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November 27, 2006
Ethical Bottom of the 'Red' Pit: Laine Hyde and Paul Layer Comments (7)
Only Maud's Lips Can Be Red in Vienna!
From the Commercial Board of Architectural Review Minutes of the Town of Vienna, Virginia on 06/15/2006 comes this excerpt all about the color "red":
Request for approval of signage for Bank of America located at 235 Maple Avenue, W...Chairwoman Damon asked if the sign has been installed. Mr. Wilcox answered yes. Chairwoman Damon stated concern that the sign has so much red on it. She stated that the previous signs that were approved were white and blue. To have such a mass of red on a brick building appears to be garish and not in keeping with the rest of the sign design for the building. Ms. Laine Hyde stated her disappointment that the sign is already in place. She noted that it puts the Board in a difficult position when reviewing an application. She stated her agreement with Chairwoman Damon’s statements. If the sign had come before the Board before it was installed then they would have requested to tone down or modify the red in some way. Ms. Brehony stated her agreement with the previous testimony. She stated that the sign is too bright. Mr. Layer asked if the ATM sign is all illuminated. Mr. Wilcox answered no. Mr. Layer asked if the applicant has an alternate design. Mr. Wilcox answered that he was not certain. Additional discussion followed regarding alternate options. It was determined that Mr. Wilcox would check with the applicant as to alternate options. There being no further questions the item was deferred. Ms. Hyde made a motion that the request for approval of signage for Bank of America located at 235 Maple Avenue, W. be deferred until such a time that the applicant can present alternate color options to the Board.
The people of the Town of Vienna should be proud of Hyde's and Layer's ethical foundation. Why criticize their ethics? They both know the law does not allow them to stop the use of the color red, but since the law is extremely vague they can get away with inane discussions like the one above. Do you think it is coincidence that Hyde and Layer both live in the Windover Heights Historic District and both support it?
Deborah Brehony and Rebecca Hartley resigned from the Commercial Board of Architectural Review, but Laine Hyde and Paul Layer stayed. They stayed because they are political cronies of the highest order. They are willing to sell their soul to make Maud happy.
It is a great example of Mao Maud's unexplained aversion to the color red that we mentioned last week.
November 11, 2006
Statement of Economic Interests for Laurie DiRocco, Paul Layer, Laine Hyde and Shirley Damon Comments (0)
Since the Town of Vienna will not post Statements of Economic Interests on their web site, we post them:
No More 'Hyding'!
"It was easier to hide before HistoricVienna.com!"
July 23, 2006
Garish: Rebecca Hartley, Laine Hyde and Paul Layer Comments (3)
The Town of Vienna's Commercial Board of Architectural Review has a rule that no color can be 'garish' on a sign or building. That's it. No objective guidelines. Rebecca Hartley, Laine Hyde and Paul Layer make up whatever they want depending on how they feel at that moment. See the problem there? As you watch this compilation of video from the last meeting below, keep in mind, the questions and comments from Board members are all made up on the fly. There are NO guidelines, no master plan, nothing except busy bodies getting their jollies off being in control.
There is no rule that says you can or can't use orange, purple, pink, green or whatever. There is nothing that talks about selecting colors that don't 'surprise', whatever the hell that means Ms. Hartley! Does Ms. Hartley's big law firm Thelen Reid & Priest LLP know what she does on the side to the people of Vienna? What kind of person says something so off the wall? The biggest problem for any sane person for all of this is the appearance of Maple Avenue in Vienna. This Board is in charge of its appearance. These inane questions, not rooted in any law, supposedly make Vienna beautiful. Yeah, right.
June 06, 2006
Laine Hyde's & Paul Layer's Behavior is Gross Comments (4)
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!
