Planning board schedules site visit after neighbors raise brightness concerns about TrustCo accent lights

The Glens Falls City Planning Board voted to schedule a site visit and workshop to review new exterior accent lighting on the TrustCo branch after neighbors and the applicant discussed brightness and control options.

Board members and neighbors told the board they were concerned the accent lighting had been bright when briefly active; TrustCo's representative said the lights are dimmable and can be controlled remotely. "It's controllable by cell phone, by percentages of brightness," said John Laffer, speaking on behalf of TrustCo. Laffer said the lights were turned off when the bank was told they needed approval and that the bank wanted a subtle accent, not a garish display.

The board and several commenters discussed a practical way to settle the question: a night-time site visit during which the applicant would demonstrate brightness settings for board members and neighbors. One commenter suggested a 20% setting as an example of an acceptable, subtle level. The board directed staff to arrange a visit with limits on group size and short notice to allow the applicant to demonstrate the lights. The board chair moved to schedule the workshop; the board approved the motion by voice vote (all in favor), with details about notice and participant limits to be coordinated by staff.

During the discussion, members emphasized that the final determination of acceptability should be based on an in-person assessment. A staff member noted the board could condition approval on a specific brightness level if a consensus emerged from the site visit. The board asked the applicant to have someone present who can operate the control and adjust the lights during an after-dark visit.

The action resolved at the meeting was limited to scheduling the site visit/workshop; no final architectural approval or numeric brightness condition was recorded in the transcript.