GUILDERLAND — After determining Jonathan Phillips had done enough to modify his original application, the Guilderland Zoning Board of Appeals on March 16 approved his variance request for additional signage at his gas station/doughnut shop/mini-mart project on the corner of routes 146 and 158. 

Phillips is running the mini-mart himself, and partnering with Mobil and a local Dunkin’ franchisee on the project. 

The board approved 352 square feet of signage where Guilderland’s zoning code only allows 150 square feet; it also approved seven signs for a total of three businesses when two signs per business is allowed. 

Two large monument signs nearly stymied the project. 

None of the board members initially wanted to second Chairman Thomas Remmert’s first motion to approve the variance, which would have allowed a 10-foot-tall sign on Route 158 advertising Phillips’ minimart and Dunkin’ shop and a nearly 20-foot-tall monument sign on Route 146 that would advertise all three businesses. Eventually, Jacob Crawford seconded the motion, and the proposal was up for discussion. 

Board member Elizabeth Lott said she’d feel comfortable voting if the monument sign on Route 158 side were “cut down,” and asked Phillips if he’d consider making it smaller. Crawford said he didn’t disagree with Lott’s comments. Phillips was asked if the gas prices could be displayed on the canopy over the pumps, reducing the nearly 20-foot-tall sign by about 6 feet in the process.

With Phillips and his partners acquiescing to the board requests, Remmert withdrew his motion and a new one with the changes passed unanimously.