Upon the filing of such application, the department shall cause a survey of the state highway to be made with reference to the application and a report of the findings and recommendations as to the granting of the permit, and if it appears to the satisfaction of the department that the use of a portion of the state highway for the purpose set out in the application will not interfere with the use of the state highway for public travel and will beautify and improve the state highway, a permit may be granted and issued to the applicant to plant, cultivate, and grow any hedge, shade or ornamental trees, shrubbery, or crops, or make such improvement along or upon the right-of-way of such portion of the state highway as is definitely described in the permit, and to construct and maintain such temporary and substantial fence on and along the portion of the right-of-way of the state highway described in the permit as is specified in the permit. The permit shall specify the exact location of all hedges, shade or ornamental trees, or shrubbery to be planted and grown, or the area to be cultivated under the permit, or the area to be improved to which specified location the person, firm, corporation, association, or organization receiving the permit shall specifically conform. The department may in its discretion refuse to issue the permit, and any such permit that is granted is revocable at the will of the department and nothing in this title may be construed as in anywise affecting the title of the state to the lands included in the state highway, or the right to use the lands for state highway purposes, or to remove or destroy any of such hedges, trees, shrubbery, or crops for the purpose of construction, alteration, repair, improvement, or maintenance of the state highway, or for any other purpose and at any time.