[Durham INC] Update on billboards

[Pat Carstensen]

The news wasn't bad this week (see below).  The News and Observer article is here:  http://www.newsobserver.com/news/local/article18725877.html
In general, another source says that the NC House has been the home of the "good fairies" that make bills less bad, but this year, lots of assaults on the environment are getting pushed hard in the House, and (based on previous history) can only get worse in the Senate.
Regards, pat 

Date: Fri, 17 Apr 2015 11:51:47 -0400
From: molly.diggins at sierraclub.org
Subject: Update: Your help is needed: billboard industry is back with a flash
To: NC-CONS-FORUM at LISTS.SIERRACLUB.ORG

Thanks for your help!  We were successful in getting the bill pulled back this week, though some version of it will likely be back next week. The League of Municipalities has contacted all its members statewide in opposition to the bill.  And the Charlotte Observer and News & Observer both gave the story front page coverage today.
Look for more updates from Cassie in her weekly legislative report.  Over the next two weeks, we will face an onslaught of bad bills, chasing the crossover deadline.  
Thanks in advance for responding to requests to contact your representatives!
Molly


On Tue, Apr 14, 2015 at 6:10 PM, Molly Diggins <molly.diggins at sierraclub.org> wrote:
You may recall a hugely contentious debate over billboards (vegetation removal) a few years ago.  The billboard industry got a number of concessions. Now they are back, asking for even more outrageous giveaways.
H 304, Revisions to Outdoors Advertising Laws,  will be heard tomorrow in House Commerce at 11:00 a.m.  We expect the sponsor,  House conference leader Mike Hager, will push to move the bill quickly to the Senate; where it is only likely to get worse.
Here's what H 304 does:  prevents the NCDOT from refusing a billboard permit because it is inconsistent with a local government rule. That will moot local communities’ ability to enforce local ordinances (such as tree ordinances) that impact the appearance of its roadways;allows billboard companies to convert existing billboards (even non-conforming ones!) to digital signs, at will. There are more than 7500 billboards on federal aid primary roads in NC.changes the current formula to compensate owners of signs which have to be removed or relocated to accommodate a road expansion or infrastructure upgrade.  Taxpayers would have to pay the much higher price tag for the revenue value of the signs -- instead of the replacement value. A policy in Minnesota that’s similar to the revenue provision in H 304 cost taxpayers $4.3 million to remove just one sign in St. Paul as part of a bridge replacement. 
Look for an action alert tomorrow in Footnotes-on-Line. Or better yet  don't wait, and contact your House member tonight. Ask him or her to OPPOSE  H 304.
And please share this message with your personal networks!
Thanks for your help!
Molly






-- 
Molly Diggins, State DirectorNC Sierra Club19  W. Hargett Street Suite 210Raleigh NC 27601919.833-8467 molly.diggins at sierraclub.org

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