A local group that celebrates the South’s Confederate past will take down a prominent sign that had greeted those traveling into North Carolina on U.S. 321 for the past several years.
Sons of Confederate Veterans had placed the sign, which includes the
Confederate flag, along U.S. 321 North believing that it was on private
property, said Bill Starnes, commander of the Maj. Charles Q. Petty
Camp, the Gastonia-based group that erected the sign.
However, the Department of Transportation looked at the location of the
sign this week and determined that the sign was on public land and
within the highway’s right of way.
Transportation officials talked with leaders in the Sons of Confederate
Veterans group who agreed to take the sign down, said Jordan-Ashley
Walker, a spokeswoman for the Department of
Transportation, on Friday.
Transportation, on Friday.
Starnes said his group does not want to violate any state policies.
Both transportation officials and leaders of the Sons of Confederate
Veterans group said the sign has not drawn any criticism that they could
readily recall.
More @ Gaston Gazette
Questions:
ReplyDeleteWas this along a Federal Aid Primary (FAP)?
Was it ever permitted (state DOT)?
Was it in the ROW?
There might be a way to rebuild. If not in same location, in another (nearby) suitable location.
I don't know the answers, but what they have been doing is installing these on private property. Thanks.
DeleteLet me know if they need help.
DeleteJudge for your self. NC DOT maintains a 60 foot right of way. that's 30 feet each way from the centerline. NC highway lanes are typically 12 feet wide so that leaves
ReplyDelete18 feet of right of way from the edge of the pavement. What does it look like to you?
On top of that the power company does not put their poles in the right of way except in places like city streets and highly congested areas. Typically they are on the property line or in this case at the point where the right of way and the private property meet. Then the power company maintains a clear right of way between their lines and the woods or structures along the line. That is why the trees are cleared and the weeds mowed behind the power line. Based on what I see the sign is not on the Right of Way unless there is a side road there (that the picture was taken from) that we can't see. Otherwise my guess is the DOT is bowing to political pressure and lying. Something they do well! CH
By the way, I used to work for DOT Right of Way division.
A lot more than 18 feet and thanks for the knowledge.
DeleteJust to be fair. There is the possibility that DOT owns additional right of way if they
ReplyDeleteplan to 4 lane that road in the future. If that's the case it might well be in the ROW.
Hard to tell without doing some research. CH
Good point. I don't believe they would be agreeing to take it down without checking to be sure they were in violation.
Delete