Council Leaves Crosses Memorial Untouched

Mar. 27 - KGO (KGO) -- Tighter restrictions would prevent another war memorial from emerging on the hillsides of Lafayette, but the controversial display that's there right now could continue to grow.

That's what came out of a city council meeting Monday night. The council hammered out a proposed amendment that is very favorable to the crosses.

But it's not consistent with its history of strict laws to protect the hillside.

Because the 17-foot extension of Kathleen Chapman's home could be seen from down below, the city of Lafayette made her plant oak trees on her seven-acre hillside to cover up the protruding rooftop.

Kathleen Chapman, Lafayette Resident: "Lafayette does a good job of protecting it's hillsides and whether you agree with their ordinances on hillside protection or not, they're in place."

Chapman says if the city is that protective of their hillsides than why allow this: more than 3,000 crosses on a hillside symbolizing the Americans killed in Iraq.

Steven Falk, Lafayette City Manager: "Those organizers do not violate a single city code."

But now a proposed amendment could bring Lafayette's sign ordinance in line with its protective philosophy. It would make it impossible to erect another memorial like the controversial crosses.

Steven Falk, Lafayette City Manager: "It would say that people can still put sign on their property without a permit. But you'll be limited to four of them."

City manager Steven Falk says there are fears of commercial signage run amok.

Jeff Heaton, Cross Organizer: "I think for the city to worry about the possibility that a business owner may put up 1,000 signs to advertise their business is not a comparable issue or reason to initiatie a new sign ordinance."

Sharon Adams, Lafayette Resident: "The organizers have the right to put up as many crosses as they want and you cannot amend an ordinance to take away that existing right."

So in this proposed amendment to the sign law every one from here on would be limited to four signs while the crosses can continue to grow.

The public will have a chance to chime in on this when the council votes on April 9th.

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