Archive: Opinions

Hidden in the woods from sight on Asbury Road is my sign shop, 'Cayuga Signs', which presently is identified only by a sign, approximately 20 feet from the road. The sign is lighted only during normal business hours. It is the only identifying feature that a business exists. It is barely noticeable unless it is turned on, and for those driving Asbury Road, one hardly sees it until you are adjacent to its location.

My family and I were born and raised in Lansing and we’ve been living in this location for over 30 years. Our sign shop has been here for 17 years. We did not intend to disrupt our neighborhood. I don’t   believe the present sign causes any such disruption. Disruption was the furthest thing on my mind when I requested and received a permit from the town of Lansing to place the sign near the road.

In recent months a few residents (I will not use names as they did) in my neighborhood have taken issue with my sign. Without the sign, potential customers would not be able to identify my place of business and its location.

'Cayuga Signs' is my livelihood, and has been in the family for over 50 years. We have been serving the sign needs of Lansing, Ithaca, and Tompkins County, as well as surrounding counties for all of these five   decades. We bring in sales tax to the town, and I pay taxes as do my neighbors. I also respectfully submit that everything I did before erecting the sign was in compliance with Lansing rules and regulations. I applied for and received a permit from the Town of Lansing. I have followed every regulation they have placed on sign construction.

In deference to my neighbors, I have cut to a minimum the time the sign is turned on, i.e. only from 8:00am to 5:00pm, Monday through Friday, and from 8:00am to noon, on Saturdays. I have reduced the brightness to only 70% of its maximum. The sign is NOT on at night. I have chosen to have it on a 3 minute message timer. I have chosen NOT to have it rotate, scroll, or flash. For the 3 seconds you actually see the sign, it stays the same when driving.

The character of Asbury Road is changing with heavier traffic and more truck traffic the past dozen years or so, and has a speed limit of 45 mph. Traffic flow has increased, and there is no reason I cannot advertise in this limited manner. I have a permit to have this sign.


The complaints have originated from two neighbors.  Until these individuals decided they were opposed to the sign, I’ve never had an issue of any kind with our neighbors, especially those who have lived here as long as we have. Statements that my sign will cause a devaluation in house re-sale values is pure speculation. Having these two neighbors complaining is more likely to decrease our property values.

My extended family, the Christophers, were all born and raised here in Lansing, and are proud of our community. We would never do anything contrary to the law, nor in any way harm the Lansing image. The petition is frivolous and should be dismissed. Allow me to return to my job.

It seems to me that the Town Center Project as well as the commitment to seeing the Sewer Project through fruition should be the primary concern at this time. Furthermore, it would also seem more critical for the board to be spending it’s time, energy, and money on more pressing issues.

Thank You,

Craig Christopher
Owner, 'Cayuga Signs'
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