Documents › Board of Trustees Work Session, 2026-05-27

local law 2 pages

A May 20, 2026 Planning Board memo to Mayor Brian Pugh and the Board of Trustees with comments on draft sign law Local Law Introductory No. 7 of 2026, reviewed at the board's April 14 and May 12, 2026 meetings with input from Village Attorney Jeannette Koster and planner Bill Brady of Nelson, Pope & Voorhis. The board asks for clearer definitions of commercial signs and sign area, clearer maximum sizes, a spelled-out approval process including a 30-day deadline for Visual Environment Board responses, clarity on temporary sign duration, grandfathering of existing signs, maintenance requirements, a bar on inflatable tube-men balloons, tree-safe attachment rules and fines for noncompliance, and suggests consulting Briarcliff Manor's code on nonconforming signs.

Also attached to this agenda item: Coastal Assessment Form - LL Intro 7 of 2026 Local Law Intro 7 of 2026 Signage Memo from Nelson Pope Voorheis on LL Intro 7 of 2026 Resolution 61-2026 LL Intro 7 of 2026 Referrals Short EAF Part 1 - LL Intro 7 of 2026 Signage Law Memo VEB Memo on LL Intro 7 of 2026 WAC Memo on LL Intro 7 of 2026

Members JOHN GHEGAN GEOFFREY HAYNES STEVEN KRISKY EVA THADDEUS Attorney JOSHUA B. SUBIN Village Engineer VINCENT SALANITRO, P.E. TO: Mayor Brian Pugh and the Village Board of Trustees FROM: Chairman Luntz, Planning Board RE: Referral from Village Board of Trustees to review Local Law Introductory No. 7 of 2026, the EAF and the CAF to amend the provisions of Chapter 179 "Property Maintenance" and Chapter 230, "Zoning", of the Village Code to revise the law governing posted signs DATE: May 20, 2026 At its regularly scheduled meetings on April 14, 2026, and May 12, 2026, the Planning Board reviewed the referral from the Village Board regarding Local Law Introductory 7 of 2026 with input from Village Attorney Jeannette Koster, and Bill Brady, Principal Planner, Nelson, Pope & Voorhis. The Planning Board asks for clearer definitions for the terms “Commercial Signs,” and “Sign Area.” A commercial sign would be related to a business, and a non-commercial sign would be everything else, but this term is used very often in the code and there are some areas that need to be clarified, like directional signs on commercial buildings. The Planning Board would also like clarity on transparent signs and window decals, and if they applied to the sign area. The Planning Board suggests that the language regarding the maximum size of the signs should be made clearer, and thinks that there should be a section on the sign permit application that clearly states the requirements and size limits. The Planning Board would like the code to clearly lay out the approval process, and when a sign permit is referred to the Advisory Board on the Visual Environment, (VEB), or when it goes to the Planning Board. There was a discussion about possibly referring non-conforming applications to the Zoning Board of Appeals for a variance, or relief. The Planning board would like it written in the law that when an application is referred to the VEB, they have 30 days to provide a response. The Planning Board would like to clarify what is the best length of time to allow temporary signs, and discussed whether if, after the allowed time period, you would need to apply for a sign permit, even for lawn signs, and would there be a fee for these permits? The Planning Board asked if existing signs would be grandfathered and if they are grandfathered in, would there be a grace period? The Planning Board would like some language added that all signs, including temporary signs, need to be maintained, and any signs that are in bad repair would be taken down, or a violation would be issued. The Planning Board suggests language that would prevent “temporary” signs from being taken down briefly, then put back up. For temporary signs, it was suggested that they be dated when they are put up either on the front of the sign, or on the back in sharpie. Language should also Tel: 914-271-4783 www.crotononhudson-ny.gov Fax: 914-271-3790 be included that any signage required by law be excluded from permit regulations, for example, NY State signs on gas stations. Additionally, language should be added to the permit application that applicants must comply with any State laws applicable to their signage, and the cannabis dispensary was cited as an example of this. The Planning Board would like to make sure that the code did not allow for inflatable “tube- men” type of balloons, typically seen at car dealerships or car washes. Language should be added for grand opening celebrations. And for non-conforming signs, Jeannette Koster suggested that the Board should look to Briarcliff Manor’s code. Regarding trees, there should be some language stating that anything secured to a tree should be done in a way that does not injure the tree, like rope or cord. The Planning Board believes that in order to ensure compliance, the sign laws should be strictly enforced. Attorney Jeannette Koster suggested adding a section to the code that would include fines for non-compliance.