Billboard bill should be nixed (Op Ed by Mayor Bellamy) (Asheville Citizen Times)
3:03 PM, May. 13, 2011
Written by Terry Bellamy
Nearly 80 percent of North Carolinians are opposed to the removal of more trees so billboards can be visible for a greater distance, according to a poll released by the N.C. League of Conservation Voters.
I am part of that 80 percent, and I believe that our citizens would agree. Trees and green spaces are more valuable to our community than increasing the prominence of billboards. Protecting our neighborhoods’ appearance reflects the values of our citizens and the message we want to project to our businesses and our visitors. That belief is a testament to our pride in our city and our commitment to its future.
In fact, our city and most in North Carolina have local ordinances to preserve trees and to limit billboards. Those rules are implemented with great care and thoughtfulness about the impact to our community, our roads and our economy. As a local government, we take great care to listen to our citizens when making these policies.
That’s why I am urging our legislators to reject the “Billboard Bill,” Senate Bill 183.
This legislation would dramatically expand the allowable cutting of trees along public roadways in front of billboards and allow clear cutting in front of existing billboards in our communities. In addition, it would limit our ability as cities and citizens to protect the appearance of our communities.
Specifically, trees and vegetation could be cleared in a 380-foot zone around billboards outside of cities and a 340-foot zone in cities along interstates and freeways, an increase from the current 250-foot cut zone.
The bill would prohibit enforcement of local tree ordinances in front of billboards along interstates and federally assisted highways. In addition, it would override the local enforcement measure of withholding electrical permits for noncompliant signs.
A number of organizations are also working to educate legislators about the pitfalls of this legislation. The bill is strongly opposed by neighborhood associations across the state, N.C. League of Municipalities, N.C. Association of County Commissioners, N.C. Metro Mayors Coalition, N.C. Planning Association, N.C. Sierra Club, and Preservation N.C.
We are asking legislators to protect the scenic beauty of our state and enable citizens to make their own decisions about their community appearance. We want them to fully understand the implications of the Billboard Bill, which would trade trees and beauty for large roadside billboards. Our citizens would not only lose a bit of pride in our community but their voice in shaping its future. Visitors’ impressions of our city and others across North Carolina would be damaged, threatening our $17 billion tourism industry and our ability to attract new industry. We all would lose.
I hope you will join me in contacting our legislators and encouraging them to vote for our city’s values and against the Billboard Bill.
Terry Bellamy is Mayor of Asheville.
