"Voices" and Murals?

I have noted that several of our community leaders have started a women's group called "Voices" to seek input from women on local issues and improving Cape Vincent.  Sounds interesting and I wish them success.

I did note, however, that one idea they were looking at was murals on CV buildings.  Would this be just on village buildings or buildings in the town also? But I was wondering, how does that fit into the zoning regulations of the community.  I know the Town of CV regulates signs fairly strictly as to size, type and location.  I don't know what the village has for sign regulations.

How is a mural zoned or  classified?  Are their any regulations at all on large building sized murals or art work?  Would it be regulated like a sign?  Is it considered a community art work project?  Who makes the decision as to subject matter or taste?  Should we have murals at all, or should we just let the charm and history of the town and village speak for themselves?  If a private business determines what the mural subject matter, size, color is etc, then  is this business  being allowed to dictate
what we look at and the aesthetics of the community outside of zoning control and or community input, when in fact the same business's signs may be tightly controlled as an aesthetic community judgment.

As an artist myself I am not necessarily against murals, but there can be a fine line between attractive and distractive.  I am guessing that any mural no matter how tasteful will draw praise and criticism.

I find it interesting that we shy away from strong aesthetic decisions when it comes to wind turbines and protecting our scenic land and riverscapes.  I am referring  back to our zoning lawyer Mr. Curtin basically saying we he could not defend a zoning law just on the basis that we don't like how something looks or the scenic value or lack of, yet we are willing to take the risk and make a purely aesthetic  decision on a large mural people may or may not like, or that could be attractive or badly distractive. 

Which brings me to another point.  If we are trying to beautify the town and or village, it seems rather contradictory to not have an all out prohibition on industrial wind turbines making the protection of our aesthetic scenic resources a prime criteria, considering industrial wind development even on a reduced scale would significantly alter the incredible scenic quality of our community and region.

                                                                                                               Photo By Rollin Hanson

Looking at the photo above you could put a mural on the Tibbets Pt. Light House but I seriously doubt it would be the first thing people would notice from this view point!!!

Seems to me we and the new women's group  might want to reconsider the priorities!

Some very interesting questions and challenges for the new women's group to consider. 

And I would be more than happy to entertain any discussion here about this issue from these new group leaders or their patrons, and open it up to a post if they would like .