Neighbors, lawmakers sound the alarm on hundreds of trees cut down for billboard

CHARLOTTE, N.C. – Hundreds of trees once stood in the Plaza Midwood neighborhood between Independence Boulevard and Commonwealth Avenue. The trees have now been cleared to make a billboard more visible and business owners and lawmakers are sounding the alarm.

“Our business has been affected. We have a large out outdoor seating area, and it’s definitely a different experience now, and people feel it in a different way and see it in a different way,” Todd Huber owner of Undercurrent Coffee said.

A 2024 state law made it legal to tear down up to 500 feet of vegetation around outdoor advertisement zones. The most recent state budget made it even easier.

“There were provisions added to take away the fees associated with removing the vegetation,” State Senator Caleb Theodros said. “So, now you would only have to pay 400 bucks to essentially wipe out the vegetation that you’ve seen here. There is no requirement for speaking to neighbors, to community members, to other businesses that may be affected.”

State Senator Caleb Theodros, represents District 41 which includes Plaza Midwood. He says this is only the beginning. His office uncovered 40 other permits already approved to clear trees for billboards across Mecklenburg County.

“We are asking, and we are pushing for the pausing of any additional forests or trees to be cut down, given by these permits,” Senator Theodros said.

Advocates say clearing trees to make room for billboards decreases the quality of life.

“These buffers that were planted, again, to protect the neighbors from noise, from air pollution, and from the ugliness of a freeway going through their neighborhood, past their house, or past their business,” Shannon Binz from Sustain Charlotte said.

Neighbors are demanding transparency, calling on advertising companies to notify them and allow community input before another tree is removed.

“It’s not just our business, it’s the entire community. It’s the pedestrians, it’s the people that visit, it’s the wildlife,” Huber said. “Hopefully with all this attention and some other kinds of support, we’ll continue to make a difference and slow this down.”

In a statement, Adams Outdoor acknowledged the community concerns but emphasized that the projects are legal. They said they are willing to meet with Senator Theodros and are waiting for a scheduled time.