--------------------by Jeffrey Hill

Boca Raton, FL -- On January 15th, 2008, the Community Appearance Board of Boca Raton, FL held their weekly meeting to approve and disapprove of 31 outdoor structures and public advertisements. The board is comprised of local architects and builders whose job it is to determine how far a frozen yogurt sign should be from the road, whether or not to remove a hair salon’s awning and how many windows a bus shelter should have, among other tasks. Their recommendations are unyielding -- businesses either submit redesigns, change the style of their shutters, take the signs out of their windows -- or else.

Brian Peters, owner of a local small business, admits that the city’s beauty and quality of life are the reasons he settled in Boca. “I appreciate that the CAB is trying to maintain the beauty,” said Peters. “But most of the time, their judgment can be extremely [subjective] and based on the personal preference of the board members. I can’t even tell you the name of my business because I don’t want the CAB up my ass.”

Fran’s Chicken, a restaurant that many called “a trademark of South Florida,” has the only neon sign in Boca. Neon is strictly forbidden in the town’s restrictions, but since Fran’s has been open for 48 years and their 50s-esque sign has become a historical icon of Boca, it has been spared. Josh Brownlee, the current owner of Fran’s, said that the neon sign isn’t going anywhere. “Fran and Joe Gerace, the original owners, sold the business in 2000 to Stacy Hayhurst, who had to fight the city to keep the sign. Eventually, they grandfathered it in, and we haven’t been bothered since.” Brian Peters called Fran’s neon sign, “a piece of public art and a thorn in the CAB’s side.”

Boca’s strict aesthetic guidelines were spawned by the visions of architect Addison Mizner, who in the 1920s transformed the undeveloped town into a luxury resort community. Mizner’s style is reflected in Boca Raton’s uniform Mediterranean design, which businesses are encouraged to follow. Gina Markus, a resident of South Florida, said that while Boca’s locals seem to enjoy the “cookie-cutter” atmosphere of its outward appearance, “There’s a set color palette that buildings have to fit in with. I have friends who have to get the color of their house approved by the board. I think that’s a little ridiculous.”

The Community Appearance Board claims that exquisite landscaping and dedicated space for natural parks are preferred substitutes for McDonalds’ golden arches. Peters disagrees, “The look of Boca has to appeal to everyone, not just people who are 70 years old."

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