Justice, 27 years late, for replaced windows

The Macon-Bibb County Planning and Zoning Commission has been busy.

In a recent meeting, as detailed in a report from our partners at The Macon Newsroom, they approved a slew of business activity. Oh, and I almost forgot — they also threatened to jail a 95-year-old Maconite over the windows on her home.

Yes, seriously.

Paula East, who lives on Walnut Street, replaced the windows on her historic home 27 years ago. She did so without the required government approvals, and now, nearly three decades later, Macon’s planners and zoners are mighty angry.

The chair takes “great offense” to what East did many years ago, according to one of the quotes from her in the article. The vice chair said he knows “what we’ve been doing about windows and we’re enforcing the regulation.”

What sparked these puffed-up responses and the sudden outrage? I guess it stems from one of East’s neighbors, who brought the matter to the commission’s attention after the local design review board reviewed the case and logically concluded that, since the windows were replaced so long ago, this should just be left alone.

Should East have sought approval for her project 20-some-odd-years ago? Sure. Is this even worth discussing in a government meeting today? No.

Instead of agreeing with the review board, the commission ordered East to, within 60 days, bring the windows up to snuff. She’ll have to replace them, I guess, even after neighbors and friends said the work would pose unnecessary health risks to the nonagenarian. If she doesn’t, she’ll face legal action, which could include a stay in the slammer or monetary fines.

Some people — including me — would call this entire thing petty, a waste of government resources and the reason planning and zoning commissions across the country are widely viewed as busybodies.

Don’t get me wrong. I think planning and zoning laws are necessary for an area’s logical and orderly development. I also think citizens should follow local laws and respect government authority. But this entire matter is ridiculous, especially when you consider that Georgia’s statute of limitations for some of the worst-possible offenses, such as forcible rape, is 15 years.

Macon-Bibb might not have a statute of limitations for East’s oh-so-terrible offense, but I think it’s time to let it go. I’m sure she’s been properly admonished.

Anyway, that’s the view from my window. I hope I don’t have to replace it anytime soon.

Joshua Wilson is our executive editor. Write to him at joshua@maconmelody.com.