Officials in Newport are revising the city’s mural code, adding guidelines for projected art, and restating the restrictions on mural placement.
Public input was incorporated into the amendments that were initially presented to the Newport Historic Preservation Commission. According to Newport City Manager John Hayden, the city believes that this legislation addresses the issues that residents are worried about.
It s not going to be in residential areas. They can be in commercial areas, Hayden said. We ve also been trying to balance our political speech to make sure everybody s rights are protected, while also doing the best that we can to make sure that what we see out there is a good product that makes the city more beautiful.
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A de facto mural board will be the historic protection commission. They will make sure that the murals are suitable in terms of size and other aspects rather than regulating based on content. Since murals are protected by the First Amendment, the city cannot control or control their content.
At a special meeting on June 18, historic preservation initially approved the revised standards. A area dedicated to projection-style murals is one of the update’s main additions. They can stay for 30 days in a row and are allowed once a year per site.
These light-based murals are transient, non-intrusive art installations. Unless they are a part of an event like BLINK, they must be static, meaning they cannot have flashing or moving visuals. Ordinances governing noise and lighting prohibit the projected murals from creating glare onto nearby premises.
I believe that additional work was done, largely by staff, to make room for some of the more transient murals that resembled projectors. “That’s fantastic,” said Julie Smith Morrow, the vice mayor of Newport. It’s not something I see many other communities doing.
Murals on residential buildings and in residential areas are still forbidden.
Within the following zoning districts, murals are allowed:
- Central Business District
- Central Business District Fringe
- Shopping Center
- Neighborhood Commercial (a zone located in south Newport along US 27 near Advanced Auto Parts)
- Riverfront Development
- Industrial one and two
- Transitional Zone
Any continuing repair and maintenance of any mural is the responsibility of the property owner. The city may mandate that a mural be repaired or removed within a specified time frame if it deteriorates or is vandalized.
According to Newport Mayor Tom Guidugli Jr., murals are a good form of public art. They sustain the community and give it vitality, and I agree with that.
The commission heard a first reading of the updated rules at its meeting on July 21. It still requires a second reading by the commission.
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