We, the undersigned residents of Rhinebeck, recognizing the character of River Road as the most scenic and among the most historic and significant in the town of Rhinebeck, located in the heart of the federally designated Hudson River National Historic Landmark District, the most prestigious designation of historic resources in the nation, included in the Mid-Hudson Historic Shorelands Scenic District and the Estate District Scenic Area of Statewide Significance, a road lined with fieldstone walls, bordered by venerable trees, winding between rolling meadows, great estates, and a forest preserve, offering legendary vistas of the Hudson River and Catskill Mountains, call for the removal of two new signs recently placed without a permit at the main entrance to Ferncliff Nursing Home (now called ArchCare at Ferncliff), once the site of the Astor estate. These two new signs replace one older, smaller, far less obtrusive sign that sat lower and further back from the road, in front of the wall at the former gatehouse. The new signs are out of scale and out of character with River Road and the historic setting, more than doubling the size of signage in this very visible and sensitive location directly opposite the intersection with Astor Drive. The signs stand out sharply from their lone predecessor by their large size, bright color, and inappropriate siting. Until an application for new code-compliant signage is fully reviewed and approved by the Planning Board, which should strictly interpret the provisions of the new Town of Rhinebeck Zoning Law and Comprehensive Plan, the signs should be removed and the original sign replaced, as it was heretofore.
I have spent the past few days documenting the placement of these signs to prepare a formal submission for the Planning Board. The feedback from residents confirms my belief that the current structures are fundamentally incompatible with the historic character of River Road.
February 16, 2010
The momentum behind this petition highlights our community commitment to preserving the historic integrity of River Road. It is encouraging to see so many neighbors recognize the importance of maintaining the character of this landmark landscape.
6 Comments
L
Linda Wong
16 years ago
Featured
They look terrible. Why would they think it was okay to put those up without checking with the board first? It needs to be fixed ASAP.
D
Diane Russell
16 years ago
Featured
Those signs are a total eyesore. They ruin the whole view along that stretch of road and sticking them there without a permit is just wrong.
S
Sarah Jordan
16 years ago
Featured
We moved to Rhinebeck for the scenery and the history. These massive bright signs look so cheap and out of place against the stone walls.
K
Kevin Bell
16 years ago
Featured
Ridiculous. Nobody needs signs that big. Respect the neighborhood.
M
Mark Walsh
16 years ago
Featured
take them down. this is an historic area not a strip mall.
T
Tom Mehta
16 years ago
Featured
Get rid of them. River road is gorgeous and these are just ruining it.
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We, the undersigned residents of Rhinebeck, recognizing the character of River Road as the most scenic and among the most historic and significant in the town of Rhinebeck, located in the heart of the federally designated Hudson River National Historic Landmark District, the most prestigious designation of historic resources in the nation, included in the Mid-Hudson Historic Shorelands Scenic District and the Estate District Scenic Area of Statewide Significance, a road lined with fieldstone walls, bordered by venerable trees, winding between rolling meadows, great estates, and a forest preserve, offering legendary vistas of the Hudson River and Catskill Mountains, call for the removal of two new signs recently placed without a permit at the main entrance to Ferncliff Nursing Home (now called ArchCare at Ferncliff), once the site of the Astor estate. These two new signs replace one older, smaller, far less obtrusive sign that sat lower and further back from the road, in front of the wall at the former gatehouse. The new signs are out of scale and out of character with River Road and the historic setting, more than doubling the size of signage in this very visible and sensitive location directly opposite the intersection with Astor Drive. The signs stand out sharply from their lone predecessor by their large size, bright color, and inappropriate siting. Until an application for new code-compliant signage is fully reviewed and approved by the Planning Board, which should strictly interpret the provisions of the new Town of Rhinebeck Zoning Law and Comprehensive Plan, the signs should be removed and the original sign replaced, as it was heretofore.
I have spent the past few days documenting the placement of these signs to prepare a formal submission for the Planning Board. The feedback from residents confirms my belief that the current structures are fundamentally incompatible with the historic character of River Road.
February 16, 2010
The momentum behind this petition highlights our community commitment to preserving the historic integrity of River Road. It is encouraging to see so many neighbors recognize the importance of maintaining the character of this landmark landscape.
6 Comments
L
Linda Wong
16 years ago
Featured
They look terrible. Why would they think it was okay to put those up without checking with the board first? It needs to be fixed ASAP.
D
Diane Russell
16 years ago
Featured
Those signs are a total eyesore. They ruin the whole view along that stretch of road and sticking them there without a permit is just wrong.
S
Sarah Jordan
16 years ago
Featured
We moved to Rhinebeck for the scenery and the history. These massive bright signs look so cheap and out of place against the stone walls.
K
Kevin Bell
16 years ago
Featured
Ridiculous. Nobody needs signs that big. Respect the neighborhood.
M
Mark Walsh
16 years ago
Featured
take them down. this is an historic area not a strip mall.
T
Tom Mehta
16 years ago
Featured
Get rid of them. River road is gorgeous and these are just ruining it.
Help this petition grow
Share it with friends to help reach
100 signatures.
Sign Petition
We never post to your account. Social sign-in is used only to verify your signature.
or sign with Email
Add a comment?
Your signature will be added via . Tell others why you're signing — it's optional.
Signing with Google or Facebook verifies your signature instantly — no email needed.
They look terrible. Why would they think it was okay to put those up without checking with the board first? It needs to be fixed ASAP.