ZONING CODES IN SOME CITIES AND TOWNS LIMIT WHAT SHADE YOU CAN PAINT YOUR HOUSE OR BUSINESS. THIS MIGHT HELP KEEP THE TOWN LOOKING SIMILAR. BUT ONE BUSINESS OWNER IN WISCONSIN, WANTS THE FREEDOM TO PAINT HER BUSINESS BRIGHT PINK! LET’S TAKE A LOOK.
REPORTER: BROOKE FLEETWOOD LOVES EVERYTHING ABOUT THE COLOR OF HER BUSINESS.
BROOKE FLEETWOOD OWNER/'PINK LADY': IT'S POSITIVE, IT'S BEAUTIFUL, I THINK IT'S BEAUTIFUL COLOR - PEOPLE KNOW ME AS PINK GIRL. THAT'S JUST WHO I AM THAT'S MY BUSINESS - EVERYTHING I OWN IS PINK ..."
REPORTER: SHE OWNS BB MAKE-UP COSMETIC BAR. SHE DOES BROWS, MAKE-UP, LASHES AND HAIR -- ALL SURROUNDED BY HER FAVORITE COLOR.
BROOKE FLEETWOOD OWNER/'PINK LADY': EVERYTHING IN HERE IS PINK, PINK SPARKLY WALL PAPER, PINK CHAIRS, PINK MAKE-UP BRUSHES, PINK DESK, PINK FLOWERS 8:01 ..."
REPORTER: TWO MONTHS AGO SHE DECIDED TO MAKE THE OUTSIDE MATCH THE INSIDE.
BROOKE FLEETWOOD OWNER/'PINK LADY': PINK IS MY BRAND, IT'S MY TRADEMARK, IT'S WHO I AM 3:17 ..."
REPORTER: THE CITY -- RIGHT ACROSS THE STREET -- SENT HER THIS NOTICE.
SAYING THE PAINTING IS IN VIOLATION OF CITY CODE.
BUILDINGS INSTEAD SHOULD "CONSIST OF SUBTLE, NEUTRAL OR MUTED COLORS, WITH LOW REFLECTANCE."
RECOMMENDED COLORS ARE LISTED.
BROOKE FLEETWOOD OWNER/'PINK LADY': IT'S JUST KIND OF CRAZY, WE'RE FIGHTING OVER A PAINT COLOR ..."
REPORTER: THERE ARE OTHER COLORFUL BUSINESSES IN TOWN -- BUT THEY WERE GRANDFATHERED IN -- BEFORE THE ZONING CODE CHANGED.
FLEETWOOD HAS NO PLANS TO ADJUST THE HUE.
BROOKE FLEETWOOD OWNER/'PINK LADY': YOU GOTTA MAKE THINGS BETTER, I'M MAKING THIS BETTER, HAPPY
RICK: NOW THAT'S BRIGHT! SO WE WANT TO KNOW FROM YOU - DO YOU THINK THERE SHOULD BE LAWS THAT DECIDE WHAT COLOR YOU CAN PAINT YOUR HOUSE? OR SHOULD YOU BE ALLOWED TO PAINT YOUR PLACE ANY COLOR YOU WANT? WRITE TO US AND LET US KNOW WHAT YOU THINK AND WHAT COLORS SHOULD BE ALLOWED.
Find Out More
Videos: Big Kids, Little City, Zoning | Watch all the animated videos in this series to learn about urban planning.
Document: Canadian Institute of Planners, A Kid’s Guide to Building Great Communities