In an open letter to the Board of Adjustment, council member Cecil Bothwell comes out against a variance for the larger signage requested by the civic center.
The Board of Adjustment should not grant a variance to the U.S. Cellular Center for its prospective signage, based on multiple stipulations in our UDO, which I have outlined
below. But the larger issue is that with wide popular support, the City enacted its sign ordinance in 1990 with the goal of preserving and restoring Asheville’s unique beauty.
The intent of the law is to tone down commercialism, to let our architecture speak for itself. The City of Asheville must not be a leader in seeking exceptions to this law. The
City government should rather be a leader in adhering to the very sensible strictures we have put in place. Note that just last week, Council voted unanimously to ban new
electronic billboards. That clearly reflects the will of the people.
Entire letter at link
Props to Cecil for his stand here. We’ll see if a variance is granted or not, though. Sadly, I’m guessing it passes through with flying colors.
And why shouldn’t it? Given that the will of the people on the re-naming of Civic Center hasn’t been considered one single bit so far, could there be any possible reason it should be considered now?
Sorry, but color me dis-enchanted with our local government on this issue. I was pretty miffed back at the start of it, I still am now, and will be further when I get to see the newer/better/larger U.S. Cellular signs.