Sign Size and Parking Limits

    At the East Hampton Village Board’s work session last Thursday, the board discussed changes to the size of signs in the village, and adopted a law amending parking restrictions in the off-season.

    Mayor Paul F. Rickenbach Jr. held up a real estate sign from Palm Beach, Fla., that was slightly smaller than a piece of letter-size paper. Current regulations in the village allow real estate signs to be seven square feet, but the village board has agreed that signs half that size should be sufficient. A public hearing on the change is expected to be held in January.

    “We’re not trying to affect sales,” the mayor said. “It’s about the quality of life and the persona of the village. People use the Internet now” to look up houses for rent or sale, he said.

    The board discussed the size of signs at its last board meeting in November. “We want to see if there is a consensus to reduce the signage, especially real estate signs,” Mr. Rickenbach said.

    Richard Lawler, a board member, said he hoped to have “a little more back-and-forth” with members of the real estate community.

    Mr. Rickenbach asked Linda Riley, the village attorney, to draft changes to the sign regulations, saying that the board should “make an extra effort to reach out” to brokers and let them know about the hearing.

    “And give them time to get into compliance,” said Barbara Borsack, the deputy mayor.

    Parking restrictions in the village’s lots off Main Street, Newtown Lane, and North Main Street — where a two-hour time limit had been in effect from April 1 through Dec. 31 — have been lifted until May 1.

    “The intention is to recognize the continued soft economy,” Mr. Rickenbach said. “It may help the retail community.” He added that the board “encourages the employee base to park in the long-term parking lot” off Lumber Lane.

    “Hopefully this will give some relief,” he said.

    The board also discussed the 10-year non-exclusive agreement with Cablevision to provide cable television to the village.

    “We see FIOS advertised, but conversations with Verizon make it clear that we’re not going to get that on the East End of Long Island for another 5 to 10 years,” said Mr. Rickenbach.

    “Cablevision is the only game in town,” he added. “It’s either rabbit ears or it’s Cablevision.”