Agenda - 08-17-2004-6a - Laserfiche WebLink

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NC SCENIC BYWAYS Q &A: Q. What are North Carolina Scenic Byways? A. North Carolina's Scenic Byways enable motorists to reach into the heart and soul of the tarheel state by way of our arterial road network. They byways provide visitors and residents a less congested route and a chance to see some of America's most beautiful landscapes. These Scenic Byways are designated by the North Carolina Department of Transportation to give travelers a chance to experience a bit of North Carolina history, geography and culture while raising awareness for their protection and preservation. The routes were carefully selected to include state highways and secondary roads and embody the diverse beauty and culture of North Carolina. Q. What is the history of North Carolina Scenic Byways? or How did it begin? A. In mid to late 1980s petitions arrived in Gov. Jim Martin's office requesting the state to develop a network of scenic roads. In July 1988, the Division of Highways proposed that the department preserve historic points of interest along the roadways through the use of scenic byways. The duty to investigate a system of scenic byways was given to the Landscape Unit (Roadside Environmental Unit). A task force of various inter- agency representatives was assembled to establish program guidelines and criteria. In March 1990, after a year's development, the program was approved unanimously by the NC Board of Transportation. The Board's decision included the initial designation of 31 scenic byways (distributed evenly across the state, from the Smoky Mountains to the piedmont and sandhills to our coastal plains and outer banks). The program lumbered along for the next several years without strong financial support. In 1993 two events happened to define the future course of North Carolina Scenic Byways. First, funding was appropriated to print logo signs (and erect them along each byway route) and print a booklet to promote all North Carolina Scenic Byways. The second event was state legislation passed 'officially' authorizing the Department of Transportation to designate and manage a state scenic byway program (at this time the Roadside Environmental Unit (R.E.U.) began work on Administrative Codes or policies to set guidelines for the administration of the program). The legislative bill also regulated and eliminated the possibility of any new billboards being erected on state designated byway routes. A byway program kickoff was held along the French Broad River (in western NC) in the fall of 1994. At this time, the booklet was completed and all byway routes were appropriately signed. The process to approve `administrative codes' was a longer and more involved process, but in the March of 1995 these management policies were registered. A structured procedure of designating new byways (with greater public involvement) was instituted. Seven new byways were added to the fold in the Spring of. 1996 and an additional six in April, 1997 which raises the total of North Carolina Scenic Byways to 44. These new byways were incorporated into an updated edition of the t'NC Scenic Byways" booklet. A home page for the Scenic Byways Program is being worked on and several new projects will be instituted to bring North Carolina Scenic Byways to the traveling public. Q. How does a scenic byway get designated? A. First and foremost, the North Carolina based non - profit organization or public establishment interested in getting a route designated should contact the scenic byway office in Raleigh. The scenic byway office will forward information on the program and a study list application to the interested party. The byway proponent fills out the application (which asks basic questions about the proposed byway) and sends it back. A review of the study list application will determine whether the route has the potential for designation. If not, the byway office will work with the group to investigate other possibilities. If the route has the basic potential to be considered for byway designation the route is put on a study list and a more formal and in -depth application is forwarded to the byway proponent This application requires a considerable amount of information and time (i.e. slides of the byways characteristi cs, copies of zoning ordinances, proof of public support for the nomination, etc.). Once the application is returned it is reviewed for its content and a report of the application is developed with a visual inventory of the route (the visual and scenic quality of the route is examined by a team of R.E.U. employees). The report with a staff recommendation is passed onto the Board of Transportation (who retains the authority to designate scenic byways) and the Board considers the application and votes on its approval. After a route is designated it is signed and included in the next publication of the `NC Scenic Byways' booklet.