Port City Daily reported that Wilmington NC’s City Council will hold a public hearing this week on whether to approve an amendment to the city’s Land Development Code allowing for the trimming or removal of trees on private property, as well as on city streets, to better provide unobstructed views of billboards. The applicant is Fairway Outdoor Advertising.

Currently, the Land Development Code, “prohibits trimming of vegetation on public property or the right-of-way (ROW) for the purpose of making any outdoor advertising sign/billboard more visible. This provision of the code has been in effect since at least 1987 when the Sign Regulations Ordinance was adopted,” according to city documents.

There are currently 60 billboards within the City of Wilmington, 59 of which are subject to state legislation that permits the cutting or clearing of vegetation on state rights-of-way to allow for an unobstructed view, City Manager Sterling Cheatham wrote in a document submitted to the council.

The City staff is recommending denial of the permit as it would not be consistent with Wilmington’s Comprehensive Plan.

Insider reviewed the City Council meeting testimony and the proposed ordinance has been continued until their September 2017 meeting to allow a group of arborists to be hired to inspect the sign locations and nearby trees.

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