ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1997, Roanoke Times
DATE: Sunday, February 9, 1997 TAG: 9702120022
SECTION: EDITORIAL PAGE: 2 EDITION: METRO
VIRGINIA'S Department of Transportation spends about $8 million annually on highway beautification, including the planting of wild flowers, shrubs and trees in median strips and on roadsides. The value to taxpayers is not simply cosmetic: Natural beauty bolsters economic development and tourism.
Think about it. How many new businesses are attracted to Virginia because they like the looks of the state's billboards? How many tourists travel here to take in the outdoor-advertising sights?
``Daddy, daddy, can we stop to see that big sign? Heck, that stupid tree is blocking my view.''
Not to worry. The House of Delegates has passed, and a Senate committee has OK'd, a measure to improve the visibility of more billboards by giving the ax to view-obstructing trees on public rights-of-way.
The legislation would allow chopping down of "unsightly" trees if they intrude on motorists' views of advertisements. The billboard industry points out that travelers often depend on such ads to locate hotels, restaurants and gas stations. Fair enough.
There is a balance, though, that this legislation clearly would upset. It would allow destruction of 30-foot trees on the public's land, even in front of billboards that don't conform to local, state or federal regulations.
So far, Virginia has done a better job than many states in keeping some restraint on billboards' sight pollution. Most people recognize that our natural tapestry of tree-rich mountains, rolling hillsides and flowered meadows draws more visitors and new residents than would unsightly, excessive roadside commercialism.
Virginians need to see this legislation for what it is: an attempt to serve not the public interest, but a special interest that contributes generously to lawmakers' political campaigns. The state Senate can still ax the bill.
LENGTH: Short : 39 linesby CNB