Screw liberty, we have ordinances

[despondent]

City Plan Would Curb Garage Door Opening (http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20050518/ap_on_fe_st/illegal_garage_doors;_ylt=Av5UqX6ILtMIBJGSqLkBEuAS H9EA;_ylu=X3oDMTBiMW04NW9mBHNlYwMlJVRPUCUl)
Wed May 18, 7:32 AM ET



Some residents of this upscale Memphis suburb say ordinances have gone to far. The final straw may have been rules proposed about when garage doors can be opened.

Among other directives, the city codes would tell homeowners to open their garage doors only when entering or exiting or for "short periods of time" for cleaning and maintenance.

"I'm in favor of reasonable codes, but I think some of these things go to extremes," said resident Robert Scallions.

Because of such criticism, officials in this town known for a sharp eye for community decorum have agreed to give the proposals another look before a final vote.

Jean Wallace said she fears town regulators could come down on her because the street address on her house is spelled out in words. The rules would call for numbers only, from 4 to 6 inches tall.

"That seems very strange, especially when the house is 30 years old," Wallace said. "The builders put them up, and they used to always be like that."

[chuxxter]

It is official. We have completely taken leave of our senses. I do not know how much more of this stupidity I can take. All these petty little Hitlers, Saddams, Bushes just itching to exercise authority over everything. What utter and complete assholes. :mad:

[Homsar]

I want to know who's going to go to "upscale" Memphis suburbs on vacation, look at the houses and think to themselves, "Damn, the address on that house is written out! IN WORDS, no less! Memphis sucks!"

[sabos_glasses]

As far as the garage doors go, I think it's a shame that the article didn't mention that the code is intended to protect residents from burglars that obviously have had success in Germantown. I'm not saying this isn't extreme, but it does fall under the police power of local government to help protect health, safety, and welfare.

[Homsar]

I really don't think this has anything to do with crime prevention, but rather image enhancement. However, if it IS to help prevent crime, I can understand.

[sabos_glasses]

I really don't think this has anything to do with crime prevention, but rather image enhancement. However, if it IS to help prevent crime, I can understand.

Billy Brown, Chairman of the Germantown Neighborhood Preservation Commission and chief architect of the ordinance, says it was intended to help keep criminal riff-raff out of residents' driveways, garages and carports.

"People drive by, see a garage door open, they help themselves," says Brown, "and so what happens sooner or later, people start doing the tour to find garage doors open, and when they do, you've got people in the neighborhood that you don't want in the neighborhood."

http://www.wreg.com/Global/story.asp?S=3331105 (http://)

So, according to them it is intended to prevent crime, but I expect that someone will argue that is a guise.

[Homsar]

Ah, different source.
Damn my jumpy conclusions.
But really, how often do those people keep their garage doors open?

[sabos_glasses]

I'm now drawing conclusions either way, because I don't live there and I don't work in their planning department. I was just struck by the attitude of the original article.

[X-Ray]

I used to have a girlfriend who lived on Hilton Head, so I've spent waaay too much time on that island. They have an ordinance there to 'protect the asthetics' of the island. Commercial signs have to be a certain distance from the road, can only be like 5' tall, and have to be done using certain materials (wood), and be done in 14 pre-selected colors. So instead of McD's signs being bright yellow and white, they might be a burnt yellow and taupe (earthtones). These ordinances keep the place from turning into another Beechmont Ave. or Fields Ertle Rd. (to use Cincy references), or Harbison Blvd. in Columbia(to use Central SC refs.).

So for commercial zoned areas, it might not be all that bad, but to impose these ordnances on residential areas is a little absurd. Especially something so rediculous. I don't believe it is actually to keep criminals out of the neighborhood. no way.

[sabos_glasses]

I used to have a girlfriend who lived on Hilton Head, so I've spent waaay too much time on that island. They have an ordinance there to 'protect the asthetics' of the island. Commercial signs have to be a certain distance from the road, can only be like 5' tall, and have to be done using certain materials (wood), and be done in 14 pre-selected colors. So instead of McD's signs being bright yellow and white, they might be a burnt yellow and taupe (earthtones). These ordinances keep the place from turning into another Beechmont Ave. or Fields Ertle Rd. (to use Cincy references), or Harbison Blvd. in Columbia(to use Central SC refs.).

So for commercial zoned areas, it might not be all that bad, but to impose these ordnances on residential areas is a little absurd. Especially something so rediculous. I don't believe it is actually to keep criminals out of the neighborhood. no way.

About Hilton Head...There is obviously a major presence of rich folks who have an interest in maintaining the commericial standards of the island, since this has a positive effect on their property values. And people who live there love it, and it has done great things for the island (unless you're poor).

And, again, I understand why you think that the Germantown, TN case is not for crime protection and rather as aesthetics, and you might be right. Just curious, where would you draw the line as acceptable regs for residential areas? How do you feel about setbacks? Minimum lot sizes? Design standards?

[X-Ray]

Sabo, well, it's definitely a pickle. while I am extremely opposed to censorship, but--I can't honestly say that I'd want my neighbors parking broken down cars on their lawn or having a kennel in their side yard. Some ordinances do protect the values of the actual properties. Does that make me a hypocrite? (hope not).

[sabos_glasses]

Sabo, well, it's definitely a pickle.

I agree. That's all I'm getting at.