Electronic signs should be decided by elected officials

To the Editor:

Do you want electronic signs in Guilderland?

The use of electronic signs or message boards is being proposed and discussed in the town of Guilderland.

At the Aug. 7 zoning board meeting, the chair of the zoning board discussed the fire departments, churches, and schools that currently are not subject to the town code, hence their use of electronic message boards.

He also said that our town code does not provide for electronic signs. It was then decided on a vote of 4 to 1 that zoning board would not address this issue and that it should be decided legislatively by the town board.

This, hopefully, would include a full public hearing.

However, at the Sept. 18 zoning board meeting, the chair and three members of the board decided to now consider a variance for a 98-square-foot electronic message board for 1704 Western Ave. to be heard on Oct. 16.

The chair said that this will set a precedent, which could easily lead to the proliferation of these distracting eyesores throughout our town.

This important decision should not be allowed to be determined at the level of the zoning board. The topic of all proposed electronic signs should only be decided by vote by elected officials with open, transparent public input.

The citizens of Guilderland have a right to be notified, informed and have input about the drastic change this would make to our town.

If this is a topic that concerns you, contact the town board and zoning board members and let your voice be heard.

I believe the code’s current sign requirements, in part excerpted below, prohibits such unnecessary distractions should stand:

— The proposed sign does not interfere with the lawful and aesthetic enjoyment of the public highway or adjacent property;

— Illuminated signs or lighting devices may be permitted, provided that such signs employ only lights emitting a constant intensity, and no sign shall be illuminated by, or contain, a flashing or moving light, lights, or letters;

— The proposed sign is in harmony with the standards for permitted signs and within the spirit of this chapter;

— In no event shall an illuminated sign or lighting device be so placed or directed as to allow illumination to be directed or beamed upon a public street, sidewalk or adjacent premises or cause glare or reflection that may constitute a traffic hazard or nuisance to adjoining properties; and

— Except as may be permitted by this chapter, the use of pennants, banners, spinners, streamers, moving signs or flashing, glittering or reflective, animated or rotating signs or similar eye-catching devices are prohibited.

Please help insure that the future appearance of our town does not look like Central Avenue.

Bette Shields

Westmere

Editor’s note: Zoning board Chairman Thomas Remmert said he hopes members of the public will come out on Oct. 16 and tell the zoning board what they think about electronic sign boards with messages that change. The public hearing on the issue will be continued that night. Remmert said he agrees with Bette Shields that this is something the town board should probably decide.

But Vincent Wolanin, owner of Town Center at 1704 Western Ave., has applied for a variance, Remmert said, for a signboard that would alternate displaying the names of tenants in the plaza, so the zoning board has to consider it. Remmert said that the zoning board always needs to consider whether a variance will change the character of a neighborhood. “And,” he said, “who better to tell us that than the neighbors?”

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