The agenda for tonight’s Planning Commission meeting went up last night, and it shows that the commission will take up several policies related to the contentious issue of billboards.

Last night, Humboldt Baykeeper issued the following press release about tonight’s meeting:

With barely 24-hours’ notice, the Planning Commission has announced it will revisit what was a unanimous decision by the previous Planning Commission to protect our viewsheds from billboard blight along Humboldt Bay and other scenic areas in the County.
 
Considering that in the past few weeks, this Planning Commission has slashed protections for streams and wetlands, eliminated the Countywide trail system from the Open Space Element, and weakened the goal supporting Community Forests, one can only guess that the majority will be more than willing to gut the policies regulating billboards.
 
The policy unanimously supported by the Commission in June 2011 (SR-SXX) would require permits for new billboards, as well as expansion, repair, or re-construction of existing billboards.
 
Other policies that will be considered at tomorrow’s tonight’s hearing include:

  • Removal of billboards on public lands in the rail right-of-way between Arcata and Fields Landing (SR-P8)
  • Removal of illegal billboards on lands under County jurisdiction (SR-P9)

Let the Planning Commission know what you think! Public comment for items on the agenda is generally near the beginning of the hearing, just after the general public comment (for items not on the agenda).
 
If you can’t make it, you can watch it live on Access Humboldt or online at http://co.humboldt.ca.us/include/showagendas.asp.
 
Complete text of the policies that will be considered:
 
SR-SXX: Permits for Billboards. SR-SXX. Permits for Billboards. Require Conditional Use Permits and conformance to building, zoning and other local codes for construction of new billboards as well as expansion, repair, or re-construction of existing billboards. (unanimous)
 
SR-P8: Removal or Relocation of Billboards on Public Lands and Rights-of-Ways in the NWP Railroad ROW. Support efforts of public agencies, such as the NCRA and USFWS to remove or relocate billboards from their right-of-way between Fields Landing and Arcata on lands under their control. (3-2)
 
SR-P9: Removal of Illegal Billboards. Illegal billboards on property within County jurisdiction shall be removed through code enforcement. The County shall advocate for removal of illegal billboards in areas outside of County jurisdiction, including petitioning Caltrans’ Outdoor Advertising Office to remove illegal billboards along highways. (3-2)