§ 84-2. Definitions.

A. 

Boards and officers. For the purposes of this chapter, the following references to agents or officers of the Village shall be interpreted as noted below.

PLANNING BOARD

The Village of Williamsville Planning and Architectural Review Board as provided for by Chapter 112 of the Village Code.

SIGN OFFICER

The administrator and enforcer of this chapter as appointed by the Village of Williamsville Board of Trustees, and/or its designee.

B. 

Terms defined. The following terms and definitions shall apply to this chapter for the purposes of administration and enforcement.

A-FRAME SIGN

A freestanding sign that is comprised of two sign faces diverging at an angle of no more than 45° from their adjoined edge.

A-Frame Sign Example

ALTERATION

Any construction or physical change to a sign or the supporting members of a sign.

AWNING

An architectural fabric or canvas projection that provides weather protection, identity or decoration and is wholly supported by the building to which it is attached, generally comprised of a lightweight frame structure over which a cover is attached.

AWNING SIGN

A sign that is part of or attached to an awning.

BANNER

A length of fabric or similar material, temporarily strung between two points, upon which a message is imprinted.

CHANNEL LETTER

A fabricated or formed three-dimensional letter into which a light source, such as a neon tube, may be placed.

CHANNEL LETTER, REVERSE

A channel letter than has a face and sides, but no back, and is pinned out from a background surface so as to produce a halo effect around the letter when illuminated.

COMMERCIAL MESSAGE

Any message where the primary purpose of which is the commercial advertisement or promotion of a commercial product, event, or service (including content on an internet website operated for a commercial purpose).

DIRECTIONAL SIGN

A freestanding sign commonly associated with and limited to noncommercial information and directions necessary and convenient for persons coming on the property, including signs marking entrances, parking areas, one-way driveways, rest rooms, pickup and delivery areas, drive-through ATM machines, and hours of business.

Directional Sign Example

FREESTANDING SIGN

A sign not attached to any building or structure, which may be supported by columns or posts.

GOVERNMENTAL SIGN

A sign erected and maintained pursuant to and in discharge of any governmental function or required by any general law, local law or governmental regulation.

GROUND SIGN

A type of freestanding sign that is mounted on a base flush with the ground or supported by one or two columns or posts provided the distance between the ground and bottommost edge of the sign is no greater than four feet.

Ground Sign Example

ILLUMINATION, EXTERNAL

Illumination by a light source located outside of the sign structure or lettering that is directed at the sign face.

ILLUMINATION, INTERNAL

Illumination by a light source contained within the sign structure or lettering.

INCIDENTAL SIGN

A sign containing no commercial message and typically erected to identify addresses, entrances, exits, restrooms, hours and days of operation, public utility locations, emergency addresses and telephone numbers, etc. These examples are not given by way of limitation; an incidental sign can contain any noncommercial message in accordance with this chapter.

Incidental Sign Example

INTERNAL SIGN

A sign that is not intended to be viewed from outside the property and located so as not to be legible from any public right-of-way or from any adjacent property, including any signs in interior areas of shopping centers, commercial buildings and structures, stadiums, and similar structures of a recreational nature.

LAWN SIGN

A sign constructed of materials not intended for permanent installation that is attached to a single or multiple posts for support and stuck into the ground. The height of a lawn sign shall include any posts or supports. Political campaigns, garage sales, and charitable events, for example, are often advertised with lawn signs.

Lawn Sign Example

MARQUEE SIGN

A permanent structure attached to the front of a building and which incorporates a large message area. Typically illuminated and often ornate in design, a marquee sign projects over the entrance of the building and provides a canopy over at least a portion of the sidewalk or street. Marquee signs are often used by movie theaters and concert halls.

MONOPOLE SIGN

A type of freestanding sign that is supported by one column or post with a distance exceeding four feet between the ground and the bottommost edge of the sign.

Monopole Sign Example

NEON SIGN

A sign that incorporates illumination through the use of neon-type gas.

NONCONFORMING SIGN

Any lawful sign existing at the time of adoption of this chapter, or any subsequent amendments thereto, which does not conform to the regulations of this chapter or to the regulations of the district in which it is located.

PAINTED SIGN

A type of sign in which a commercial message, logo, graphic, and/or other visual elements have been painted on an approved sign material, or painted directly on a building facade. Painted signs shall be regulated as wall signs.

PENNANT

A length of fabric, or similar material, suspended from overhead, upon which a message is imprinted.

PILLAR SIGN

A type of freestanding sign that is supported by two columns or posts with a distance exceeding four feet between the ground and the bottommost edge of the sign.

Pillar Sign Example

PROJECTING SIGN

A sign which is wholly dependent upon a building for support and which projects more than six inches from such building.

ROOF SIGN

Any sign erected upon the roof of a building, or sign where any portion thereof extends above the roofline of the building.

SIGN

Any object, device, display or structure, or part thereof, situated outdoors or adhered to, or located within three feet of an exterior window that is used to advertise, identify, display, direct or attract attention to an object, person, institution, organization, business, product, service, event or location by any means, including but not limited to words, letters, figures, designs, symbols, fixtures, colors, illumination or project images. "Signs" shall also include all sign structures. A sign for the purposes of this chapter does not include the following:

(1) 

A flag or emblem of any nation, organization of nations, state or city, or any fraternal, religious or civic organization;

(2) 

Merchandise, pictures or models of products or services incorporated in a window display;

(3) 

Official notices issued by any court or public office or officer in the performance of a public or official duty;

(4) 

Traffic control signs as defined in the New York State Vehicle and Traffic Law; and

(5) 

Works of art, including murals, which do not contain any commercial message, logo, graphic, business name or trademark.

SIGN BOARD AREA

A horizontal band extending the full width of the building facade and located between the highest first-floor windows and the cornice, or if there is more than one story, the highest first-floor windows and the bottom of the second-floor windows.

Sign Board Area Example

SIGN TYPE

The design and/or structure of a sign, including ground signs, wall signs, projecting signs, suspended signs, awning signs, and window signs.

SUSPENDED SIGN

A sign attached to and supported by the underside of a horizontal plane.

TEMPORARY SIGN

A sign which is not intended to be used for a period of time exceeding 30 days and is not attached to a building, structure, or ground in a permanent manner. Such signs usually being constructed of poster board, cardboard, masonite, plywood, or plastic material and mounted to wood, metal, wire or rope frames or supports.

USE

Any business, commercial tenant, event, or other such activity occurring on any given lot and/or within any building or structure.

VALANCE

A projection of fabric below the main frame of an awning to create a decorative edge.

WALL SIGN

A sign fastened to the wall of a building or structure in such a manner that the wall becomes the supporting structure for or forms the background surface of the sign and which does not project outward more than six inches from such building or structure.

WINDOW SIGN

A sign visible from a sidewalk, street or other public place, painted or affixed on glass or other window material, or located inside within three feet of the window, but shall not include graphics in connection with customary window display of products.