Town reviews electronic sign law

Town Board members are reviewing revisions that would regulate electronic signs that can change messages.

SAUGERTIES, N.Y. » Town Board members are reviewing revisions to a proposed zoning amendment that would regulate electronic signs that can change messages.

At a public hearing Thursday, consultant Dan Shuster said new language was added to the proposal based on comments from the Ulster County Planning Department.

“They are relatively simple and straight forward,” he said.

Changes to the proposed law include:

• Prohibiting temporary signs on properties that have electronic messaging signs.

• Not allowing electronic messages to have flashing lights or moving backgrounds.

• Prohibiting signs from fading, scrolling or use of animation to have a message continued into another image.

Under the proposed law, the lighted signs would be limited to 20 square feet and be required to have messages onscreen for at least 12 seconds.

Other provisions include: requiring signs to be at least 50 feet from a traffic signal; not be closer than 500 feet to a similar type of sign on a road with a 55 mph speed limit and not closer than 400 feet on a road with a 45 mph limit; requiring the intensity of light to be no more than 0.3 foot candles above ambient light levels when measured at a distance of 50 feet; and prohibiting signs from changing messages between 10 p.m. and 6 a.m.

Objections to the proposed law include town Comprehensive Planning Committee member Barry Benepe, who said there is a contradiction in the law.

“On the one hand, it says that ‘such signs have been shown to potentially distract drivers leading to traffic accidents and may detract from the visual character of certain residential, historic or scenic areas,’” he said. “On the other hand, it strangely concludes, ‘it is hereby determined appropriate to permit changeable massage signage.”

Several residents voiced concern over the impact of such signs on the character of the town and whether the signs would add light pollution.

Resident Arabella Colton said there is also a natural inclination for people to want to find out what advertisement will appear next on an electronic sign.

“Human beings have an innate desire for narrative, for wanting to know what comes next,” she said.