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IRVINGTON, N.Y. A draft law that would update and revise existing signage codes within the village is being considering by the Irvington Board of Trustees.
Trustees are expected to give a copy of the draft law to the Architectural Review Board and then groups, such as the Chamber of Commerce, so they can comment on the law and help finalize it.
Trustee Kenneth Bernstein helped draft the legislation. He said during Wednesday's work session trustees wanted to allow for the possibility of perpendicular signs because it's easier for passers-by to locate businesses. Bernstein said they also wanted to set down a number of guidelines instead of strict restrictions.
We didn't want to create too many burdens on the business owners, Bernstein said, later adding that the Architectural Review Board wanted to have something to follow in terms of guiding the look of businesses on Main St. so that everything is consistent.
Bernstein also noted that the law's authors wanted to limit the number of signs and the square footage of signs to avoid clutter and let people look through front windows. The law would prohibit signage of particular merchandise or products that a business sells.
Trustees questioned a few points of the law, including whether the village wanted to limit the square footage of signs or the total percentage of a window or building that a sign could cover. Bernstein noted that they wanted to put a gross cap in the law so that no more than 25 percent of the window is blocked.
Trustees also wondered how the new law would affect businesses in compliance with the current signage code and those that are not in compliance with the current code.
Marianne Marra, of the Architectural Review Board, said businesses that are currently in code would be grandfathered in. Marra also recommended that trustees set up a grace period for businesses who need to get up to code.
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