Billboards Make Their Way To Milton

Editor’s note: the following was compiled by the city of Milton after residents have raised questions about billboards under construction in the city.

As you have no doubt seen, billboards are springing up in the city of Milton in locations across the city. These signs are authorized because of litigation that originated before Milton incorporated in 2006.

It was appealed, and ultimately Milton found itself (along with Johns Creek and Sandy Springs) on the losing side of a unanimous opinion of the Supreme Court of Georgia.

Outright denial was not possible. However, Milton’s staff and elected officials worked to mitigate the signs’ impact.

Key Takeaways

• Milton officials worked to reduce the actual number of signs from 16 to four.
• Milton officials reduced the actual size of the signs from 14 by 48 feet to 10.5 by 36 feet.
• Milton officials minimized the number of messages transmitted each minute.
• Milton officials minimized the impact on the night sky by requiring dimming technology.

Important Facts

• Milton’s four billboards were a product of litigation settlement
  
• Milton fought billboards to the Supreme Court of Georgia
  
• Milton tried unsuccessfully to locate all billboards adjacent to Ga. 400 corridor
  
• Billboards can only exist on commercial property
  
• Property cannot be rezoned to allow billboards

Timeline

• 2003 - 2005: Action Outdoor Advertising JV, LLC; KH Outdoor LLC; Granite State Outdoor Advertising, Inc.; Boardworks Outdoor Advertising Company, Inc.; Steven Galberaith and Larry Roberts file outdoor advertising applications with Fulton County.
• 2005: Fulton County denies billboard applications, citing its sign ordinance. The billboard companies challenge Fulton’s sign ordinance, filing a lawsuit against the county. A Fulton County judge rules in favor of the billboard companies, declaring Fulton County’s sign ordinance unconstitutional on First Amendment grounds. Fulton County decides that judge’s decision only applies to part of its ordinance and continues to deny permits. Billboard companies apply to Fulton County for nearly 75 sign permits north of I-285, in advance of new cities in north Fulton being formed.
• 2006: city of Milton established.
• 2007:Milton joins other north Fulton cities and Fulton County against the billboard companies, saying billboard companies should abide by cities’ ordinances,which are more restrictive. While the sign companies suits were pending, the supreme court document.
• 2010: Fulton Superior Court directs all cities to “permit [sign companies] to construct, maintain and operate all signs for which they submitted applications.”
• 2011: Georgia Supreme Court rules Fulton County sign ordinance is unconstitutional; therefore, there should be no restrictions on the construction of signs. It is ruled cities could not enact their own sign ordinances after the fact to retroactively deny permits.
• 2013: Milton negotiates with billboard companies to reduce number, type and location of signs.
• 2014: Billboards are erected throughout north Fulton.

The city of Milton encourages your feedback by emailing info@cityofmiltonga.us.

What Should You Read Next?

• New Billboard Pops Up in Alpharetta
• Four Billboards Likely To Rise in Milton
• Johns Creek Approves Billboard Settlement Agreement
• Billboard Lawsuit Lost By Fulton Affects Milton
• Bodker: Billboards Are “Coming Soon” to Johns Creek
• Op-Ed: Mayor Responds to Concerns Over New Billboard

Photo: a billboard under construction along S.R. 9 just north of Windward Parkway in the city of Milton. Photo credit: city of Alpharetta’s Facebook page