In a move aimed at curbing non-election season clutter, the Zoning Board of Appeals last week recommended amending the zoning ordinance to tighten restrictions on political signs.
Police Chief Stephen Pollak said the changes are “just enhancing what we have now.”
The draft ordinance, first discussed by the Village Board in May, requires that political signs be removed within 48 hours of the election and prohibits posting of the signs until 30 days before the election.
The proposed statute also would raise the required deposit paid by each candidate to $250 from $50 from each candidate or each referendum sponsor.
The proposed rules spell out where signs would be barred, such as public rights-of-way and utility poles, restricting them to private property.
Pollak said the biggest change would be the increase in the amount of the deposit, which would be forfeited if sign-posting rules were violated. The higher cost “gives some teeth to the ordinance, but if you follow the rules you get your money back,” the chief said.
In other business, the Zoning Board approved three zoning changes. Property at 191st Street and Wolf Road was rezoned commercial to allow shopping center construction; property at U.S. Highway 30 and Wolf Road was rezoned to allow construction of multifamily housing; and a lot on Parker Street was rezoned to allow the expansion of St. Mary’s Cemetery.
