4-H Mural Presents Quandary For Middlefield Village

July 11, 2013

By Ann Wishart
Murals in public places proved to be a thorny issue for Middlefield Planning and Zoning Commission on June 27.
Zoning Inspector Steve Roessner told the commission that the Coyote Den 4-H mural recently painted on the west side of the Spidalieri building on North State Avenue violates the zoning ordinance — if it is a sign.
If it’s not a sign, it is a mural and the village doesn’t have a mural ordinance, village solicitor Tom Lee said.
The village can limit the size and location of signs, but not the content without encountering freedom of speech issues, he said.
“If it’s purely art, you’re okay,” Lee said, adding, however, if there is written content, the line between art and advertising gets fuzzy.
“There’s a fair amount of legislation. It’s in the courts a lot,”?he said.
The mural takes up the entire wall and Lee, Mayor Ben Garlich and commission members agreed it improves the appearance of the blank wall, but it may open a zoning can of worms.
Wording on the sign is “Coyote Den 4-H Shooting Sports” and it also depicts a howling coyote, an arrow and the 4-H symbol.
Lee suggested turning the matter over to village council to decide what kinds of murals will be allowed in the village, not grant permission on a case-by-case basis.
Garlich said there are about four walls in the village that would be improved by the addition of a mural and he suggested a “Welcome to Middlefield” mural could be painted on the wall near Roadhouse Music at the shopping center at 19500 West High Street.
Brant Smith, partner of Marbran Properties LLC, said he’s in favor of it.
“Murals provide a sense of space,” he said. “They also give a sense of place.”
The oval mural would be 22 feet long and 10 feet high, according to a rendering.
“It would really beautify that part of the village. It’s an attractive design,” said commission president and councilman Scott Klein.
“Council must approve it,” Lee said. “This is one step away from the kind of sign a commercial person would want. We’ve got to be real careful.”
In a separate issue, the commission worked out details of the construction of the O’Reilly Auto Parts store on West High Street at the intersection with Elmwood Street.
Architect Brian Niehaus said construction will begin in 2014.
Concerned that traffic entering and exiting the parking lot on Elmwood could be a hazard, Klein suggested a single driveway on Elmwood be used solely for ingress and egress should be on the far side of the parking lot onto West High.
“We have 51 curb cuts on (Route) 87 — what’s one more?” he asked.
The commission also approved the Wildwood dedication plan that changes the continued development of five lots there from condominium units to single family homes.