Scenic Knoxville is a new non-profit organization formed to protect and enhance Knoxville’s scenic beauty. The organization’s first challenge is to prevent digital billboards in the City of Knoxville. The question of whether digital billboards will be allowed in the City of Knoxville will be voted on by the Knoxville/Knox County Metropolitan Planning Commission on February 14, 2008 and by Knoxville City Council on March 11, 2008.

The group will also be working on ridge protection, sustainable land use policies, historic preservation of scenic landmarks, and legislative initiatives such as implementing billboard and signage control measures.

Read the full press release after the jump for more information, including background on the group's leadership and Board of Directors.

GROUP FORMS TO PROTECT REGION’S NATURAL BEAUTY
First Initiative is to Prevent Digital Billboards in the City of Knoxville

Knoxville, TN – Feb. 13, 2008 - A group of concerned Knoxville residents
have formed a new non-profit organization to protect and enhance
Knoxville’s scenic beauty. Scenic Knoxville, the first local chapter of
the statewide organization Scenic Tennessee, recently elected its
initial slate of officers and has begun a membership drive.

The organization’s first challenge is to prevent digital billboards in
the City of Knoxville. These super-sized, flashing, scrolling billboards
have been called “‘PowerPoint on a Stick” by opponents, and their impact
on driver safety has been a key factor in banning the signs in other
communities across the nation. The question of whether digital
billboards will be allowed in the City of Knoxville will be voted on by
the Knoxville/Knox County Metropolitan Planning Commission on February
14, 2008 and by Knoxville City Council on March 11, 2008.

Scenic Knoxville’s organizers believe the area’s natural scenic
resources deserve protection and that an organization dedicated to the
preservation and enhancement of the city’s scenic vistas and byways is
greatly needed.

President Duane Grieve, a local architect with an interest in protecting
scenic resources, said, “We must look to the future and establish some
guidelines to preserve and enhance the irreplaceable natural beauty that
surrounds us before it is gone forever. Future generations deserve to
enjoy what we have always taken for granted.”

Besides Grieve, the initial Board of Directors includes civic-minded
individuals who are active in their communities such as Lisa Starbuck,
Vice President; Joyce Feld, Secretary; Maureen Dunn, Treasurer; Brenda
Cunningham, Jim deRopp, Marsha Grieve, Julie Webb and Gene Burr, a past
president of Scenic Tennessee.

Future interests and activities for the group include working to develop
a comprehensive ridge protection ordinance, advocating for sustainable
land use policies and environmentally sound practices, advancing
historic preservation of scenic landmarks, and supporting appropriate
state and local legislative initiatives such as implementing billboard
and signage control measures.

To support Scenic Knoxville and Scenic Tennessee and begin receiving the
quarterly newsletter, send $20 annual dues to Scenic Tennessee, P.O. Box
12174, Murfreesboro, TN 37129. Individuals from surrounding counties are
welcome.

To learn more about this grassroots effort, visit
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CONTACTS: DUANE GRIEVE – (865) 637-0382
GENE BURR – (865) 250-5734
info@scenicknoxville.org