Myth-busting about scenic byways

Talk about a public service: The Meramec Journal has appropriated the theme of the Discovery Channel’s “Mythbusters” show and has sifted the fact from fiction regarding Missouri’s scenic byways program. Route 66 is one of those byways.

The newspaper contacted Monica Duncan, a scenic byway coordinator for Missouri and a resource management analyst for the state’s Department of Transportation.

Here is the choice excerpt from the story:

MYTH: A scenic byway designation will allow the government to dictate what color I paint my house, barn, etc.

FACT: A scenic byway designation does not give state or local government the right to dictate what color you paint your house or barn or any other structure on your property.

MYTH: A byway designation would allow the government to prevent me from building a deck or room addition or out-building.

FACT: A byway designation does not affect in any way your right to build a deck, or garage or room addition.

MYTH: A byway designation would prevent me from cutting down or trimming my trees.

FACT: Such a designation does not prevent property owners from cutting or trimming trees.

MYTH: A byway designation will restrict the placement of yard sale or garage sale signs on my property.

FACT: The designation does not regulate or address such signage on property zoned residential. Homeowners along the route would still have to abide by Jefferson County ordinances regarding signage. It is already illegal to construct a billboard on residential property in Jefferson County.

MYTH: A byway designation makes it easier for the government to take my property via eminent domain.

FACT: The scenic byway law in Missouri does not address eminent domain and thus does not make it easier for the state or local government to use eminent domain.

“I just don’t see how a scenic byway would make it any easier for eminent domain to be enacted,” Duncan said.

“A byway does not allow the county or the state to tell you what you can and cannot do with your property,” she explained.

To top it off, the Journal also talked to a Route 66er who owns property on the byway:

Gary Turner has lived along state scenic byway Route 66 in Lawrence County for three years. He recently built a replica of a 1930s gas station and said no one told him he had to paint it a certain color or build it a certain way.

“They just came out and measured my sign, and that was it,” he said. “I didn’t have to get a permit or anything. No one has ever told me what to do with my property.”

I attended one of the public hearings regarding the state scenic byway for Route 66 in Cuba, Mo., a few years ago. The huge majority of the people who attended were overwhelmingly in favor of the program. However, one gentleman was convinced the byway program was a conspiracy to take control of his land. Despite many patient and clear answers from officials, he could not be persuaded otherwise. The man took up much of the discussion time, and even those who might have been sympathetic to his views eventually were muttering “Shut up!” when it became obvious he wasn’t listening.

It goes to show you can please everyone, nor can they grasp facts or reality. At least the Journal is doing its best to help with the latter.