Planning Commission Meeting

Yesterday I had a promising meeting with the Cold Spring Planning Commission. City Administrator Paul Hetland told me that the Chamber of Commerce passed a resolution in support of my mural project, and some members showed up to last night's meeting especially to show support for the project.  The Cold Spring Historical Society is very excited about my project.

I presented my project proposal as I did for the Business luncheon, and received immediate support from the Chair of the Planning Commission.  He interpreted the strict design regulations as not applying to a mural, saying the mural could be an exception. 

One member commented that letting me do this mural may open the door for other muralists, leading to a slippery slope.  They are concerned that people might feel like they are free to paint whatever they want on their walls, even if it is ugly or offensive.  In response to this, member Bob Thelen said that he personally likes Picasso, who has painted some pretty strange things.  Who are we to judge what is and what is not art?, he questioned.

The mayor of Cold Spring, Doug Schmitz, pointed out that the design standards, in his view, do conflict with a mural.  He clarified that he is not against the project, but that Cold Spring would need to establish a clearer policy that may permit a mural. 

The Chair then amended his initial statement of approval to be conditional; I am to research mural ordinances that other towns have to see if Cold Spring may adopt a similar policy.  Today I have begun contacting Minneapolis, St. Paul, Avon, Little Falls, and Elk River.  The Planning Commission will meet again in June.  By then, hopefully I will have a clearer design idea as well as more definite location.

I asked where the downtown area boundaries end, to see if we could paint in a residential area.  The commission told me that the regulations would likely be even stricter in a residential area.  I will ask Paul Hetland to send me the zoning ordinances for these areas. 

One woman, Cynthia, came up to me afterwards to compliment my energetic presentation, and asked me if painting a crosswalk could be considered a mural.  I said that was a definite possibility.  Who knows?  In Argentina I saw several paintings on the pavement...