AGENDA #8
memorandum
to: Mayor and Town Council
from: W. Calvin Horton, Town Manager
subject: North Carolina Board of Transportation Policy on Tree Cutting in Highway Public Right of Way.
date: May 22, 2006
On May 19, 2006 the Town was informed that the North Carolina Board of Transportation is scheduled to consider possible changes to their policy on cutting trees in the public right of way along highways on May 31, 2006. It is our understanding that current Board policy, adopted in 2001, allows tree cutting within 250 feet of billboards. The proposal to be considered by the Board would expand this to 500 feet. This item is currently scheduled for consideration by the Board at a meeting on May 31, 2006.
We have not had an opportunity to review the proposed change in detail. While we will continue to gather information on this proposal we believe that the Council should request that the Board delay any action on the proposal until local governments and the public had additional opportunity to review and comment on the change in regulations.
RECOMMENDATION
We recommend that the Council adopt the attached resolution requesting the North Carolina Board of Transportation delay any decision to revise the existing tree cutting regulations to allow local governments and the public to provide comment.