Thread: La Palma hopes to tone down loud house colors

Wednesday, August 13, 2008
La Palma hopes to tone down loud house colors
City considers restrictions on hues after complaints about 'McDonald's house.'
By SERENA MARIA DANIELS
The Orange County Register
Comments 42| Recommend 8

LA PALMA – The city is taking steps to adopt a law on what colors homes can – and cannot – be repainted.

Officials are now asking the residents in town if they want such a law, an attempt to bar homes with gaudy colors.

The 16,000-resident city would be the first in Orange County to pass such a law, although the restriction is common among homeowners' associations in South County.

The City Council broached the subject in March, in part because neighbors complained about a bright-gold house with red trim on Andrew Drive. It is called, by some, "the McDonald's House,'' or the "Carl's Jr. House."

"Hopefully, something will be done," said Noella Lew, 55, who lives near the brightly hued home. "It just brings down the value of the neighborhood."

Lew and other neighbors said that if the home were painted those colors for religious reasons, then that would be OK.

The homeowner, Maha Essayli, moved into the neighborhood about four years ago and decided on the color scheme last year. Essayli said her family is Lebanese and she wanted a Mediterranean feel to reflect her culture.

"I most definitely feel that at the end of the day, this is the place where I come to relax," said Essayli, who hadn't heard anything about the proposed law or of neighbors' concerns. "Everyone is entitled to their opinion, but that absolutely does not mean the city or neighbors can dictate what color I paint my house."

The proposed changes could follow those of neighboring Cerritos in Los Angeles County, which has a palate of beiges, grays and greens that owners must use when repainting.

Since March, the city has compiled a list of a half-dozen homes painted unusual colors.

One, on Norann Circle, is bright turquoise with hedges cut in the shapes of deer and elephants. In this town of 16,000, earth tones are the norm.

John Di Mario, the La Palma Community Development director, said that the new law, if passed, would affect only those wanting to repaint their homes.

"There will be some who will feel that the city is reaching a bit by telling residents what is an appropriate color to paint their homes," Di Mario said. "But there are some who feel that the brighter and bolder colors should no longer continue to be painted."

A meeting to gather public input will be held at 7 p.m. Tuesday at La Quinta Inn & Suites, 3 Centerpointe Drive. For information, call the Community Development Department at 714-690-3340.
Our city is seeing this , lime green and such . the city council are talking about the same thing . One house in the next block has beige brick and purple siding .

http://www.ocregister.com/articles/city ... feel-house

EEwwww, I've seen some AWFUL combos! Houses in the Med are usually painted in PASTEL shades, not bright, glaring colors. I like seeing a bit of color, but not the obnoxious sort that doesn't tie well with the neighborhood.

Istanbul, Turkey neighborhoods have some of the most tasteless use of riotous colors I have even seen in my life. There is a tendency to paint the wall of the front porch a green, or purple. Above that the second floor of the same house could be blue, while the sides of the house could be yellow on one side and red on the other. To add to this, exterior lights are usually neon lights of many colors. Now they need a paint ordinance!

We bought our first house in one of the "older" areas of town. While that house served us well and became a bit of a "cash cow" for us, we were glad to get outta there. There were some homes that looked like Easter eggs there. For example" Lavender and white lattice, Another house had black trim. Yet another would be painted Sky Blue...I could go on and on...

Why force your neighbors to look at your ugly out of place house? Thats unfair...

Essayli said her family is Lebanese and she wanted a Mediterranean feel to reflect her culture.

Hey Essayli, you chose to live in the U.S.A. Please show some respect for your adopted country, as well as your neighbors, by relecting your culture on the interior of your home.