Central Rock Gym gets canopy sign approved; tower sign rejected after debate over highway-facing lighting

The Troy Planning/Zoning board approved a canopy-mounted street-facing sign for Central Rock Gym at the Flanagan building on River Street but rejected a second, larger illuminated sign proposed for the gym’s stair-tower that would be visible from Alternate Route 7.

The board split its rulings: the canopy sign and related area relief passed unanimously; the tower sign failed on a 4-1 vote after several members said the tall, lit stair-tower sign would set an unwanted precedent for bright, highway-facing illumination entering the city.

Why it matters: Central Rock Gym is a new tenant expected to draw regional members, and visibility from Route 7 was important to the applicant’s marketing case. Board members balanced the tenant’s interest in market presence against concerns about lighting, scale, and setting a precedent for prominent illuminated signs on the riverfront.

Jamie Coloritolo, representing Vital Sign and Graphics for Central Rock, described the proposals as front-lit channel letters with white LED lighting. A project representative said the canopy letters are 30 inches high and fit within a 364-inch-wide canopy; the canopy sign is intended for visibility from Route 7 but would be difficult to see from the Hudson because tree cover blocks the shoreline view. The stair-tower sign would have been placed higher and visible from the highway.

Board members said the canopy sign was modest and compatible with the building; they approved it by roll-call (five yes votes). On the stair-tower sign, one member said, “I am absolutely opposed to the signage on the tall part that I see from [Route] 7. I think it sets a precedent of lighted signs in coming into our city,” reasoning that the tower sign would introduce visual clutter when entering Troy from the highway. The motion to approve the tower sign failed 4-1.

Public comment included support from nearby property owners and tenants; no online comments were recorded at the time of the hearing. The applicant said the stair-tower sign’s rooftop equipment and maintenance access played into their choice of location; board members requested that the applicant consider alternative designs that are less prominent or use halo/halo-backlighting if they return.

Action details: The board found the submission to be an unlisted action with sufficient information for a negative declaration on environmental review. The canopy sign (area variance) was approved 5-0. The stair-tower (tower) sign variance was denied 4-1.

Next steps: Central Rock may revise the tower design and reapply; the canopy sign can proceed as approved.