After Three and a half hours of a hearing that should have been unnecessary, Melbourne’s Planning and Zoning Board upheld previous decisions of the Historic and Architectural Review Board in allowing Matt Gondek’s “explosive art” mural on Eau Gallie Boulevard.
The 6-1 decision settles the issue unless city council would like to take the matter into the courts. That would be an immensely stupid move. We have already wasted a lot of time and money to get to this point. Either have the art district or don’t.
The thing that needs to be addressed is the process. It took three and a half hours because the public meeting required that the public be heard on the issue, but then the comments could not be considered. What a waste!
Council should refine this process, make it clear and simple and leave the issues of art to the artsy and the issues of beauty to the beholder.