Skip Bailey
Village Building Inspector / Fire Marshall
*All project applications are reviewed by the building inspector!

PUBLIC HEARINGS

Throughout the year, many applications are made to the Village Board of Trustees, Zoning Board of Appeals, Planning Board, and Architectural and Preservation Review Board. These applications include requests for special permits, use variances, area variances, site plan approval, subdivisions, and changes to the exteriors of structures. The Board of Trustees may also amend or enact local laws. These projects have an affect on neighboring properties, and often residents and merchants have concerns that a project may affect the Village environment. Issues such as increased traffic, the impact on parking, and the esthetics of the Village are often raised. Your input is important and can help the boards make their decisions.

Notification of pending applications is provided to the community in several ways. Decisions on applications before the Trustees, Zoning, and Planning Boards are made at public hearings. The procedure for notice of a public hearing is regulated by state law and village code. State law requires that a notice be published in the official newspaper of the Village at least seven days before the public hearing. These notices are found in the Brighton-Pittsford Post in the second section under "Legal Notices."

Chapter 145-78 of the Village Code requires the applicant to erect a sign on the subject property at least 10 days before a public hearing. The sign contains the nature of the application and the time and date of the hearing. In addition, the Village Clerk must notify by mail all property owners within 300 feet of the applicant's property.

There is no public notice of applications to the Architectural and Preservation Review Board, but a schedule of meetings is available at the Village Office, and an agenda is provided prior to each month's meeting.

You can participate in the decisions of the boards by:

• Testifying at the public hearing. Hearings are held at the Village Office, 21North
  Main St. Most meetings are at 7:30 P.M.
• Providing your written comments. You may mail your comments to the Village
  Office before the hearing, fax them (586-4597) up to the day of the hearing, or
  Present them at the hearing.
• Telephone comments (586-4332). Village staff will note your concerns and provide
  Them to the appropriate board.
• E-mail your comments to a board in care of the Village Clerk at: Pittvill@frontiernet.net

The Village office receives numerous complaints throughout the year regarding temporary signs. Often the offending sign is placed by a resident or business that was unaware of the applicable sections of the Village Code.

In residential districts, the following signs are permitted:

• Real estate signs (for sale, lease, or rent). One sign per property is permitted, up to
  four square feet, no more than five feet high. The sign must be at least ten feet from a lot line and not placed in the right-of-way.
  
• Contractor signs up to four square feet while construction is in progress, and not
  placed in the right-of-way.
  
• Garage sale signs while the sale is being held, and not attached to trees or utility
  poles.
  
• Political signs may be erected 90 days prior to an election. They may be six square
  feet. six feet high, and no closer than ten feet from a lot line. Political signs may not
  be placed in the right-of-way, and must be removed within seven days of the election.

Businesses may obtain permits for these temporary signs:

• New retail business or relocation. A temporary sign may be mounted on the building where the business is located. The district determines the size of the sign
  regulations. Alternately, a portable sign up to six square feet per side may be erected,providing it is not in the public right-of-way. The permit fee is $15.00 and the permit is valid for 90 days.
  
• Special sales. A 30-day permit for an advertising sign may be issued. The sign can be up to six square feet. The permit fee is $75.00 for a building mounted sign and $50.00 for a window sign
  
• No sign may be attached to a utility pole, light pole, tree, fence, or bridge.

Additional information on temporary signs:

• Portable (A-frame) signs are not permitted, with the above exceptions.
  
• The Village may remove illegal temporary signs. There is a fee to retrieve a sign that
  has been removed.
  
• Signs for civic events are permitted. They may be erected up to 30 days before the
  event. The maximum size is six square feet.
  
• Temporary signs do not require approval by the Architectural and Preservation
  Review Board (APRB).