I would like to voice strong opposition to the efforts to designate the Peavine Road section of TN-101 as a scenic parkway. The primary motivation behind this movement seems to be a desire to place restrictions on the amount and kinds of outdoor advertising allowed which will supposedly reduce distracted driving and protect property values. What such a designation would actually do is undermine important free market principles by barring private citizens from earning money on their own property.
Residents of Fairfield Glade have voluntarily chosen to live in a community that imposes strict covenants on property owners. Those living along Peavine Road have no similar restrictions on the use of their land, and in a tough economy, some have chosen to supplement their income by allowing advertising on their property. The agreements between property owners and those they choose to do business with should not be subject to subversion by outside parties.
One can be dissatisfied with the amount of outdoor advertising they see along Peavine Road, but an appropriate response to that is not to pursue measures that would restrict property owners' rights without compensation. In fact, I maintain that drivers should be focusing on their immediate surroundings on the road instead of fixating on advertisements or otherwise taking in the natural scenic beauty that apparently exists just behind every billboard.
There are many locations in Cumberland County where one can enjoy nature and its beauty including the Cumberland Mountain State Park, the Catoosa Wildlife Management Area, as well as the views supplied by most roads that branch off of Peavine. The yards of private property owners need not be added to the list.