Senate Bill 164

1
Senate Bill 164

• Billboards State Rights of Way, Cut
  Vegetation/Lower Signs

2
SB 164

• Introduced in the Georgia Senate last year
• Creates a mechanism that would allow billboard
  owners to cut vegetation in front of signs
• In exchange signs could be no higher than 75 feet
  in height.
• GMA is working with the author to craft language
  that will preserve the effectiveness of
  applicable local ordinances.

3
SB 164

• The bill removes restrictions on trees in the
  right of way and in the viewing zone
• Current law protects hardwoods and trees of a
  certain diameter
• Eliminates the five year waiting period for tree
  cutting permits
• Current law encourages locations that are free of
  trees
• Could severely impact citys gateway program as
  this bill would allow for the cutting of such
  plantings
• Adoption of the bill could also damage the citys
  legal action against the billboard industry that
  is still pending

4
(No Transcript)
5
SB 164

• The Georgia Senate Passed/Adopted on February 26,
  2009
• The bill made it to the third reading, where it
  was defeated.
• Immediately after that vote, the leaders asked
  for reconsideration of the bill.
• The House bill was postponed until the 2010
  legislative session

6
SB 164

• A vote on the bill will take place in 2010
• Our legislative delegation has been supportive in
  trying to defeat this action
• Continued support should be requested from our
  legislative delegation, GMA, and ACCG to stop
  this bill