Adams Outdoor Advertising removes trees along 500-foot Charlotte right-of-way

Adams Outdoor Advertising continued clearing trees along Independence Boulevard in the Plaza Midwood neighborhood on Tuesday, removing vegetation in front of a Charlotte FC billboard to increase its visibility.

The company is acting under a 2024 state law that allows billboard operators to selectively remove up to 500 feet of vegetation along the state’s right-of-way. Adams Outdoor Advertising secured a permit for this specific project, though the company declined to comment when contacted for this story.

Local business owners report that the clearing began on Monday without prior notice. Todd Hubber, owner of Undercurrent Coffee, said he originally chose his location on Commonwealth Avenue for the natural insulation provided by the tree line, which blocked the roar of traffic. Since the removal, he has an unobstructed view of the highway.

Hubber noted that the change raises concerns for small business owners who have invested heavily in the area. "Of course, there's a concern that it could impact business," Hubber said. "For small business owners especially, we've put our entire lives into this, not just emotionally but financially."

Shannon Binns, executive director of the nonprofit Sustain Charlotte, spoke with company representatives at the site on Monday. He suggested they replant native vegetation that does not grow as tall as the removed pines to maintain a visual barrier without obstructing the sign. "I think that they should replant native vegetation that doesn't grow as tall as the pines, so that it doesn't obstruct their billboard," Binns said.

Clifton Castelloe, co-owner of Moxie Mercantile and a board member of the Plaza Midwood Merchants Association, described the process as negligent. He said the neighborhood had largely forgotten the highway existed because the trees prevented residents from seeing or hearing the traffic. "We were blindsided, and it just feels negligent," Castelloe said.

Hubber and Castelloe stated they are open to a compromise that restores some of the forested buffer. A Charlotte FC spokesperson said the franchise was unaware of the tree clearing.