ORANGE : Public Outcry Rescues Rooftop Critters

A 10-foot rooster and a life-size plexiglass horse were saved by hundreds of people, from Orange to Los Angeles, who rallied to their aid.

City zoning enforcement officers had cited the owners of the creatures, which are on the roofs of Jack’s Broaster and The Feed Barn, for sign code violations last month, despite the many years they’ve been there without apparent problem.

The rooster has been on Jack’s for nearly 30 years, and the graceful white horse perched above The Feed Barn is pushing 20.

News of their possible demise hit the newspapers and television soon after the citations, and the public responded with letters and phone calls in support of the animals.

“I have never received in my life so many letters and phone calls,” Councilwoman Joanne Coontz said at last week’s council meeting. “We couldn’t wait for this meeting so we could do something about this.”

Angry council members grilled enforcement officials about the rationale for the violation notices.

“I am very disappointed that this occurred,” Councilman Mike Spurgeon said. “It portrays us unfairly as being anti-business in this community. . . . I think we literally put the cart before the horse.”

Enforcement officials explained that the animals--considered to be signs--would need a variance, a process that requires a public hearing and a $400 fee.

Council members insisted they do whatever is necessary to waive fees and avoid the hassles of a hearing.

Spurgeon summed up the council’s direction for them: “Fix it.”

Councilman Mark Murphy agreed. “I believe these are landmarks and should be treated as such,” he said. “The only thing I want to hear about this is that those businesses have increased from all the PR.”