The Florida Outdoor Advertising Association
president/CEO in Tallahassee minimized the billboard issues of House Bill 273
in her June 2 letter.
When I played football, the playing field was 300 feet (100 yards) long.
Most billboards are not in the 350-foot, 35-mph lower speed limit zone but, as
on U.S. 1, in the 500-foot clear-view zone required to be free of tall trees,
but both are much longer than a football field. Billboards up to 60 feet long
cut a wide swath to be visible from the road.
A 500-foot clear view represents
nearly 1/10th of a mile (5,280 feet) or roughly a city block of treeless
landscape. This bill allows acres and acres across our state to be kept
cleared, and prevents future beautification and restoration using trees.
Moreover, this bill allows even higher billboards, blocking our view of
the magnificent Florida clouds and sky, even in violation of local ordinances
and land-development regulations.
It also encourages private owners to whack down trees to build billboards.
Property rights are appreciated, but isn't it silly for the state to tell
our commissioners that we have to suffer viewing a billboard 24/7 and then fine
us if trees ever happen to grow up and become tall or to inhibit a public
restoration project?
Do we need state officials telling our local elected folks what trees to plant
or need to cut down? Doesn't the public have some rights on the public roads it
drives on everyday? Where is a Ladybird Johnson when we need her?
Perhaps the FOAA could promote smaller signs with native trees and shrubs
around them that would be more environmentally acceptable.
Ask Gov. Jeb Bush (400 S. Monroe St., Tallahassee, FL 32399) to veto this
bill, and we all can work together for a better bill to please everyone.
Richard Baker
Sebastian