by Susan Wadia-Els
To the Editor,
As a resident of Manchester’s historic district for the past two decades, I recently received a “Notice to Abutters/ Commission’s Waiver of Public Hearing,” dated November 27, 2024.
I am now writing to object to the HDC’s recent decision to waive a public hearing and go forward, allowing the installation of so-called “Wayfinding Signs” in four spots throughout Manchester’s Historic District. As an abutter, I am requesting that the HDC hold a public hearing re: placing any such inappropriate signage within our historic district.
A public hearing on this proposal needs to be held for the following reasons:
The “Wayfinding Signs,” as described in the Notice to Abutters’ letter, clearly violate part D. SIGNAGE General Considerations within the HDC’s 2023 Historic District Guidelines
Within the Historic District, there is an additional requirement to create signage which complements the architecture without creating visual clutter, and which reflects the historic use of signage in the Historic District ... Engraved wooden signs are appropriate in historic districts. Raised or carved letters are encouraged. Fonts should be Serif …raised, cove, or beveled sign edges are strongly recommended.
These proposed blue and beige aluminum “Wayfinding Signs,” that would be erected on metal posts, violate at least four tenets of the HDC guidelines: 1) do not complement the nearby architecture; 2) create visual clutter; 3) do not reflect the historic use of signage in the Historic District; and 4) are not made of wood.
Finally, I question the reasons behind the DPW wanting to erect such signage at all, as they would merely indicate directions to Tuck’s Point; Singing Beach; the Post Office; the library; Town Hall; shops and downtown. Anyone living in Manchester knows where these places are located. If the signs are wanted to direct non-residents, I question why residents would want the subsequent increase in out- of- town traffic, especially in summer, to be “spinning” the beach or careening through Tuck’s Point, especially when non-resident parking is not available at both sites during the summer months and/or year-round!
While on the subject of the HDC’s signage guidelines, let me also mention the continuing existence of the industrial park-type sign that continues to violate most of the HDC’s past and current signage guidelines. This large sign is located within the historic district, between two historic buildings: 27 Central Street and 21 Central Street.
This billboard, with ELM STREET printed at the top, was introduced, designed, erected and financed by Windover Construction, with approvals by the Select Board and the HDC when Windover’s corporate offices were located on Elm Street. Windover has long since moved their offices out of town, but their industrial park sign remains. The billboard currently identifies each Elm Street business, along with each company’s logo. This orphan sign continues to violate the four earlier mentioned HDC signage guidelines, along with a fifth guideline re: banning corporate logos:
HDC Guidelines D. SIGNAGE General Considerations: ...Corporate logos did not exist at the time Manchester-by-the Sea’s historic structures were built and may disrupt its unique character. Corporate logos also hasten the transition to a suburban or urban appearance, overpowering the more subtle historic features of a building, structure, or district.
I would encourage HDC members to resign from the commission or to finally begin to enforce their own signage guidelines, beginning with rejecting the proposed Wayfinding signage. I would also encourage HDC to have the non-complying Elm Street billboard finally removed.
The HDC’s recent decision to try and avoid a public hearing on these non-complying wayfinding signs means that Manchester’s HDC continues to disrespect its own guidelines. So why exist? I would strongly encourage all MBS residents to talk with Selectboard members and HDC members and to attend the upcoming public hearing to voice your disapproval of such noncomplying existing and proposed signage.
Please …. let us try to keep Manchester a beautiful quiet historic village… rather than create a tiny Newburyport by the Sea; now a year-round mecca for traffic and tourists and an annoyance to its residents. These so-called Wayfinding Signs are clearly a move in the wrong directions for Manchester.
Full disclosure: during the past two decades I have been a member of the HDC on two separate occasions. I resigned from the HDC both times, as the majority of commission members, holding unlimited terms, continued to disregard their mandate to enforce their own guidelines.
Susan Wadia-Ells
Manchester
