Your government at work
July 25th, 2007, 10:42 am · 4 Comments · posted by Scott Shackford
Jason Smith mentions in our news blog some of the silliness that goes on at the Barstow Planning Commission. Our commissioners actually spend time discussing and analyzing what street names in Barstow should be.
I’ve already commented on the ridiculousness of the commission going on and on (and on and on) in their discussions of what colors are permissible on the exterior of local businesses. Is there any point, any line that we will cross where our community will turn around and say, “You know what? We don’t need your help with street names or colors, so why don’t you just stay out of it? Thanks.”
July 26th, 2007 at 5:38 pm
That is what the commissioners are for. They enforce city code so that we do not have street names that would sound stupid at any place, i.e. Sunburst Lane and Orange Peele Rd. Why not tie the names to the environment around us? In many ways, that silliness is necessary so that businesses and developers do not have free range when it comes to names, colors and sign design. Imagine a city that allowed purple buildings, streets named Pineapple Ave and 100 feet tall signs.
I for one like that we do have a planning commission that swets the details.
July 29th, 2007 at 6:46 am
Actually this has already been discussed in the City Council years I wrote an it was passed that new streets in town should be named after fallen local soldiers. I even researched and prepared a list. I will have to go to the next Planning Commision and jog ther memories.
July 30th, 2007 at 12:33 pm
But … what’s wrong with Pineapple Avenue or purple buildings? Other than the fact that some people don’t like it?
August 8th, 2007 at 9:48 am
You might be interested to know, as an adjunct to what other commenters have had to say, that the U.S. Congress spends a great deal of time naming post offices. They use it as a way to make political statements as they occasionally reverse the naming decisions of political adversaries. This is much less the case with the planning folks, but I can just see the repercussions that would, even infrequently, ensue if they pay much attention to what names are actually being painted on those signs.