This week, the Senate Transportation Committee approved H198, DOT Legislative Changes, without amending the bill to change language that expands tree-cutting permissions around billboards, as we sought.
H198 is a collection of changes requested or negotiated by the Department of Transportation. The objectionable provision (starting at the bottom of page 6 in the bill's current version) would double the current cut area around billboards, which would include trees that are not even in the sightline of a billboard. It also allows for the taking of native redbuds, which is currently prohibited.
Sen. Julie Mayfield (District 49, Buncombe) ran a compromise amendment that would allow for a smaller expansion of the cut zone and remove changes to the status of redbuds, but it was defeated on a voice vote.
Part of Senator Mayfield's – and our – concern was that the environmental advocates were kept out of the negotiations between DOT staff and billboard owners. The bill makes a stop in the Senate Finance Committee at 2 p.m. Tuesday before it will head to a floor vote.
TAKE ACTION:
We set up an action alert yesterday for Sierra Club members and supporters to ask their state senators to oppose the bill unless the billboard language is amended or withdrawn altogether. We'll keep promoting it right up to a floor vote. If you haven't already participated, please do - and share it with your friends!
Jockey's Ridge protection supported, Building Code Council faces changes
The Senate approved H426, Various Environmental Amendments. It includes an important section to protect Jockey’s Ridge, ignoring the traditional rule making process that has become the subject of a power struggle. (We ran an action alert early this year to support the Coastal Resources Commission in the fight that's described in the linked article.) The bill requires a House concurrence vote before it will be sent to Governor Cooper for his signature.
S166, Building Code Regulatory Reform, passed the House. Of note, the bill restructures the Building Code Council by removing four members, reducing the governor’s appointments, and requiring the governor’s appointments be confirmed.