Spring / Summer Issue May, 2009

What Man Hath Wrought

Scenic Kentucky, Inc.

18 years of Successfully Defending Kentucky’s

Scenic Beauty

Scenic Kentucky’s yearly efforts in the General Assembly to protect the state’s scenic roadways come at some expense to the organization. However, we are recognized by the legislators as a strong “voice” for protecting the state’s natural beauty. The successes of this eighteen year Scenic Kentucky effort can be seen upon returning to Kentucky after traveling through the billboard strewn highways of other states.

This year, we were most fortunate to have had our President, Marlene Grissom, and our new lobbyist, Jerry Deaton, making important contacts with the legislative leadership. Early on we learned that no billboard piece of legislation would be entertained this session, due to the controversial nature of such a proposal during this short session. Even so, the billboard industry lobbyists sniffed around to see if anything could be tied to other bills – to no avail. The 2008 legislative session was a short one and so we should expect a more concerted effort next year. The following is a copy of the June 2008 front page of our Newsletter.

“The billboard industry lobbyists came to the General Assembly with a bill that would have permitted the industry to ‘custom design’ the state’s public right-of-ways for the benefit of the sign companies. The proposed legislation improperly granted easements over public land for the sole purpose of long term visibility of the signs. House Bill 582 allowed the industry to hire arborists to remove native trees and vegetation near billboard sites and replant without providing adequate funding for the maintenance and supervision of the locations. In the final three days of the session, the industry realized its bill was not going to be considered by the full House. The bill then reappeared in the form of a second amendment to a Senate bill related to licenses for driving disabled persons. Scenic Kentucky’s members and friends along with an informal coalition of concerned citizens, garden club members, landscape designers and the media reacted quickly to oppose the amendment. Senator David Boswell (Owensboro), the bill’s primary sponsor, withdrew the amendment on the session’s final day. Scenic Kentucky thanks House Speakers Jody Richards, Majority Leader Rocky Adkins, and Caucus Chairman Charlie Hoffman for their courageous support throughout the session. The Courier-Journal and the Lexington Herald-Leader consistently opposed the bill. Tom Fitzgerald, Kentucky Resources Council, was a stalwart friend. Clyde Caudill was invaluable in his tireless service as the organization’s skilled legislative agent. Members and friends of Scenic Kentucky sent repeated emails and calls to their legislators asking for their support in opposing the bill. Marlene M. Grissom, President, says, “We are very excited about the outcome of this past legislative session. We feel it is a victory for all of the people of the Commonwealth.” “

It is obvious that Scenic Kentucky has been in the forefront of the fight to control the blight of billboards. This started as early as the Fall of September 1991, when then President Edwin Perry signed the document incorporating the non-profit organization. And again, in reviewing past newsletters, one will note that the battle continued as reported in the December 2000 Newsletter by Helen Bragg Cleary, then Scenic Kentucky President. It continues even to this day!

Metro Louisville Issues 

Reasons to have a sign ordinance

1. Maintain and enhance the aesthetics of our community.2. Enhance pedestrian and traffic safety.3. Limit the intrusion of visual messages.4. Minimize the adverse effects of signs on nearby public and private property.5. Minimize driver distraction.6. Encourage native plants and landscaping material.7. Avoid excessive signage.8. Protect and enhance the scenic views and natural landscapes.9. Protect and enhance economic viability by assuring aesthetic appeal for tourists, resort goers, visitors in general, and residents.10. Promote the use of aesthetically pleasing sign materials and colors.

11. Avoid obstacles, distractions, or traffic hazards which impair a traveler's ability to see pedestrians, traffic signs, or vehicles.12. Preserve the right to enjoy scenic amenities.13. Preserve public health, safety, and welfare.14. Enhance the effectiveness of necessary directional and warning signs.15. Enhance air movement and natural light. 16. Preserve property values. 17. Provide for the effectiveness of permitted signs.18. Reduce the blighting influence of signs.19. Protect the night sky from stray lighting.20. Avoid adverse lighting or reflection.21. Require structurally safe signs.   

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Scenic Kentucky is your advocate in Frankfort and in city and town councils across the state for the protection of our cherished landscape. In past statewide surveys, citizens have rated and noted that “natural beauty” is the major quality that made Kentucky different from other states. A tax deductible gift will strengthen the fight against those who erect barriers between you and the Kentucky we love. Make a donation now -- please protect this excellent quality of life.

Metro Louisville IssuesThings to look out for during sign ordinance update

___________________________________Abandoned Excessive Street Business Signs Signage

(note added “no parking”

posts between poles)

Metro Louisville IssuesThings to look out for during sign ordinance update _____________________________Tattered / Unkempt Streetscape Billboards Newspaper Clutter

FRONT PAGE PHOTOThe front page photo shows a worst case situation as to the lengths the billboard industry will go to have their signs be visible from the roadway. We in the greater Louisville area remember the recent mid-night raiders who cut down trees in Oldham County so that a sign was visible. This is an ongoing concern with bills introduced almost every year to authorize such cutting. In looking back over several issues of the Newsletter from 2000 to 2008, it has become obvious that we must maintain a constant vigil so that legislation which would permit such cutting is not made law in Kentucky. A law passed in Florida several years ago does just what the industry is now trying to do in Kentucky. This has created a real problem where highway beautification, done at the property owner’s expense both in the median and adjacent right-of-way of US 192 (a business corridor between Disney World and Kissimmee), was partially taken down so that the billboards could be seen. We must be vigilant so that this kind of law does not happen in Kentucky.

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Scenic Kentucky MembershipYes, I want to help Scenic Kentucky fight visual blight and protect Kentucky’s beauty. Enclosed is my tax-deductable contribution. ________ $35.00 Blight Buster _______$250.00 Green Guardian ________ $50.00 Leaf Collector _______$500.00 Visual Protector________ $100.00 Visual Conservator _______$1000.00 Scenic Champion_______Other AmountName ________________________________________________________________Street ________________________________________________________________City ____________________________ State ________ Zip __________________Telephone (H) _______________ (W) ________________ (C) __________________E-Mail ____________________________ Fax ______________________________Return to Scenic Kentucky, P.O. Box 23317, Louisville, Kentucky 40223-0317Visit our web site at: www.scenickentucky.org

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Scenic KentuckyP.O. Box 23317Louisville, Kentucky 40223-0317Stamp