Williamsville
Few show for public hearing, sign code to be adopted
by JILL SCHMELZER Reporter

After three years of drafts and rewrites, the Village Board held a public hearing on Monday evening regarding a new sign code.

The proposed sign code has been simplified and outlined so business owners do not need to come before the Planning Board to receive a sign permit. As long as the proposed sign stays within the new standards, a permit can be issued at the Building Department.

One resident expressed his concerns about "tricky" signs. He said he does not want to see backlit signs throughout the village.

Trustee Brian Geary said the new sign code requires signs to use historical colors, in keeping with the village setting.

Proposed signs with illumination and backlighting must be presented to the Planning Board for approval, Geary said.

Mayor Mary Lowther questioned the tactic. She wants backlit signs prohibited, so that such signs have no chance of approval.

Geary said the signs are prohibited, but anything can go before the Planning Board with the option of being approved.

Lowther expressed concern that this option takes the power out of the Village Board's hands, and backlit signs could slip through the cracks.

Both trustees said they would have to reread the final draft before approving the revised code.

In other news: The board approved C. Destro Development Company's bid for waterline improvements on Farber Lane. The company came in with the lowest bid at $418,450.

Williamsville resident Larry Brenton complained that the Village of Williamsville Department of Public Works ground 150-year-old bricks that he donated last year.

Some of the bricks were installed at the Le High Memory Trail Rail Road Station on South Long Street this past year, and the remaining bricks were stored at the DPW station.

He wanted to be assured that the stack of bricks remaining at the DPW would not see the same fate as the first pile. If there was a possibility that might occur, then Brenton would reclaim his donation and store the remaining historical artifacts elsewhere.

e-mail: JSchmelzer@beenews.com