Fire the lawyers, hire a sign designer

If the owners of the BBQ Shack in Snohomish had been as quick to contact a professional sign designer as they seem to have been with contacting a lawyer (and the press), they would have been informed of the well-established law that requires signage/mural proposals in the city’s historic district to obtain approval from our Design Review Board. (“Naked pig mural innappropriate, city says,” Dec. 30.)

Moreover, both the professional designer and the review board of volunteer professionals could have saved the owners from investing a lot of time and treasure displaying their bad taste in public.

The exterior wall of their business adds to the streetscape, which is shared by all, including our visitors. Many First Street business owners are making an extraordinary group effort these days to create a sense of place that we can all be proud of while encouraging economic growth.

Stupid signage spells failure for both the business owner and the community. So for all our sake, I hope the restaurant owners fire the lawyer and hire a sign designer instead. Then, move the dancing pigs to an interior wall, where they will be warm and welcomed, yet still on view for all to enjoy through the large windows.

Warner Blake

Snohomish

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