[Durham INC] Fw: MORE NEW RULES ADOPTED TO ALLOW BILLBOARD TREE CLEARING

[Melissa Rooney]

Please see below and send a quick letter/email/phone-call to the Governor.
governor.office at nc.gov


Thanks!
Melissa (Rooney)
______________

From: "Ben Hitchings" <info at nc-apa.org>

Date: January 27, 2012 2:38:39 PM EST

Subject: NEW RULES ADOPTED TO ALLOW BILLBOARD TREE CLEARING

Reply-To: "Info at NC-APA.org" <info at nc-apa.org>



Dear N.C. Planners,



Here's an important update on billboard tree cutting.



NEW RULES ADOPTED TO ALLOW BILLBOARD TREE CLEARING

On January 19, the N.C. Rules Review Commission approved temporary rules
that will allow billboard companies to cut down more public trees (that
is, in the public right-of-way) along interstates and major roadways.
The rules are the result of a controversial bill, Senate Bill 183, which
was passed last year by the NC General Assembly at the request of the
billboard industry.



The new rules not only significantly expand the cutting zone around
billboards, but also allow all vegetation, even very large trees, to be
clear cut. Prior DOT regulations allowed only for more selective
cutting. The visual impact may be considerable, especially where trees
are hiding uses or structures that are currently obscured from view.



The effective date for the temporary rules is March 1. This means that
billboard companies can begin applying for the tree cutting permits in
the very near future.



The final version of the temporary rules has not been published. NCAPA
will send out the final rules when they are published.



VOICING YOUR CONCERNS

If you are concerned about what's happening with the billboard tree
clearing rules and their impact on your community and the state, ask the
Governor to challenge the rules and to decline to enforce the rules by
not issuing permits for two reasons:

1. To allow an opportunity for the Attorney General to offer an opinion
on the constitutionality of the rules. (This is especially timely in
light of the very recent Georgia Supreme Court decision issuing an
injunction on tree-cutting for a very similar set of concerns)

2. Inadequate public input. The rules will have a disproportionate
impact on western NC and citizens in the west requested a hearing, but
it was denied.



RECENT MEDIA COVERAGE



See article from Raleigh News and Observer on 1/25/12 titled Roadside
trees will be lost to billboards: http://bit.ly/wQAw9I
<http://www.mynewsletterbuilder.com/tools/refer.php?s=5367573855&u=25615
317&v=3&key=24d9&skey=bdabbbc3d8&url=http%3A%2F%2Fbit.ly%2FwQAw9I>



See article from Times-News (Hendersonville): http://bit.ly/AaAn0B
<http://www.mynewsletterbuilder.com/tools/refer.php?s=5367573855&u=25615
319&v=3&key=ea86&skey=bdabbbc3d8&url=http%3A%2F%2Fbit.ly%2FAaAn0B>



See editorial from Times-News: http://bit.ly/xTLqFp
<http://www.mynewsletterbuilder.com/tools/refer.php?s=5367573855&u=25615
321&v=3&key=f681&skey=bdabbbc3d8&url=http%3A%2F%2Fbit.ly%2FxTLqFp>



For more information, please contact Dale McKeel at
dale_mckeel at yahoo.com.



Thanks for all you do to maintain the scenic beauty and quality of life
of North Carolina!

    
________________________________

    




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