A few more random thoughts on the Sign Code and then...

...I'll shut up.

Under the new sign code, window signs cannot be bigger than 1/3 of the size of the window, according to Cheryl Patton, "in order to let light inside." What if I don't want light inside? What the hell concern is it of City Government how light my business is or what portion of the light comes from outside? If you read my post below about private property, you cannot possibly doubt my assertion that City Government simply does not care about or respect the private property rights of its citizens.

At one point, Randy Gray stated that he's "no visual expert," but that we ought to look at proportionality. What the heck is a "visual expert?" An eye doctor?

It struck me that there were 27 people at this meeting. There were 14 people 'at the table' in a policy-making role. Assuming 55,000 people in Great Falls, that means that we intend to allow less than 3/10ths of 1% of our population infringe on property rights granted to us by our Founding Fathers. Why? Because they apparently think they know what looks better.

The City is creating "billboard-free areas" at all of the entrances to our community, apparently on the assumption that billboards make the approaches less attractive. This from the people who placed the jail 25' off of the interstate on the way into town. And they are going to tell us how to make the entryways more attractive? What gall.

Finally, one last thought. Does anyone reading this have even the slightest doubt what the City Government would do if Red Lobster were to come to town and open a store, but only if allowed a 50' pole sign?