HomeMy WebLinkAboutH - 02a County Review - Town's Zoning Text Amendment - SignsON THE MOTION OF: Paul Slowev RESOLUTION N0.21-29
Beau Harbin
Town of Cortlandville
Zoning Text Amendment
Article XVIL Signs
WHEREAS, on July 27, 2021 the Town of Cortlandville pm•suant to General
Municipal Law 239 M submitted an application for approval of zoning text amendment to
make revisions to the portions of the Code of the Town of Cortlandville that govern signs
because it affects property throughout the Town of Cortlandville, AND
WHEREAS, the Cortland County Planning Board has received this request and
submitted a written report dated August 13, 2021, which is on file, AND
WHEREAS, the Cortland County Planning Board on August 18, 2021 held a
regular meeting with a quorum and did consider this request, AND
WHEREAS, the Cortland County Planning Board did thoroughly consider the
material submitted by the Town of Cortlandville, all relevant reports on file, NOW
THEREFORE BE IT
RESOLVED, that the Board sends back the application so that the Town of
Cortlandville may clarify certain texts within the amendment, provide further context, and
remove obscurity, AND
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Planning Department is hereby authorized to
convey this action to the Town of Cortlandville.
Wendy dler, Secretary
Cortland County Planning Board
August 18, 2021
Ayes: 8
Nays: 0
August 13, 2021
Town of Cortlandvine
Zoning Text Amendment
TO: Cortland County Planning Board
FROM: Cortland County Planning Department
This application for a zoning text amendment and amendment is being referred to the
Cortland County Planning Board pursuant to General Municipal Law 239-M because it impacts
property throughout the Town of Cortlandville.
GENERAL INFORMATION
Date Received: July 27, 2021
Applicant: Town of Corllandville
3577 Terrace Rd
Cortland, NY 13045
Requested Action:
zoning text
amendment to make revisions to the
portions of the code
that govern
signs
Existing Regulations: Code of the Town of Cortlandville
ANALYSIS:
The Town of Cortlandvitle is seeking a zoning text amendment to make revisions to portions
of their code that govern signs. Most specifically the Town is proposing to amend regulations of
temporary and advertisement signs; both of which have been clearly defined in the text
amendment. Signs that are animated, portable, made of a material not purposed to be a sign, and
which `move or flutter' will be prohibited under this amendment. The specific text from this
proposed amendment can be found on the attached document.
The proposed zoning text amendment is considered a Type I Action under SEQR as it
would change the allowable uses in a zoning district affecting more than 25 acres. The Town
should therefore complete a Full Environmental Assessment Form to determine if this proposal
would result in any significant adverse environmental impacts.
RECOMMENDATION:
The staff recommends approval of this application for a zoning text amendment contingent
upon compliance with SEQR requirements.
Chapter 178. Zoning
***Add these definitions to Article I Title; Definitions***
§178-2. Definitions and word usage
Temporary Sign
Anon -permanent sign designed to advertise an event (nonprofit or for profit) for a
limited amount of time. These include portable signs, signs placed in or on the
ground advertising sale, rental or lease of a property upon which the sign is located,
announcement of any current or upcoming event i.e.: local fair, carnival, BBQ,
garage/yard sale, announcement of candidacy relating to a current election of a
person to public office, or relating to a current political party, or relating to a current
matter to be voted on at an election called by a public body. These signs could
include time, place, year. In Business Districts, businesses advertising for hiring of a
position and businesses advertising a sale of product or services.
Advertising Sign
A sign that directs attention to a business, industry, profession, commodity or
service not necessarily sold or offered upon the same premises as the location of the
sign. This shall include poster panels. Such signs may either be ground signs or wall
signs.
Article XVII. Signs
§178-110. Statement of intent
The purpose of this article is to provide regulations governing erection of signs in various
districts within the Town of CortlandvilleI
178-111 Sign restrictions
A. No sign in any district may extend over a sidewalk or other public way, or interfere
with safe visibility for pedestrians or vehicles.
B. No sign in any district shall be located nearer than 15 feet to a street line or lot line, as
measured from the sign's nearest edge.
C. No sign shall be erected within the view of the edge of the right-of-way of any
Interstate System Highway at a distance greater than 660 feet from the edge of the
said right -of --way. Interstate system highways are to be designed in accordance with
the national standards for regulation by states of advertising signs and devices
adjacent to the National System of Interstate and Defense Highways as promulgated by
the United States Secretary of Commerce.
D. Signs shall be regarded as structures within the meaning of this chapter, except that no
permit is required for signs meeting requirements of §178112A.
E. Advertising display upon any structure shall be regulated as a sign subject to this
chapter.
P. No sign attached to a building in any district shall project above the height of the wall
of the building upon which it is attached.
G. Advertising letters or symbols on opposite sides of a material or structure two feet
thick or less shall be considered one sign.
H. No illuminated sign shall be erected or used so that its light will directly reflect toward
residence on adjoining lots or towards residential districts within 1,000 feet or toward
public highways so as to create a traffic hazard.
1. If a sign is irregular in shape or consists of independent, detached letters or symbols,
the area of sign shall be determined by measuring the area within a polygon completely
enclosing the sign or such independent letters or symbols.
J. All signs shall be properly painted and maintained in structure, mechanical operation
and appearance. If such maintenance or painting is not provided by the owner within
six months of written notice, the Town Board may order removal of the sign by the
owner.
K. Animated signs are prohibited.
L. No signs are permitted which move, flutter, or move in any way, whether by natural,
electrical or mechanical means, including banners, flags, propellers and other similar
devices.
M. No signs are permitted on utility poles or trees with exception for signs that address
public safety.
N. Portable signs, including any sign displayed on or painted on vehicles or trailers
used primarily for the purpose of attracting attention, advertising goods, service
and/or products are not permitted.
0. Advertising signs which are of&premises in Business and Industrial Districts shall not
exceed 32 square feet.
P. Temporary Signs shall be erected
no more than
60 days in a
one year period. Signs
must be removed no more than 7
days after the
completion
of the event.
Q. Signs must be maintained in good condition and to be of material which is For the
purpose of a sign or similar material,
R. The Town of Cortlandville
reserves the right to remove any
sign
which does not
comply with the time frames
listed in this section and/or section
178-112.
§ 178-112. Permitted signs.
A. No permit shall be required for the following temporary signs:
(1) Signs required by law and official signs required by government agency.
(2) Temporary, non -illuminated signs for construction: one in number, not to exceed
32 square feet, announcing the purpose of construction; detour and traffic signs.
Must be removed no more than 5 days after completion of work.
(3) Non illuminated temporary signs, not more than six square feet, maximum of five in
total, at any given time in Residential 114, R-2, R-3 districts, other than corner lots
which can duplicate for each street facing side.
(4) Non illuminated temporary signs, not more than 32 square feet, maximum of one
sign at any given time in Business, Industrial and Agriculture, other than corner lots
which can duplicate for each street facing side.
(5) Signs less than two square feet announcing the name of the owner of a parcel.
(6) All signs in this section must meet the requirements of §178-111
B. Requiring building permit.
(1) All uses permitted by this chapter are allowed signs if meeting the
Requirements of Table 1 and section 178411.
(2) Illuminated Signs
(a)Allowed on properties which are classified as:
[1] Business use for freestanding signs.
[2] Professional offices.
[3] Recreational and social activities, **other than in Residential Aistricts.
[4j Religious institutions.
(3) Advertising signs in Business and Industrial Districts which are off
-premises
(a) Ground signs shall not exceed eight feet in height above existing terrain. Only one
ground sign is permitted for each lot having frontage on a public street right -of --way.
For large lots having an excess of 300 feet of frontage, an additional ground sign may
be erected for each 300 feet of frontage. For corner lots fronting on more than one
public street right-of-way, each frontage shall be considered to constitute a separate
lot.
(b) Wall sign size shall not exceed 25 % of the wall area or 75 square feet, which ever
is smaller. Advertising wall signs shall not extend over the roofline, nor may they be
sloping roof signs.
(4) Signs intentional of supporting an upcoming election or any other event using "vote",
"year", "time", "place" or other like words, must comply to section 178412
(a) Signs must be in good condition, attractive, material which is for the purpose of a
sign or material similar.
(b) Such signs must not be of vulgar, threatening, or use hateful language.
(c) No more than five signs, no greater than six square feet each allowed per parcel at any
given time.
(d) Number of signs is in conjunction with section 178-112 total of five signs at any
given time.
(e) No allowable time is proscribed
Table 1
Permitted Sign Requirements
Ground Mounted
Zoning
Maximum
District
Ilse
Maximum Size Number
Remarks
All
Single family
6 sq. ft. 1
Ground or wall mounted
Non -illuminated j
1-2, B, I
Multifamily
32 sq. ft. see note 1
Ground or wall mounted
Non•illuminated
i
All
Customary home occupations
4 sq. ft 1
Only name of occupant
and type of business
Wall or ground mounted.
Non illuminated
B, I
Business. Mercantile,
2 sq. ft, per linear N/A
Wall mounted
Assembly, etc. in
foot per store frontage.
Non -flashing
Shopping Mall Ctr
Height, size and type to
be of uniform within ctr.
75 sq, ft, in total see note 1.
Ground mounted
for all signs within.
Non -flashing
B, I
Business, Mercantile,
2 sq. ft. per linear N/A
Wall mounted
Assembly, etc, not I
per linear foot.
Non -flashing
Shopping Mall Ctr.
50 sq. ft, see note 1.
Ground mounted
Non -flashing
Motels, Hotels
2 sq. ft, per linear foot N/A
Wall mounted
Non -flashing
36 sq. ft.
Ground Mounted
Industrial Uses
15% of building wall
Wall mounted
facing road, less than
Non -flashing
325 sqj ft. total.
50 sqv ft4 see note 1.
Ground mounted
Non -flashing
AG, B-211
Agriculture related uses
2 sq* ft, per linear foot 2
Wall mounted
16 sq. ft.
Ground mounted
Non -flashing
AG, R-11
Educational facilities
2 sq. ft. per N/A
Wall mounted
11-21 134
linear foot
non -flashing
40 sq. ft see note 1
Ground mounted
Non -flashing
All Religious Institutions
All Health-related facilities
All Transportation facilities
NOTES:
2 sq it per linear It N/A Wall mounted
20 sq. ft see note 1. Ground mounted
Non -flashing
2 sq ft. per linear ft N/A Wal mounted
40 sq. ft. see note 1. Ground mounted
Non -flashing
2 sq, ft, per linear fC N/A Wall mounted
40 sq, ft see note 1. Ground mounted
Non -flashing
(1) 1 ground sign per lot of 100 square feek is allowed.
(2) The maximum height permitted is:
a. Ground mounted sign: eight (8) feet
b. Building-mounted-roofline; not above height of the wall of the building upon which
it is attached.
c. Table must comply with Section 178411
Prepared byes
�f
Alex M. Schultz
Planner
Reviewed/revised by:
Trisha Jesset, P.E.
Director of Planning
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