Carl Behr Gives His Side of the Large Wooden Cross Story

Carl Behr, a home remodeler who lives at 1210 Robbins St., invited the Baldwin-Whitehall Patch into his home on Tuesday afternoon, Feb. 15, to talk about a 24-foot-high wooden cross in his yard. Behr has received national attention recently after the ordered him to take down his cross due to a violation of borough code.

Behr received a letter from the borough on Monday, Feb. 14, explaining to him that the 24-foot-high cross – one of several wooden crosses on his property – is a “structure” and that that structure is not in conformance with borough code.

The letter also stated that another wooden cross on his roof (not as tall) might also be in violation of structure code.

Behr has been given five days upon receiving the borough’s letter to take down the 24-foot-high cross or face penalty.

That the borough is citing structure code to force Behr to take down his cross is a new development, as Behr said that the B-W Patch is the first news outlet that he showed his letter from the borough to.

Many had thought that Behr’s cross, which is covered in holiday lighting, was actually in violation of borough lighting code. However, even if a newly proposed lighting ordinance passes at a borough council meeting tonight, Feb. 15 – the meeting starts at 7:30 p.m. at 3344 Churchview Ave. – that ordinance would still allow Behr to keep his lighted structure up for three years from the date of the new ordinance’s approval.

Borough Solicitor Stanley B. Lederman spoke about the proposed new ordinance (currently labeled as No. 01-11-01) at . At that meeting, Lederman said that the ordinance (still officially a bill) provides guidelines and standards for lighting. Essentially, the bill is designed to prevent harsh lights on properties in the borough from disturbing residents of other properties in the borough (lights that are a “public nuisance,” as Lederman said).

However, should lights already exist in the borough that are in violation of this bill prior to the enactment of this bill, the bill allows for a three-year grace period to have those lights brought into compliance before a citation is issued.

The bill could become enacted at the Feb. 15 borough meeting, but as aforementioned, Behr – who said that he will attend the Feb. 15 meeting and plead his case – would have three years to alter or take down his lighted cross before facing penalty.

Borough Manager of the Borough of Baldwin, John M. Barrett, told the B-W Patch via email on Feb. 14 that if bill No. 01-11-01 passes, it would become ordinance No. 833. You can view the bill on the Baldwin Borough website here.

Regardless, if Behr’s cross is being ruled as a violation of structure code, the new lighting code could become an unrelated issue.

It is believed that Behr’s cross first came to the attention of borough officials only after his neighbor, Lisa Fera, complained about its strong lighting.

Indeed, Behr’s cross is well-lit with holiday decorations, and when activated, it shines directly over Fera’s home at 1204 Robbins.

Fera has complained to borough officials, including , about Behr leaving the cross lit well into the evening and early-morning hours, causing her much annoyance.

The B-W Patch tried to interview Fera by knocking on her front door today, Feb. 15. Though someone inside her 1204 Robbins home looked at this writer out of a window of the home, no one answered the door after a second series of knocks.

Behr and his wife, Evonne, did have a lengthy conversation with this writer, though, and offered their side of the story.

Carl Behr said that he was unaware of a new lighting bill being put to vote on Feb. 15 and that the first time that he had heard of his wooden cross being a “structure” issue was in the letter that he received from the borough on Monday.

“I don’t plan on taking [the cross] down,” Carl said. “I’m going up there [to the borough meeting] tonight, and I’m gonna find out [why I have to take it down].

“Basically, I have a message to say there tonight. This whole thing just got way out of control. What kind of world is it where you’re trying to show your faith, and it seems like everybody just gets stomped on every time you talk about it? I don’t know; I don’t understand it.”

“They’re [the borough is] trying to say it’s a structure violation,” Evonne said, “but a cross – how’s that a structure?”

The letter sent to the Behrs said that, specifically, their 24-foot-high wooden cross violates borough ordinance No. 168-54, which covers “Requirements for permits” and states (as seen here), “A permit shall be required prior to grading, erection, construction, alteration or demolition of any building, structure or any portion thereof, prior to the moving of a building into the Borough, from one place in the Borough to another, prior to change in use of a building or land and prior to the change or extension of nonconforming use or questionable use.”

Given that wording, it appears that the Behrs’ best hope for fighting the borough on this matter would be to prove that nothing had been erected or constructed, but that could easily be a losing battle.

Still, it must be pointed out that the 24-foot-high cross was built on another large structure that had already existed on the Behrs’ property – a tall tree. Indeed, the borough would have a much harder time forcing the Behrs to take down a tree rather than a man-made cross.

Of course, the Behrs could always apply for a permit.

Carl admitted that he and Fera have a history of conflict. He said that he actually owns a building nearby that Fera used to live at; though, he said that he was never her landlord.

Carl also admitted that the 24-foot-high cross does shine on Fera’s house, but that it is not an attack on her.

Carl said that the smaller wooden cross on his roof is also lit but that he has not received any complaints about that one.

“This story has to come out for what it is,” Carl said, “not what it has turned into.

“This whole thing has been about religion … That’s what it’s been from the very beginning.”

Carl said that, if needed, he can change the angle of the tall cross’s lighting so that it doesn’t shine on Fera’s home. Or, as he said, he can put a spotlight on the cross instead of projecting light from it.

“I’m not gonna change the lighting now, because now they’re [the borough is] talking about structure,” Carl said. “If it became a lighting issue, then I would change the lights just to be neighborly.”

Carl, who said that he worships at , went on to talk more about his religion and the impact that his faith has had on his life.

“The Lord has had my back for many years,” Carl said. “I put this up in showing how I feel about Him. I’m sorry; I just can’t take it down.

“If this would have happened 30 years ago, [it wouldn’t be an issue]. In today’s age, what have we come to where we can’t even say ‘Merry Christmas’ to somebody without offending somebody’s rights? Or, a manger scene can’t go up on county property because atheism is just getting too strong.

“They’re [atheists are] actually starting to close the door on faith. That’s just the way I see it.

“If I can get just one person to think about the Lord with these signs [crosses] … that’s all I’m trying to do. I’m sorry that people are changing this into something that it’s not.

“You got these people out there saying, ‘Oh, he’s a Jesus freak.’

“You know, if you don’t believe in the Lord, keep it to yourself. It’s almost like the faithful people can’t even talk about their faith anymore because they’re going to offend somebody. It’s not right.”