[Durham INC] Veto the Billboard Bill

[Ed Harrison]

Senate Bill 183 – Selective Vegetation Removal/State Highways (Brown)  
was approved by the House Commerce Business and Labor Committee  
Wednesday, after an amendment requiring billboard owners to replant  
around billboard sites where trees and vegetation are removed was  
clarified. As currently written, the bill intrudes on local interests  
by expanding the tree cut zone and allows clear cutting around  
billboards as follows: (1) 380 feet on all state highways outside of  
the ETJ/city limits; (2) 340 feet on interstate highways/controlled  
access routes within city/ETJ; and (3) 250 feet on all other roads  
within city/ETJ. Local tree preservation ordinances are preempted  
within the tree cut zones... The bill will be considered on the House  
Floor next Monday.

Ed Harrison


On Jun 10, 2011, at 8:03 PM, Kelly Jarrett wrote:

> Tom, et al--
> Is there a bill number we should use in our emails?
> Kelly
>
> On 6/10/2011 7:57 PM, Tom Miller wrote:
>>
>> Dear Neighbors:
>>
>> This week there were really ugly developments in the fight over the  
>> billboard bill.  The industry and the sponsors took all the fee  
>> provisions out of it.  Under the bill as it is now written, a  
>> billboard owner would have to pay nothing to cut a huge swath of  
>> trees from the public right of way to “improve” the visibility of  
>> his billboard.  The bill would prevent state or local government  
>> form being able to prevent this cutting with beautification  
>> measures or tree-save ordinances.  North Carolina will become  
>> another billboard state like South Carolina or Alabama.  How short  
>> sighted.
>>
>> The sponsors and the industry have refused to consider including  
>> language in the bill that expressly preserves a local government’s  
>> right to regulate the size and placement of billboards within the  
>> local jurisdiction.  Without such language, billboards will become  
>> the “sacred cow” of laws designed to protect neighborhoods, the  
>> environment, and our state’s incredible scenic beauty.  The  
>> billboard industry is like the “little foxes” of Bible fame.  They  
>> want to eat the grapes that belong to everyone and spoil the  
>> vineyard.
>>
>> As the General Assembly session winds down, legislative business  
>> becomes frantic.  Committee meetings are held in the evenings with  
>> little or no notice.  Changes get made before anyone has a chance  
>> to see them, read, them , or object.  It appears that the billboard  
>> folks having been waiting for this moment to out-maneuver the  
>> opposition.  The billboard bill may pass next week and go to  
>> Governor Perdue’s desk for ratification or veto.
>>
>> It’s hard to believe that this legislation has got this far when  
>> polls show that by a four-to-one margin, North Carolinians oppose it!
>>
>> Here’s what you can do:
>>
>> 1)      Email every member of your community’s legislative  
>> delegation.  It doesn’t matter what district you live in, e-mail  
>> all the members of the house and senate from your town or county  
>> (changing district lines under the current redistricting have all  
>> members nervous).  Tell them to vote “NO!” on the billboard bill.   
>> You can get your senate and house members’ e-mail addresses at www.ncleg.net 
>> .  If you want, e-mail every member of the General Assembly!
>>
>> Also
>>
>> 2)      Email Governor Perdue’s office and ask her to “Veto the  
>> billboard bill!”  The governor’s e-mail address is governor.office at nc.gov 
>> .
>>
>> Visit www.savetheview.org for more information on the billboard  
>> bill battle.
>>
>> Together, NC neighborhoods will make a difference!
>>
>> Thank you very much.
>>
>> The InterNeighborhood Council of Durham
>>
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