Legislature Set To Permit Billboard Interests To Remove Trees On Public Rights-Of-Way

Unless a hue and cry is loudly, and raised, the State Senate is poised to endorse an Assembly bill and allow private interests to cut down trees on public highway rights-of-way if the vegetation blocks billboards on private property - - even if the billboards are falling over or are otherwise non-conforming, writes a conservation organization at scenicwisconsin.org.

This is another example of private interests in Wisconsin being allowed by the Walker-compliant legislative to take or diminish public resources and property (think wetlands, development in or at waterways, etc.)

More information below at www.scenicwisconsin.org or (608) 784-3212, FAX (608) 782-2822.

The proposed bill (AB 216 - Amended – SB 490) is an outrageous attempt by a private interest group to obtain the right to remove or relocate publicly owned trees and vegetation in the public right-of-way of Interstates and Federal Aid Primary (FAP) highways with limited oversight and no accountability. It is a blatant effort to further derive a private benefit at public expense.

This bill...further increases the likelihood the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) will order the Wisconsin Department of Transportation (WisDOT) to correct this deficiency, resulting in greater direct expenses to the taxpayers to correct 40 years of lax enforcement – on top of the risk of losing 10% of our annual Federal highway funds as well as the repayment of millions of bonus funds...

The existing standards, review process and timelines for a vegetation removal permit at least make some attempt to protect the aesthetics and the monetary value of the landscaping of the public right-of-way. The sign owner must demonstrate the sign is legal and provide the date of the erection of the sign...

Removing or relocating trees and vegetation in the public right-of-way of a controlled highway for the sole purpose of enhancing the view of a private sign on private property adjacent to a highway is not, nor can it ever be construed to be a “public highway purpose”. It is also counter the mandate to maintain the highways for that public purpose.