260 CONFERENCE ON NATURAL BEAUTY 



Three suggestions for Federal roadside zoning might be considered. 

 First, the Secretary of Commerce might be empowered to acquire by 

 purchase or condemnation title or lesser interests in roadside lands 

 now used for automobile graveyards, billboards, or other distracting 

 uses. Similar powers might be conferred concerning roadside lands 

 on which distracting uses are about to be established. Eminent 

 domain powers as to the latter lands might be suspended so long as 

 a local or State zoning ordinance, approved by the Secretary is in 

 force and applicable to the particular lands. 



Second, the Secretary might be empowered and directed to zone 

 roadside strips of stated widths along selected classes of highways. 

 Zoning powers might be limited to use, setback, height, design and 

 other regulations needed to attain Federal objectives. The zoning 

 regulation would prevent establishment of new unsightly uses and 

 structures. Existing nonconformities might be abated by amortiza- 

 tion, purchase or condemnation, penalties, fees and assessments, in- 

 come tax incentives and penalties, screening, or landscaping. 



Finally, the Secretary might be granted standby zoning powers to 

 be exercised if a local government or the State, after notice and 

 within a stated period, fails to zone the roadside involved. 



Mr. SHEPARD. I take as my job in this panel presentation to do 

 two things: one, make very briefly a remark of my own and sec- 

 ond, to extend somewhat the indication that Dr. Solberg has already 

 given you very effectively, that the total time of our preliminary 

 discussions in the panel was not spent only on billboard advertising. 



I take as my text what I thought a very commendable remark 

 of TVA Chairman Wagner in the discussion earlier this morning; 

 namely, "Beauty as well as economic strength." 



A constructive examination of roadside controls must take into 

 consideration the relationships between the various elements of the 

 integrated whole and the balances which have to be struck because 

 of the competition between those elements for limited funds. 



The basic requirement: a safe and efficient highway takes as 

 it should take the bulk of the funds provided for a highway pro- 

 gram. Those parts of the available funds to be devoted to screen- 

 ing junkyards, acquiring and protecting areas adjacent to Federal 

 or other highways, and related protection and enhancement of nat- 

 ural beauty can be excellent investments. Funds so invested, how- 

 ever, are not then available strictly for the design, engineering, 



