Scenic Impacts
Billboards, Light Pollution, Roadside Management
Scenic Views and Outdoor Advertising
Scenic Kentucky, a KCC partner organization, has been in opposition to the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet’s changes to its Administrative Regulations. These include:
Electronic Advertising Devices / Billboards – A recent set of Administrative Regulations overturns the Highway Beautification act of 1965 prohibition of these type billboards originally noted as very unsafe:
The cabinet now allows a swap of 6 static boards for 1 LED board or 3 to 1 depending on the roadway. The minimum size of the swap board could be 50 sq. ft. for a sign up to 672 sq. ft.
There is no requirement for a setback of the board from an on or off ramp of a roadway – raising many questions about ramp and intersection safety.
The proposed night light level is 3 times as bright as that recommended for driver’s safety.
Static Advertising Devices / Billboards – Requirements under the 1958 Bonus Act have been dropped – Kentucky signed the Bonus Act agreement in 1961. These changes are:
The cabinet dropped the requirement for 10 businesses in rural areas with one in operation since 1959, opening many new locations along the Interstates and Parkways of Kentucky.
The cabinet dropped the 1,620 foot setback in non-urban areas for Interstates and Parkways to a 660 foot setback, opening new sites bypassed because of the many hilly areas in rural Kentucky.
Light Pollution
According to the International Dark Skies Association, the inappropriate or excessive use of artificial light – known as light pollution – can have serious environmental consequences for humans, wildlife, and our climate. Components of light pollution include:
Glare – excessive brightness that causes visual discomfort
Skyglow – brightening of the night sky over inhabited areas
Light trespass – light falling where it is not intended or needed
Clutter – bright, confusing and excessive groupings of light sources
Scientific evidence suggests that artificial light at night has negative and deadly effects on many creatures including amphibians, birds, mammals, insects and plants.
Resources:
Roadside Vegetation Management
Removal and Pruning of Vegetation is approved along all state and federal highways.
Removal and pruning of vegetation in the public right-of-way has been repeatedly denied for approximately 14 years by the state legislature but was addressed through administrative regulations. There has been no showing of a public good for such permission. Scenic Kentucky notes the purpose for highway maintenance that billboards cannot meet are:
Add to the safety of the motoring public;
Eliminate any hazard to personal property;
Enhance the visibility for the traveling public; and
Eliminate unsightly conditions improving roadway aesthetics.
Scenic Kentucky has sued the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet over the recent permissive Administrative Regulations changes made to the long standing prohibitions addressing LED billboards, clearing of vegetation in the public right-of-way, and setback distances in rural areas of the state.
