Johns Creek Approves Billboard Settlement Agreement

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The Johns Creek City Council has inked a deal with advertising companies that considerably reduces the number of billboards that will appear in the city.

The Council during its meeting on Monday approved a settlement agreement with Action Outdoor Advertising JV, LLC, KH Outdoor, LLC and Granite State Outdoor Advertising, Inc.

The agreement stipulates these companies have the right to build nine new permanent back-to-back or “V” shaped electronic LED multi-message sign structures and one new permanent back-to-back or “V” shaped static-face sign structure. The signs will be limited to eight nodes throughout the city, which are:

• Holcomb Bridge Road at Barnwell/Nesbit Ferry Road;
• West side of State Bridge Road from Kimball Bridge Road to Morton Road;
• East side of State Bridge Road from Kimball Bridge to Morton Road;
• North side of State Bridge Road near Medlock Bridge Road;
• Medlock Bridge Road at State Bridge Road;
• West side of Medlock Bridge Road at Abbotts Bridge Road;
• Jones Bridge Road at Abbotts Bridge Road; and
• McGinnis Ferry Road

Each sign face may be up to 14 feet by 48 feet in size. However, signs on certain notes are limited to 10’6” by 36 feet in size.

The agreement reduces the 31 signs advertising companies were authorized to build in the city due to a Georgia Supreme Court ruling that voided Fulton County’s sign ordinance. Since the 2011 ruling issued by the court, which affected the cities of Milton, Alpharetta and Sandy Springs, the city has been in talks with the companies to work out an agreement.

Advertisers also agree that no sign must advertise: adult entertainment businesses; strip clubs; massage parlors (except those allowed by city ordinance); adult video or bookstores or similar businesses; abortion services; any activity or product that is illegal under Georgia or federal law; any material which is obscene, as such term is defined by state law; pawn shops; hookah bars; payday loan businesses; and messages that “promotes terrorist activities or groups.”

The companies must also allow Johns Creek to use one LED flip or one segment of an LED sign for public service announcements, community events or other “messages of vital interest to the public” for seven consecutive days no more than eight times a year. Johns Creek will provide noticed to advertisers at least 45 days in advance of their desire to utilize the billboards.

Additionally, no more than five of the signs may be used for such messages at any one point in time.

“Every effort will be made by the advertisers to allow such messages to be displayed in a variety of locations so as to provide information to the public from the broadest possible base,” the agreement states. “No charge beyond actual expenses shall be required of the city for such usage, and the city shall endeavor to provide camera ready copy meeting the advertiser’s standards for each proposed use.”

You can read the complete agreement on the city’s website, as well as the exact locations within the eight pre-selected nodes.