license obtained from the Clerk of the Village of Rhinebeck
upon completion, submission and approval of the application to the
Village Clerk for the conduct of a sidewalk sale.
The organization to which a sidewalk sale license has been
issued by the Village Clerk.
Any person or business entity lawfully occupying a store
in the Village of Rhinebeck.
A public telephone, mailbox, bench or other facility provided
for use by the general public.
Any area between the curbline and a structure, whether publicly
or privately owned, which is used by the public, or open to use by
the public, for pedestrian purposes. In cases where there is no curbline
within 10 feet of the structure, the sidewalk shall be deemed to extend
10 feet perpendicular from the structure.
The tables, carts and/or racks used to exhibit merchandise
at a sidewalk sale or outside a business premises.
Any sidewalk sale sponsored, organized and/or supervised
by an organization such as the Rhinebeck Chamber of Commerce, Businessman's
Association or Merchant's Association.
The Village Attorney, or attorney to the Village, as the
case may be.
The Village Clerk is hereby authorized to grant licenses for
sidewalk sales within the Village Center District upon the following
terms and conditions:
A.
The application for a sidewalk sale shall be on a form provided by
the Village Clerk and approved by the Board of Trustees and Village
Attorney which shall provide the following additional information:
(1)
The name, address and telephone number of the sponsoring organization;
(2)
The dates requested for the organized sidewalk sale;
(3)
The proposed hours for the conduct of such sale;
(4)
The name and address of each merchant who will be participating in
the sidewalk sale as part of the sponsoring organization;
(5)
Identification of a rain date or dates for the sidewalk sale;
(6)
Indemnification on a form provided by the Village Clerk, and approved
by the Village Board and Village Attorney, indemnifying and saving
harmless the Village of Rhinebeck, its officers, agents, attorneys
and employees from and against any claims of loss, liability or damage
by any person arising as a result of the applicant's operation
of the sidewalk use, including indemnification for attorneys fees
incurred by the Village.
B.
The application shall be approved, or disapproved, within a period
of 10 days from the date of submission of all required documentation
and information. In the event the application is denied, the applicant
may appeal the determination to the Village Board of Trustees. Such
review shall be conducted by the Village Board at the next regularly
scheduled meeting of the Village Board and shall not require conduct
of a public hearing. The Village Board shall have the authority, after
review, to issue, or further deny, the application.
C.
No license shall be issued until such time as the applicant shall
provide proof of the existence of a policy of general liability insurance,
which such policy shall name the Village of Rhinebeck as additional
insured and have a combined single limit of not less than $ 1,000,000.
The applicant shall file with the Village Clerk, prior to the issuance
of a license, the certificate of insurance evidencing the requisite
insurance coverage.
D.
No more than six sidewalk sales may be approved by the Village Clerk
within a calendar year.
E.
In the event a licensed sidewalk sale cannot be conducted in whole or in part because of rain or other inclement weather, the Village Clerk may issue a license to conduct the sidewalk sale on another selected date or dates rain date(s) and such license shall not be counted against the six-sale limitation period in Subsection D herein.
F.
The sidewalk sale shall be open to participation by all retail merchants
within the Village Center District, whether or not they are part of
the sponsoring organization.
G.
For sidewalk sales, the following provisions shall apply:
(1)
Food and drink may be sold in conjunction with such sidewalk sales.
In the event permits are required for such sale of food from the Dutchess
County Department of Health, such permits shall be secured and copies
provided to the Village Clerk prior to the issuance of the license
for the organized sidewalk sale.
(2)
The applicant shall have the consent of the owner and lessee, if
any, of the premises in front of which the sidewalk sale is to be
conducted.
(3)
No individual merchant shall be issued a license for sidewalk sales.
(4)
No sidewalk display shall be set up in such proximity to the curb
as to create a danger to pedestrians or persons exiting or entering
their motor vehicles and in no event shall a sidewalk display be set
up less than one foot from the curb.
(5)
No sidewalk display may extend more than three feet from the facade
of the premises. The licensee shall ensure that all participating
merchants at all times maintain, free and clear from all obstructions,
an aisle not less than four feet in width providing for pedestrian
movement and access to any establishment fronting on the said sidewalk.
The sidewalk sale shall be conducted in a manner which does not unreasonably
interfere with pedestrian traffic or with any other business establishment
or residences.
(6)
No permanent structure may be affixed to the sidewalk or any building.
The licensee shall be responsible for any damage caused to any public
sidewalk or public property as a direct result of the conduct of the
sidewalk sale.
(7)
The use of the sidewalk for sidewalk sale purposes shall not interfere
with access to any public service facility.
(8)
Outdoor lighting and/or music shall be permitted in conjunction with
the sidewalk sale, provided that the same are low-keyed and do not
create objectionable noise or light.
(9)
No sidewalk display shall be permitted after the business entity
with which it is associated is closed to the public. No sidewalk sale
shall commence prior to 7:00 a.m. or continue past 9:00 p.m. The sidewalk
display items shall be removed from the sidewalk after hours.
(10)
The display area shall at all times be kept free and clear of litter,
debris and any substance that may damage the sidewalk or cause pedestrian
injury.
(11)
Small signs may be displayed within the display area.
H.
The application for the sidewalk sale must identify all proposed
sale of food and drink and provision of music.
Any merchant who desires to set out on the sidewalk a single rack for the display of clothing or other merchandise or a single table for the display of clothing or other merchandise, in conjunction with the operation of his or her business, shall not be required to obtain a license. The rack shall not, however, exceed three feet in length, and the table shall not exceed 15 square feet of tabletop area. The rack and/or table shall be located within the entrance alcove to the premises or within three feet of the facade of the building. All other provisions set forth in § 89-4G(4) through (12) of this chapter shall apply to such displays. The merchant shall also be permitted to locate plantings and/or a single bench outside of the premises, provided that the plantings and bench are not used for the display of merchandise and are located within three feet of the facade of the building.
Neither the adoption of this chapter nor the granting of any
license pursuant hereto shall be construed as a waiver of any right,
privilege or immunity of the Village of Rhinebeck with respect to
streets and sidewalks, whether express or implied.
A.
The provisions of this chapter shall be enforced by the Village's Code Enforcement Officer and/or Village Police Department. The Code Enforcement Officer shall have the power to issue a notice of violation and order to remedy to any licensee who violates the provisions of this chapter. In the event the licensee does not cure the violation within the time specified in the notice of violation, the Zoning Enforcement Officer, in addition to the remedies set forth in Subsection B of this section, may notify the Village Board of the unremedied violation. The Village Board shall have the power to revoke or suspend the license of the licensee after providing the licensee with an opportunity to be heard.
B.
Any person who shall violate the provisions of this chapter shall
be liable to prosecution in the Village Justice Court either by the
Code Enforcement Officer or by the Village Police Department and shall,
upon conviction thereof, be liable for a fine that shall not exceed
$200 for a first offense. For a second offense, the fine shall not
exceed $500, and for a third offense, the fine shall not exceed $500
and/or imprisonment for not more than 15 days.
C.
The Village shall, in addition to other remedies, have the right
to bring a civil action against any business, licensee or merchant
who violates the provisions of this chapter, seeking injunctive relief.
In any such action, the Village shall be entitled to recovery of legal
fees, costs and expenses in the prosecution of any such civil action,
as awarded by the Court.
D.
Notwithstanding these provisions, it shall be expected that the merchants
and/or sponsoring organizations shall self-police themselves in the
conduct of sidewalk sales to ensure that the provisions of this chapter
are adhered to.
A.
This article is enacted under the authority of Subparagraphs (a)(1)(2)(d)(iii)
of the Municipal Home Rule Law § 10(1)(ii) and Municipal
Home Rule Law § 22.
B.
To the extent that any law of the Village of Rhinebeck is inconsistent
with this chapter, it is the intent of the Village Board to supersede
such sections of the law by virtue of this chapter.
