NEWS-TIMES

BEN HOGWOOD

BEAUFORT — County commissioners learned on Monday that the only regulation related to a stretch of road heading Down East considered part of a state and federal scenic byway is the prohibition of new outdoor advertising.

And in related news, the Federal Highway Administration on Wednesday awarded the N.C. Department of Transportation a $201,120 grant to help mark the way of the route, called the Outer Banks Scenic Byway.

The grant is to improve the “byway traveler experience” along the route and the money will help fund the design, fabrication and installation of byway route signs and signs to byway attractions. These signs do not fall under the prohibition of outdoor advertising.

On Monday, the County Board of Commissioners was still trying to determine just how the area is impacted by the designation during its regular meeting, held in the boardroom of the county administration building. The board met with Jeff Lackey, the N.C. DOT’s scenic byways coordinator, as well as some other department officials. No vote was taken following the discussion.

Parts of highways 70 and 12 winding through the Down East communities are included in the Outer Banks Scenic Byway. The byway is one of 150 in the nation to reach this status.

But commissioners, who approved a resolution in 2008 nominating the roadway for scenic byway status, have been concerned about the impact associated regulations would have on the property owners adjacent to the road since earlier this year.

In May, East Carteret High School was told by the NCDOT it had 30 days to take down advertising signs it had placed on a fence facing Highway 70. One of the reasons the department gave is that the signs were out of compliance with laws related to the scenic byway designation.

But the NCDOT officials at the commissioners’ meeting Monday said those regulations were one of several that restricted the school from putting up signs in that area.

Mr. Lackey began the presentation by showing a brief movie describing scenic byways before commissioners cut to the chase. “I think some of the concerns that we have are namely about the regulatory affects of scenic byways,” said Doug Harris, the chairman of the board.

Mr. Lackey said the only real impact is the prohibition of new outdoor advertising signs. That does not include on-site signs, where a business places a sign on its own property.

Existing legal signage is grandfathered in when it becomes a scenic byway, Mr. Lackey said.

The signs at East Carteret were not only illegal because they broke this rule. They also didn’t comply with federal regulations regarding signs and they were also in violation of the county’s sign ordinance. “So they struck out,” said Commissioner Greg Lewis.

Commissioner Jonathan Robinson said the scenic byway designation was important for the area to help businesses in the Down East communities. “We need those jobs down on the eastern end of the county and we need to promote them,” he said.

Prior to the discussion, Lilly Miller of Straits spoke in support of the scenic byway designation. Her family operates a bait and tackle shop, and also rents out kayaks and conducts tours.

Business has been fairly successful this year, “but we need more customers,” she said. “We think the scenic byway is the vehicle, if you will, to get those customers to our area.”

She added, “There are plenty more people that don’t even realize Down East exists.”

Karen Amspacher, the chairman of the county’s Outer Banks Scenic Byway Committee, said she believed the byway would be the key to keeping the Cedar Island–Ocracoke ferry route operational.

Ms. Amspacher said the federal designation was an “honor” for the county. “For it to be recognized nationally is something to applaud,” she said.