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RES - 2011 - 035 <br />ORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS <br />Resolution Expressing Orange County's Opposition To Senate Bill 183 <br />Regarding Regulation of Vegetation Removal For Outdoor Advertising <br />Structures and Preemption of Local Government Land Use Authority For <br />The Placement and Type of Outdoor Advertising (Billboards) <br />Whereas, the regulation of outdoor advertising structures has long been <br />considered a matter best left to local control and regulation, since each local <br />government reflects distinct community values on balancing the demands of <br />commerce with the preservation of the natural and visual environment, making it <br />undesirable, except for the billboard companies, to implement aone-size-fits-all <br />solution for perceived statewide billboard issues; and <br />Whereas, the 1965 federal Highway Beautification Act was primarily intended to <br />preserve scenic beauty along the nation's major roadways, particularly by <br />removing and regulating billboards because outdoor advertising structures have <br />long been regarded as aesthetic blemishes, particularly in undeveloped areas, <br />and can also create an unsafe traffic situation, distracting motorists; and <br />Whereas, Orange County has maintained consistent billboard regulations since <br />June 1984 when it adopted its- current outdoor sign standards in major <br />transportation corridors (Interstate 40, Interstate 85, U.S. 70, N.C. 86 and N.C. <br />57) as part of its zoning ordinance; and <br />Whereas, Orange County is noted for its excellent quality of life, based on a <br />longstanding commitment to the preservation of green space, the environment, <br />agriculture, and rural character, and safeguards these attributes and benefits <br />significantly from its tourism and housing industries in part by maintaining the <br />community's outdoor advertising standards consistent with its land use <br />regulations; and <br />Whereas, research cited by the American Planning Association reveals that <br />changeable copy LED billboards can be more distracting to motorists than <br />traditional billboards, even as a body of evidence grows indicating that <br />distractions both within and beyond the vehicle are hazards to safe driving; <br />NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Orange County Board of <br />Commissioners expresses its opposition to Senate Bill 183 and any other similar <br />legislation that attempts to 1) preempt local regulation of vegetation removal for <br />outdoor advertising and 2) ow:r~ride local government land use authority <br />regarding the placement and type of outdoor advertising, especially billboards. <br />BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Orange County Board of Commissioners <br />encourages members of the Orange County legislative delegation to oppose any <br />legislation which preempts local governmental regulation of vegetation removal <br />and landscape requirements for outdoor advertising and/or overrides local <br />government land use authority regarding the placement and type of outdoor <br />advertising (billboards). <br />This the 12th day of April 2011. ~~~1' <br />Bernadette Pelissier, Chair <br />Orange County Board of Commissioners <br />