Even though one might assume that the towns were interested in traffic safety and aesthetics, the ordinances include no such statement of purpose. True, the preamble to another part of the Babylon zoning code states that the code generally was adopted for the promotion of health, safety, morals, comfort, convenience and the general welfare, and a subsection of the sign ordinance provides that certain exceptions to the ordinance may take aesthetics into account.
See Babylon,
N.Y., Code §§ 213–
2 & –
254. In Hempstead, one prohibition on sign placements forbids the obstruction of traffic and the creation of a hazard to the health and welfare of the general public, and a provision for variances explicitly requires consideration of aesthetics, light, air and the health and welfare of the public.
See Hempstead, N.Y., Code §§ 246(B) & 242(B)(4). However, these provisions do not provide the rationale for the enactment of the sign ordinances themselves.