North Charleston, S.C. – A North Charleston couple is challenging the city’s zoning rules after being told their mural violates the Residential Signage Rules. The couple, Josh and Christina Jettie, who are known for their love of art, had painted a mural of a woman on the side of their home in the Park Circle neighborhood, a community known for its vibrant and artistic atmosphere.
The Mural Dispute
Josh and Christina, who have lived in Park Circle and watched the area become a hub for artistic expression, were confident that the mural would fit right into the community. Christina explained, “We’re art-loving people, and we try to display it as much as we can. When we built this guest house, we thought about how we could add more art to it. So, we decided to bring art to the community as well.”
However, the couple received a letter from the city saying their mural violated the City of North Charleston’s Residential Signage Rules, as outlined in the city’s zoning code. The mural, which was intended as an artistic addition to their home, has now become a symbol of the couple’s fight for artistic expression in the community.
Support for the Mural
Josh Jettie spoke passionately about the mural’s positive impact on the neighborhood. “Kids walking by see an art piece, and they might get inspired. Maybe they want to be an artist,” he said. “There are so many art initiatives in this neighborhood. We are just trying to beautify the community.”
Despite the couple’s enthusiasm, the city’s Board of Zoning Appeals discussed the future of the mural at their meeting on August 4. Currently, the city’s ordinance on residential signage does not distinguish between a mural or painting and a sign, which has led to the misunderstanding.
A Call for Change in the Ordinance
After reviewing the ordinance, Christina Jettie expressed that there might have been a miscommunication. She said, “We thought there was some sort of miscommunication because we immediately saw that a mural doesn’t fall under the signage rules for different reasons.”
The Jetties are now calling for the city to amend the current ordinance to allow for murals and other forms of art on homes. They believe that residents of North Charleston should have the option to add more art to the city. “We would love to keep our mural, but we want to develop a process for other residents to be able to put murals or art on their houses as well,” Christina said.
Next Steps and Legal Action
The Jetties plan to take the issue to court if needed, pushing for the zoning ordinance to include clearer language regarding murals and artistic expression. City officials have indicated that they will have a clearer understanding of the ordinance’s direction once it is reviewed by the city council at their next meeting. However, the date for that meeting has not been confirmed yet.
