To the Editor:

I am writing to voice my concerns, once again, as to how this town handles the business of governing under the guidelines, rules, and town laws that have been established.

I think I can say that most towns have a variety of rules and local laws that govern how they do business, what is allowable in terms of zoning, variances, building codes, signs, etc. These were items that were deemed to be important at one time to ensure that development and rebuilding did not get out of hand and turn towns into a free-for-all on the part of builders, residents, and corporations. It also ensures some conformity that is congruent with what is already established based on those rules and laws.

I would like to bring attention to the signage issue that was brought before the Guilderland Zoning Board of Appeals this past week. McDonald’s is requesting a total of 196 square feet of signage for the drive-through restaurant on Western Avenue. The building is currently in the beginning stages of obtaining approval for a complete makeover.

They are asking for a monument sign on Church Road in addition to the well-marked entrance and exit signs. They will keep the pole sign out in front, but wish to put up two wall signs of the McDonald’s  arches that are approximately Three-and-a-half feet by three-and-a-half feet on two sides of the building.

There is also the addition of the Playplace sign that would be on the side of the building where the expanded drive-through would be. These signs will be backlit and on 24 hours a day as this business is open 24 hours each day.

McDonald’s contends it needs this signage to draw people in. It claims that most of its business is spontaneous, and that if people drive by, they will not turn around to go back, especially on Western Avenue.

There are several issues with this logic and the response from the zoning board. First, other fast-food restaurants do not have this level of signage for their businesses. This is incongruent with the local character of this particular commercial zone. We do not need more signage. People know where McDonald’s is and the entrances are well marked on Route 20 and Church Road.

Second, there is a stop light with a left-hand turn light to enter Church Road from the west, and the east. If you miss that, there is an entrance on Western Avenue. Putting a monument sign on Church Road will diminish visibility for those wishing to make a left-hand turn from McDonalds on to Church Road. Bad idea. It is already a congested area and this makes it worse.

Third, are you advertising fast food or a playground for children? Is it necessary for signs for this? If people are stopping spontaneously as McDonald’s claims, children’s play areas are not in the forethought.  Most people are stopping and going to the drive-through for fast food, not children’s activities.

When I raised the issue of the wall signs with the board members on Tuesday, they really thought it was no big deal. McDonald’s currently has window signs, and since they are essentially replacing the window signs with building signs, [Chairman Thomas] Remmert did not seem to think it was a big deal. Sorry, Mr. Remmert, it is a big deal. The issue is that a variance is needed for the signs, and go beyond what the character of the area is. There are rules in place about signage, and they need to be followed.

I was given the impression by the board members that, since they don’t seem to care or see that the variance is inappropriate, they will approve it anyway. When I called and tried to explain or present my issue, I felt as though they were trying to dissuade me about the signage. I felt cut off when Mr. Remmert basically ended the conversation with a comment that I was opposed to the sign.

Three other callers also raised issues, which I touched on here. These callers were given time to present their issue without interruption or convincing that the signs were OK.

The Albany County Planning Board also issued its statement regarding the variance and said it was remanded to the town for a decision, but the county board also made the following statement:

“The Town Zoning Board should consider the precedent-setting nature of allowing significant area variances to the sign code in the Local Business zone.”

Again, we have rules about zoning in this town. Variances should be approved for something that is unique or unusual about a situation. There is nothing special or unique about McDonald’s or its request. The rules need to be followed. The zoning board needs to understand that it can say “No.”

Other towns do it; so should we. In fact, if you look at this link, you will see how McDonald’s has conformed to other town zoning: bit.ly/2AjyJVk. We can learn from this.

Robyn Gray

Guilderland

Editor’s note: See related story.