Laine Hyde's & Paul Layer's Behavior is Gross
Laine Hyde and Paul Layer both sit on the Vienna Commercial Architectural Review Board. There are no rules to this Board. There are no guidelines. When you appear before Hyde and Layer they have the power to approve or deny applications for buildings or building modifications in the Vienna commercial district - based on however they personally feel at that finite moment in time.
Let us be clear. If you want to paint your building or sign blue or any shade of blue or whatever color, there are no rules. There is nothing that says one shade is better than another or that one color is better or worse than another. Taking that into account watch the seriousness in which Hyde and Layer question a business owner looking to use his trademark colors.
Video #1:
Video #2:
What is this all 'questioning' about then? Why do business owners have to appear before busy body politicians like Laine Hyde and Paul Layer only to be asked to make changes based on their personal view at that very minute? Why is Paul Layer not forced to base his questions off spelled out law? Does any of this make any sense?
Hyde wants softer colors...compared to WHAT? The code says nothing about COLOR. The other Board member wants less vibrant colors. Compared to WHAT? There is no baseline to 'vibrancy'! Why do Hyde, Layer and other Board members allow themselves to sit there and knowingly violate the rights of their fellow citizens? Should Paul Layer, who is handling a new building design on Church Street, be sitting in judgment of other business owners? If you were a business owner in need of architectural work, why would you use Paul Layer when he plays games with business owners' livelihoods across Town?
Footnote: After begging and pleading this business owner for softer colors or muted colors or less vibrant colors, the Board rolled over and approved the application with no modification. Why did they approve it? The applicant was Prudential and the threat of legal action was clear: deny our trademark colors when you have no rules and you will see us in court. Unfortunately, these people regularly abuse small business owners because they know the legal threat is not as strong. Helluva way to run government Maud and Jane!
Comments
I can't get over how serious Hyde and Layer are in their questioning. If one was watching this with no knowledge of anything you would think they were reasonable people simply asking questions to make Vienna's commercial area better based on some objective standards. But to ask someone to mute their colors (whatever that means exactly) based on nothing except their personal opinion at that very moment, is gross. Why does this silly law exist? We are close to certain that this law, when composed in the late 60s or early 70s, was the first of its kind in the State of Virginia. This was the first commercial review board to oversee architecture and signs. We will confirm, but we believe Maud Robinson's husband was the author of this law. This law mandates (and we can't make this up) that the Board deny 'garish' design. Imagine if YOU had to appear before Hyde and Layer and they were charged with enforcing the word 'garish'...it gives them carte blanche to do or say whatever they want (and deny you without objective reason). Of course, the first person to challenge this in court, would win. Vienna will never be a fair or ethical community or completely on the right track until this is all fixed.
Posted by: Historic Vienna | June 6, 2006 08:50 AM
Video #1 is funny... her really really bright red garish watch causes her muted lips to lose their clarity! Imagine a Town of Vienna Fashion Review Board: Ms. Hyde, could you go home and change your lipstick to a brighter red. We made somebody do that before and we really liked it... women should glow! Ms. Cole, would you be so kind as to not wear garish pajamas to Town meetings... people should be dressed when in public.
Video #2 is also funny... he goes on and on and on and on until finally the applicant gets so tired of waiting he interrupts to answer the question before it ever gets asked!
Posted by: Town Resident | June 6, 2006 03:30 PM
These are funny. What's not so funny is what they did to a first time business owner at the same meeting who was struggling to understand this nonsense. He had appeared multiple times. His wife was crying in the audience as her husband stood at the podium politely answering inane question after question...only to be turned down. Some of these people on these Boards are real sickos who take pleasure in screwing around with people. If they had rules, maybe their behavior would have to be tolerated. But to have no rules, while acting like Napoleons...well it seems to be sport to them. Sad people they are. I am sure they all look in the mirror and justify their participation by saying, "it's for the good of the Town." That's bunk and all of you who sit there know it. Remember, this Board is charged with the appearance of commercial areas in Vienna. Is there anyone who can make the case that 123 in Vienna is attractive? Outsiders are shocked when they hear that the visual eyesores at every corner in Vienna are actually approved by so called design professionals. Toto, maybe this whole thing is a dream?
Posted by: Historic Vienna | June 6, 2006 04:18 PM
(again)
His wife was crying...
Need you say more?... What a way to run a government.
If Hyde and Layer knew that they made a citizen cry, then they are both despicable. If they were unaware, then they are both worthless. Either way, they don't belong on a board where people's lives and livelihoods are at stake.
Posted by: Concerned | June 8, 2006 07:15 AM