Indiana95
10-06-2006, 08:18 PM
http://www.palmbeachdailynews.com/news/content/news/100406MarFlag.html
It's a stunning sight, but shouldn't the Donald have to follow the law like the rest of us?
Trump rallies 'round the flag
What he so proudly he hailed is too high-flying for town code.
By MARGIE KACOHA
Daily News Staff Writer
Thursday, October 05, 2006
Donald Trump's 15- by 25-foot American flag flies atop an 80-foot flagpole at The Mar-a-Lago Club. Planning, Zoning and Building Department Director Veronica Close says town code limits flags to 4 feet by 6 feet and poles to 42 feet.
Permits? We don't need no stinkin' permits.
So says Donald Trump in response to town code requirements that he needed to run his 15- by 25-foot American flag by the town's building department before running it up an 80-foot flagpole.
The towering monument to patriotism was erected on The Mar-a-Lago Club's front lawn Tuesday. It's built to withstand a Category 5 hurricane and is a "far superior flagpole than others throughout the town," according to Trump.
In a Sept. 29 letter to town officials, Trump informed them of his intent to plant the Stars and Stripes for all on South Ocean and Southern boulevards to see.
"Please consider this a statement and gift from me to the Town and people of Palm Beach," the letter states. Town officials received the letter Tuesday.
But, according to town Planning, Zoning and Building Department Director Veronica Close, Palm Beach limits the height of flagpoles to 42 feet and the size of flags to 4 feet by 6 feet.
According to Close, Trump needed a building permit and Landmarks Preservation Commission approval for the flag and pole.
"The pole appears too tall and the flag appears too large for code," Close said. "We told him he needs to take it down."
Close delivered the news to Trump during a phone conversation Wednesday afternoon. She described the exchange as "cordial."
According to the town and Trump, he will send one of his club representatives to Town Hall today to talk things over.
The flag is lighted, meaning it can remain up at night.
In his letter, Trump said he was moved to put the flag up in honor of "our great Country, and the brave men and women of the armed forces."
"Obviously, permits are not necessary to put up an American flag," Trump said. "It's freedom of speech.
"I'm a great American," Trump added.
According to Tony Senecal, Trump's Palm Beach butler, "the boss" is following suit at all of his resort properties, including his golf club in West Palm Beach.
"It's a Donald Trump American flag," Senecal said of the Palm Beach installation. "I want to salute it every time I go by."
Trump did the same thing recently at his golf resort in Rancho Palos Verdes, Calif.
There, he raised the town's ire when he raised the American flag 70 feet without the required permit.
He applied for a permit after it was installed. His request was denied.
An appeal to the City Commission resulted in a compromise proposal to move the flagpole and flag to city property adjacent to the Trump club, where it will be under city control, according to Rancho Palos Verdes officials.
It's a stunning sight, but shouldn't the Donald have to follow the law like the rest of us?
Trump rallies 'round the flag
What he so proudly he hailed is too high-flying for town code.
By MARGIE KACOHA
Daily News Staff Writer
Thursday, October 05, 2006
Donald Trump's 15- by 25-foot American flag flies atop an 80-foot flagpole at The Mar-a-Lago Club. Planning, Zoning and Building Department Director Veronica Close says town code limits flags to 4 feet by 6 feet and poles to 42 feet.
Permits? We don't need no stinkin' permits.
So says Donald Trump in response to town code requirements that he needed to run his 15- by 25-foot American flag by the town's building department before running it up an 80-foot flagpole.
The towering monument to patriotism was erected on The Mar-a-Lago Club's front lawn Tuesday. It's built to withstand a Category 5 hurricane and is a "far superior flagpole than others throughout the town," according to Trump.
In a Sept. 29 letter to town officials, Trump informed them of his intent to plant the Stars and Stripes for all on South Ocean and Southern boulevards to see.
"Please consider this a statement and gift from me to the Town and people of Palm Beach," the letter states. Town officials received the letter Tuesday.
But, according to town Planning, Zoning and Building Department Director Veronica Close, Palm Beach limits the height of flagpoles to 42 feet and the size of flags to 4 feet by 6 feet.
According to Close, Trump needed a building permit and Landmarks Preservation Commission approval for the flag and pole.
"The pole appears too tall and the flag appears too large for code," Close said. "We told him he needs to take it down."
Close delivered the news to Trump during a phone conversation Wednesday afternoon. She described the exchange as "cordial."
According to the town and Trump, he will send one of his club representatives to Town Hall today to talk things over.
The flag is lighted, meaning it can remain up at night.
In his letter, Trump said he was moved to put the flag up in honor of "our great Country, and the brave men and women of the armed forces."
"Obviously, permits are not necessary to put up an American flag," Trump said. "It's freedom of speech.
"I'm a great American," Trump added.
According to Tony Senecal, Trump's Palm Beach butler, "the boss" is following suit at all of his resort properties, including his golf club in West Palm Beach.
"It's a Donald Trump American flag," Senecal said of the Palm Beach installation. "I want to salute it every time I go by."
Trump did the same thing recently at his golf resort in Rancho Palos Verdes, Calif.
There, he raised the town's ire when he raised the American flag 70 feet without the required permit.
He applied for a permit after it was installed. His request was denied.
An appeal to the City Commission resulted in a compromise proposal to move the flagpole and flag to city property adjacent to the Trump club, where it will be under city control, according to Rancho Palos Verdes officials.