Historic board denies large mural at 320 Paseo De Peralta after split votes
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Summary
The HDRB declined to approve a large mural painted without prior review at 320 Paseo De Peralta, adopting staff findings that the proposed work did not meet exception criteria for the district. The board was divided and debated whether murals on non‑primary facades should be allowed without prior consultation with the arts commission.
The Historic Districts Review Board voted to deny approval of a large mural painted without prior HDRB review at 320 Paseo De Peralta, concluding the exception criteria in the Downtown and East Side standards were not met.
Applicant Charlotte Fox apologized to the board and said she had not realized the property fell inside the historic district. She said she spent $13,000 on stucco repairs and $8,000 on the artwork by local artist Wesa Barca, which she described as a community effort to cover unsightly utility boxes and welcome visitors. "I regret this oversight deeply, and I'm so grateful for the chance to stand here tonight and try to make it right," Fox said.
Staff recommended denial, pointing to district rules that exterior walls should generally be painted alike and that murals are typically restricted to protected spaces under portales or require review where they are not a narrow panel. Board members and commenters debated whether the work constituted a "sign," whether the arts commission should weigh in, and whether the mural’s location on a wide street with limited visibility made it an acceptable exception.
Public commenters were split; some supported the art and the local artist’s story, while others called the mural "arresting" and warned that allowing it would set a precedent for more large, colorful wall paintings in the district. After discussion the board moved to adopt staff’s recommended findings that the exception criteria had not been met and to deny the application. The motion passed on the record; members noted that the applicant may appeal to City Council or could stucco over the painting.
The board also discussed the need for clearer code guidance on murals and suggested the city consider refining how murals and wall paintings are handled in Phase 2 of the code update.
