Council amends and approves mural permit at 1423 Broadway, adds restriction on Broadway‑facing facade
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Summary
After debate over whether a mural functioned as commercial signage, Rockford aldermen amended a committee recommendation to prohibit murals on the Broadway‑facing facade at 1423 Broadway and then approved the special use permit for a mural on the remaining walls.
The Rockford City Council voted on Aug. 18 to approve a special‑use permit for a mural at 1423 Broadway, subject to an amendment that bars installation or production of any mural on the portions of the property facing Broadway.
The zoning board of appeals had recommended approval of the mural; the council’s code and regulation committee sustained that approval with conditions and the legal director was instructed to prepare the ordinance. During council debate Alderman Frost moved to add a condition that would prohibit murals on the Broadway‑facing portions of the building; the amendment was seconded and voted on separately.
Alderman Frost said he opposed allowing a mural that covered the full front of a former single‑family house on Broadway because it “looks like a single family home” and the mural “covers the entire facade of the front of the home,” adding concern that allowing the front‑facing mural could create a precedent for advertising disguised as public art. Alderman Bonnie said she viewed the painting as “an ad sign masquerading as a mural.” Alderman Salgado asked whether the property owner had been consulted before the amendment; council members acknowledged the owner had been involved in ZBA discussions but said the council had not directly sought the owner’s input on the amendment.
The amendment — prohibiting murals on Broadway‑facing portions of the property — passed in the amendment vote. The council then voted on the amended committee recommendation; the special‑use permit for a mural in the C‑4 urban mixed‑use zoning district at 1423 Broadway was approved as amended by council vote.
Director Wise and city staff said they would follow up about other murals around the city that may have been installed without prior council approval. Attorney John Gilbert was listed as representing an applicant on a related zoning map amendment on the same agenda.
Record: the committee report identified the applicants as Myra G. Uribe Guerrero and Maria G. Guerrero. The legal director was directed to prepare the appropriate ordinance after council action.