Purple haze consumes discussion at Lodi Planning Commission meeting
Vibrant dental office on Kettleman Lane turns heads, draws criticism
A boldly colored dental office on Kettleman Lane that has drawn the attention of many passers-by became a topic of discussion during Wednesday’s Lodi Planning Commission meeting.
After receiving numerous calls of concern and curiosity in regards to Bethel Kids Dental Office, located at 531 W. Kettleman Lane, members of the commission and other city officials were hoping the office would tone down its bright purple coloring to blend in with the surrounding area along the busy commercial corridor.
However, at this point the business is unwilling to make any changes to the building.
“It’s a dental office that provides services to children, and they wanted to paint it colors that would be inviting to the children. They wanted to make it a fun place so it isn’t as scary,” Lodi City Planner Craig Hoffman explained. “It’s just a color scheme that isn’t consistent with the area. There’s been a number of complaints from the public to planning commission members and city council members.”
According to Hoffman, council members and commission members asked him to work with the property owner to see about changing the color to be consistent with the area.
“I talked to them, and they just really felt that color meets what they’re trying to do as a business,” Hoffman said.
So far Hoffman said he’s received about 15 complaints about the color of the building.
“I think the expectation is that the architecture and color schemes match the scale of the surrounding neighborhood, and it’s something that’s different. That’s for sure,” Hoffman said.
Hoffman has turned the matter over to code enforcement.
Hoffman said he has been in contact with the property owner, Dr. Ronaldo Opinga, since November about toning down the color.
Opinga said that before he even started his dental office he informed Hoffman that the colors would be bright. The business owners were asked to tone it down, and they did, he said, adding that it was costly to make the changes. Before making the changes, Opinga said his wife and contractors showed Hoffman an example of what the toned-down color would look like.
“They knew what color we were going to paint our building, and so we toned it down and they were still not happy with that,” Opinga said. “You have to understand that this is a pediatric office, that’s why we painted it that way. It’s a kid friendly office. The kids love it and the parents love it.”
Opinga says he was informed there were no zoning or building codes pertaining to the color of the building, but if there is a code violation they will be willing to change the color. He was surprised that there is so much concern with the color of the dental office.
“Before we even painted, we had to go to the city multiple times to make sure that it’s OK, but there are no building or zoning codes on the paint. There are recommendations, I’ve heard, but other than that there are no codes.”
Opinga wants people to understand that the company’s color is purple, and that gray or black is not kid friendly.
“We’re here to please the kids,” Opinga said.
He pointed out that there were several other colorful businesses around the city and didn’t understand why
he was being targeted.
“We’re doing things for the community. We’re just opening up. If you’re going to target me why not target the other business owners as well,” Opinga said. “I wish we could come to a resolution. I’m not here to fight with the city.”
Planning Commission member Mitch Slater said that while he understands the colors are part of the business, they still didn’t blend in with the area.
“I don’t like to interfere with business. I feel strongly about supply and demand, and if a business wants to do something here in this town that we really shouldn’t be restricting that. They have there standard colors which is that god-awful purple,” Slater said. “I wouldn’t want to interfere with their business, but our job as planners is to make it work within the community. When I drive by their and look at all the different facades and facilities, that color just doesn’t blend in. It just doesn’t seem to be Lodi.”
Slater said he has had at least a dozen people contact him personally about this issue. He would like to see the color toned down to something that blends more with the area.
In the five years he’s been on the commission and eight years he was on the site architectural review committee, Slater said this is the first time he can remember an issue like this.
“I have not seen something that was this far out of sync with the city. This is the only time,” Slater said. “Maybe we should have a lot more purple buildings going up and down the street, then it would fit in. That’s another idea, Kettleman Lane can be purple.”