The Planning Commission's Latest Blunder

Editorial: The Granville Planning Commission continues to struggle with process, openness and sound judgment. In recent years, the Commission's decisions have been marked by favoritism, a failure to follow the village's zoning code, and a reluctance to give proper notice of what's on its agenda.

The latest problem came last week when Denison University submitted a new exterior lighting plan for Burke Hall, the performing arts building on West Broadway. The original plan called for replacing some modern lighting fixtures near the building with old-fashioned ones and improving lighting for pedestrian safety. These non-controversial changes improved the look and functionality of the area surrounding Burke Hall. The village staff showed Denison's plans to citizens who inquired.

As long-time village residents know, Burke Hall is a touchy subject. It's the only modern building in Granville's historic district now that the library has been de-modernized. The village created the Architectural Review Overlay District - the historic district - in 1977 in response to the construction of Burke Hall and the library addition, both completed circa 1972.

This historic preservation law has succeeded. No modern buildings have been added to the district since its passage three decades ago. In March, Judge Jon Spar ruled that a modernist glass cube addition to Cleveland Hall, next to Burke Hall, violated the trusty ol' historic preservation law. The judge's most notable line complimented the Planning Commission for its "remarkable candor" in admitting, in its "Findings of Fact," that the glass cube was not compatible with other buildings in the district and thus violated the law. The Planning Commission approved the inappropriate design 3-2, showing an abundance of candor but a lack of smarts. (Denison is appealing Judge Spahr's decision.)

So it's only fitting that Burke Hall is the site of the Planning Commission's latest blunder.

Having submitted a plan showing little more than a few changed light bulbs, Denison's hapless facilities director Art Chonko arrived before the Planning Commission with the real plan - deploying high-powered floodlights to bath the exterior walls of the white, windowless, modernist structure with enough light to make the building shine like a beacon.

Such a substantive change, of course, constitutes a new lighting plan. That, of course, required a new public notice. That, of course, didn't happen.

So the old bait-and-switch worked. Show those pesky citizens one thing, then return to the private clubhouse for the real decisions. It's sad, even a little disorienting, to see Denison University fall from its role of civic leader into that of sneaky insider. But the Planning Commission is the enabler that makes that happen.

The Commission bends the law and minimizes public input for those on the favored list, be it Denison University or real estate developers trying to undermine the Comprehensive Plan and put drive-through restaurants and Big Boxes on River Road.

If you're on the no-like list, you'll find the Planning Commission to suddenly be a stickler for arcane rule. Look out DanR and your sushi bar!

The Planning Commission has two new members, so it may not be fair to tarnish the newcomers with the sins of the past. But institutions have traditions, and new blood is quickly trained to follow the rules of the tribe. The "Findings of Fact" on the Burke Hall lighting plan shows the Commission's usual make-it-up-as-you-go attitude, albeit with funnier language than usual.

The law requires the Commission to determine if the change is stylistically compatible with other structures in the historic district. The Commission wryly states that Burke Hall and its new lighting plan is "stylistically compatible with itself." That is, we suppose, ugly, inappropriate and undeniably, tautologically true.

The second bit of foolishness is a more mundane error. The Commission says the lighting plan is "consistent with other site lighting the GPC has approved." The Commission cites no previous cases. We suspect this is because there are none. This much we do know: No other building in the historic district lights its exterior walls with flood lights. Not the Granville Inn. Not the Buxton Inn. A few buildings (Theta House, Monomoy) light their trees with modest lights. The wall at Denison's entrance is lit with a single flood light. And wooden signs around town are lit by light. So while many college towns are moving toward Dark Sky ordinances and sensible lighting, our Planning Commission approves the alien idea of lighting the daylights out of the only building that doesn't fit into Granville's historic architecture.

How bright you ask? The most powerful spotlight you can buy at the IGA generates 1,000 lumens or so. Burke Hall's six new halogen/tungsten floodlights each generate 6,600 lumens aimed at the white building. Another 15 floodlights will illuminate the trees and shrubbery with 6,600 lumens each.

Burke Hall - home to many wonderful performances - will be prepared to start spinning into outer space. Short of that, the lights might help attract the wrecking ball. Denison's long-term plan, as soon as funding arrives, is to tear down Burke Hall. It will be replaced with a new theater on the front of the lawn, near West Broadway.

Maybe Frank Gehry can design it. Maybe something like his Experience Music Project building in Seattle, Washington could grace our historic district. (No, those aren't mountains, it's the building!)

The Planning Commission's decision - "compatible with itself" - will be a helpful precedent. With its reputation for candor, it might even add. "...and nothing else."