Newport is introducing updated mural guidelines that welcome light-based art.
The Newport Historic Preservation Commission is updating its mural guidelines in the city, including adding a section for projection-style murals. Historic preservation approved them at a special meeting on June 18, but the item still needs to go before the city commission for final approval.
The ordinance establishes guidelines for the approval, placement and design of murals. According to the city, the intention is to promote high-quality public art while ensuring public safety and preserving architectural integrity.
Some key elements of the new ordinance include that projection-style murals are allowed by permit once annually per site and can remain for 30 consecutive days. These murals are temporary, non-invasive light-based art displays. They must be static, with no flashing or changing images, unless they are part of an event like BLINK. The projected murals cannot produce glare onto adjacent properties and are subject to noise and lighting ordinances.
“I think it’s going to be a really, really nice addition for Newport to see some public art in a wide variety of ways, particularly the light-up murals,” said Newport resident Jennifer Brewer said at the meeting. “I think that’s going to be a really, really interesting add for us. I think it might be a really good way for people to dip their toes and test the whole idea of public art.”
The commission added a clause to the ordinance that would allow for special event-type permitting of a projected mural longer than 30 days.
“I’ve noticed in Covington, we’re seeing some of the projection signage for businesses,” Steffen said. “You’ll see where they’re actually projecting the sign for their business in the evenings, on the sidewalks, or on alleys and different things, and it’s just kind of an interesting way to look at things.”
Steffen said a benefit of allowing projected murals is that they can be modified and altered many times and done in different ways, and there’s no worry about changing the building, which helps preserve its character.
Murals are still prohibited in residential zones and on residential structures. Steffen said that consideration wasn’t done lightly and was done through public input the city received.
“An example of a mural that was put on a garage door years ago in one of the historic districts, and the amount of complaints that I received about this, which seemed like a very innocuous painting, was extreme,” Steffen said. “That, along with a lot of comments that we received, that’s why this has remained in the same format.”
Murals are permitted within the following zoning districts:
- Central Business District
- Central Business District Fringe
- Shopping Center
- Neighborhood Commercial (a zone located in south Newport along US 27 near Advanced Auto Parts)
- Riverfront Development
- Industrial one and two
- Transitional Zone
According to Steffen, the city cannot regulate or discern the content of a mural as it is a First Amendment issue.
“In your minds, think of the most egregious, abhorrent type of imaging, the city can’t stop someone from doing a mural in whatever that means to you,” he said. “So whatever murals that come through, most of them are perfectly fine, widely acceptable, done well, tasteful, but that doesn’t mean they all will be.”
He said the city took that into consideration when drafting the ordinance.
“We expect to have well-done, professional murals, done in a manner that’s complementary to building the neighborhoods,” Steffen said. “Doesn’t mean that will always happen, but it’s the intent for this program to be very successful and to promote that type of mural.”
Newport on the Levee recently received new murals created by student artists. Those can be viewed here.
The guidelines show that murals are only permitted on commercial and mixed-use buildings or structures such as retaining walls, utility boxes, underpasses, floodwalls and water tanks.
Some other placement standards include:
- They are only allowed on secondary, side or rear facades, except for projection-style murals, which are allowed on all sides
- They cannot exceed more than 50% of the wall on which they are located
The property owner is responsible for all ongoing maintenance and upkeep of any mural. Should a mural become deteriorated or defaced, the city may order its repair or removal within a designated period of time.
“A few months ago, when this came in front of us, there were no guidelines whatsoever, there were no parameters,” said Newport Historic Preservation Commissioner Mark Ramler. “It’s an open can of worms. So, I really appreciate the work that has gone into the guidelines and the revisions to them.”
