Annoyed by code violation, homeowner commissions mural to spite local officials

A California boat owner's ingenuity is gaining attention after he commissioned a mural of his vessel to sidestep demands from officials while complying with city codes in his own "tongue-in-cheek" way.

Officials in Seaside, California, told Etienne Constable the boat parked in his driveway needed to be hidden from view or Constable could face a $100 fine. So, the homeowner erected a fence in the middle of his driveway, hiding the boat.

Sort of.

Because the fence showcases a hyper-realistic mural depicting the 19-foot Arima Sea Ranger, the view from the street hasn't changed much. The "illusion," as the mural's artist describes it, lines up perfectly with elements of the real world, like shrubs, as well as the side of Constable's home, which is just northeast of Monterrey.

"This struck me as the right way to go, and something that makes my house unique," Constable told USA TODAY.

Next-door neighbor and longtime artist Hanif Panni painted the mural − and Constable paid him far more than $100 to do so, the artist said.

City Hall officials, rather than feel defeated by Constable's roundabout compliance, celebrated his idea.

"I applaud the constituent's creative approach, which not only addresses compliance but also showcases a community-driven solution," City Council member Alexis García-Arrazola told USA TODAY.

Artist relied on photos for hyper-realistic look

Panni said he was motivated to paint the mural because he wanted to help Constable jump through a "bureaucratic hoop" while complying with the rules in a creative way. Now, he said, passersby will be able to view art that didn't exist before, he said.

Panni, 42, and Constable, 61, took photos of the boat sitting in the driveway and the artist sketched out an outline on the fence before he began painting.

"It's kind of this illusion where you can see the boat, and what's behind it is mixed with the mural," he said, describing the final product, completed May 3.

Code violation for parking boat 'in public view'

In 2023, a Seaside code compliance specialist sent Constable a notice telling him he was in violation of a rule prohibiting residents from parking boats, RVs and trailers in public view − including vehicles parked on private property.

To avoid a fine, Constable needed to erect a screen or other covering shielding his boat from the street.

Such ordinances ensure large vehicles, which can be difficult to maintain, are hidden from sight to keep overall property values high, City Manager Nick Borges told USA TODAY. Sometimes, Borges said, vehicle owners don't do a job good of cleaning up leaking oil and other sanitary problems tied to vehicles.

“There’s an importance to some of these codes, so that doesn’t occur," Borges said.

At the time Constable received his notice about the boat, Borges said, the city was ramping up its code enforcement efforts after years of letting violations fall by the wayside. As a result, Constable was notified of his violation for the first time in July 2023 after having parked the boat in the same spot for around four years, Constable said.

It makes sense that Constable was frustrated, Borges said, because his boat has always appeared to be well-maintained. In the end, the mural was a fun solution, the city manager said.

"The only action to take at this point is a high-five to the owner," Borges said.

'I hit a sweet spot'

Constable said he wanted to make a point about "ridiculous" city codes without getting into a legal battle with the mayor's office.

"I did it to stick my thumb in your eye, but I did it in a way that's nonoffensive, doesn't hurt anybody, doesn't take anything from anyone," Constable said. "I feel like I hit the sweet spot, and got my point across."

Constable got the boat four years ago, and often takes it out into Monterrey Bay and toward Santa Cruz and Big Sur, he said. He's a fan of fishing, often hunting for halibut and rockfish, and when he can, salmon and tuna, he said.

Now, having the mural be a public, artistic part of the neighborhood "is something I'm very proud of," he said.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Seaside California resident commissions mural to spite local officials