Boards consider shortening Lindbergh mural
Charles Lindbergh may get the bottom portion of his legs cut off so he will only stand 35 feet tall in Ramona’s Old Town.
Members of the Ramona Design Review Board agreed with Ramona H.E.A.R.T. Mural Project members on Jan. 28 that the 40-foot-tall mural of Lindbergh, formerly on the San Diego International Airport commuter terminal, would be a bit overwhelming for the side of the Masonic Lodge building where it is proposed to be placed.
Even at 35 feet, Lindbergh’s head and shoulders will rise above the roof of the building at Main and Ninth streets. Mural project board president Elaine Lyttleton said a parapet will be built on the roof behind the mural.
The mural was painted by John and Jeanne Whalen, who created Ramona’s first mural, Casey Tibbs, in 2012. Lyttleton said at that time the board asked the Whalens about the Lindbergh mural, which had been removed from the terminal building. When the Whalens got the mural back, they offered to sell it to the Ramona mural project.
“This is one of our most financially ambitious projects,” said Lyttleton, adding that they will have fundraisers.
The Masonic Lodge has agreed to having the mural on its building, which Lyttleton said is the tallest one downtown. After researching online, Lyttleton said she learned that Lindbergh was a Mason.
Lyttleton said they plan to paint the side of the building a shade of blue for the background.
“The actual mural is these panels that’s just his body,” she explained.
Whether to paint the whole side of the building blue or just part of it was discussed. The board tabled a vote, asking Lyttleton to bring the specific shade of blue and and a good representation of how the side of the building will look to the board’s next meeting, Feb. 25.
In other business, the board approved a front facade, mural and signage, as presented by David Begent, for 2Create Gallery, a nonprofit art galley to be opened at 438 Main St.
The board also approved minor changes to Mountain View Community Church’s expansion plans. Hedy Levine with Civil Engineering Environmental Land Surveying said the board last saw the plans in December 2014, but due to fundraising issues, they have made a change in the four-phase plans. The church is near the corner of state Route 78 and Ash Street.
Levine said phase one will still be constructing a skybridge between the sanctuary and education buildings. Instead of building a new sanctuary in phase 2, Levine said that will be built in phase 3, and an education building planned for phase 3 will now be constructed in phase 2. A wastewater treatment facility will also be built in phase 3. In phase 4, a building for programs, additional parking and a biorention area will be constructed. Plans also call for installing an 8-1/2-foot-wide decomposed granite trail on the north side of Ash Street.
Although the agenda listed a preliminary review for an agricultural building/marijuana growing facility near Pine and Poplar streets, the applicant did not attend the meeting. A presentation had been given at the board’s Dec. 17 meeting, but members had some concerns about the size and look for the proposed metal structure and asked for more information.
Board chair Rob Lewallen said the applicant, Dino Berardino, sent him information about new plans for the building, which appears to be on a better track to making it fit with the character of the community.
Lewallen also announced that the board will be looking for applicants to fill a vacant seat as member Carol Close has resigned.