Brockport sign code continues

Brockport village officials and residents continue to debate and question the rules and regulations when it comes to its sign codes. While some of the board members seem to favor a more lenient approach to the village's codes, other board members and residents say that if a law is on the books then the municipality should enforce it, or if they don't want to enforce it then they should look at changing it.

The discussion continued at the Tuesday, September 7 board meeting when Jon Mendez, owner of the new Merchants Street Smoke House, requested signs that are larger than allowed in the code. The signs, which will be put on four sides of the building, have already been installed. Mendez installed signs on all four sides of the building, in order for his restaurant to be visible from the canal and also on one side, to cover the air conditioning and heating units. "If I didn't put a sign, then it would just be a blank piece of wood covering the units," he said.

Building Code Enforcement Officer Scott Zarnstorff told board members that the signs are larger than what is allowed in the codes. "It's up to the board's purview to change or amend the size of signage," he said. "But the size is not the only factor. I think what should also be considered is - does the signage work for the building?"

Zarnstorff pointed out that the board has at its disposal the option to grant a sign variance to an applicant who requests one. "You just need to look at how it works on the building and not get hung up on the numbers."

Trustee Mort Wexler disagreed. "I have a problem when we say OK to something that we know is in violation," he said. "If the law says a sign is supposed to be so many feet, then that's what it is supposed to be. If we have a code, we should try to adhere to it."

In the recent past, residents Joan and James Hamlin have challenged village officials when it comes to the Village of Brockport's sign law and its lack of enforcement.

Mayor Josephine Matela said at a recent board meeting that there is "the spirit of the law and the letter of the law" to which a municipality can adhere.

At Tuesday's meeting, Matela agreed with Zarnstorff and said that "one size does not fit all," when it comes to signs. She urged board members to take a walk down to the restaurant and see the signs for themselves before the board made any decision on the size of the signs.