05/30/2024
Oh boy 😅
In July 2023, Etienne Constable, got a peculiar notice from Seaside, a small coastal town south of San Francisco. The city demanded he hide his boat, parked in his driveway, from view or face fines up to $500.
Thinking outside the box, Constable roped in his neighbor, artist Hanif Panni, to craft a cheeky solution: a fence painted with a lifelike mural of the boat itself.
“He asked, ‘Wouldn’t it be funny if we did this?’” Panni told Business Insider. Constable, who’s lived in his home for 29 years, had always parked his boat trailer in his driveway without issue. But Seaside’s sudden crackdown on zoning violations left him baffled.
“Before last July, I was never aware of it,” Constable said, noting that the city’s Title 17 Zoning Ordinance Code requires boats to be enclosed by a six-foot fence, though it had rarely been enforced.
Early 2023 saw Seaside ramp up its code enforcement, sending letters to residents, including Constable. “I was surprised and angry since I’ve had a boat trailer there almost my entire time here.” he said.
Panni painted the mural for much less than the potential fines, and their inventive fix sparked a social media sensation. “I’ve got other residents now asking for similar murals,” Panni said. “It’s hilarious and inspiring so much conversation.”
Surprisingly, city leaders loved the defiant art. In May, Police Chief Nick Borges, also acting city manager, visited Constable to praise the mural.
“We’re not taking any action,” Borges told local news. “The only action I’m taking is a high five.”
Source: Business Insider
Browse more stories: https://rltor.cm/dz2mrj
