Johns Creek Eyes Resolution To Gain Control Over Future Billboards

JOHNS CREEK, GA -- Facing a steady stream of questions and outrage from residents, the city of Johns Creek could look to the state to help curtail the number of billboards that could crop up in the city.

The City Council got a preview of a resolution presented by Councilman Bob Gray during its Jan. 9 meeting.

The resolution calls on the Georgia General Assembly to consider legislation that "eliminates any favorable treatment of the billboard industry, whether through tax or other advantages provided to it but not to other industries, and enables local communities to take appropriate measures to limit and control future or continued construction and facilitate the removal of any existing billboards," according to city documents.

• View the proposed resolution here.
  

After reflecting on public comments and feedback about the billboards cropping up throughout the city, Gray said he felt there was some "urgency to express a strong point of view to the General Assembly about how we feel about billboards in Johns Creek."

City leaders in October 2014 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 agreement reduced the 31 signs advertising companies were authorized to build in the city due to a 2011 Georgia Supreme Court ruling that voided Fulton County’s sign ordinance.

The resolution was introduced for discussion purposes only, and Gray said he'd hoped his colleagues will consider approval at the Council's Jan. 23 meeting.

Mayor Mike Bodker said he felt it's important that the resolution outlines the history of billboards in the area, specifically that it was a Fulton County ordinance that resulted in the court ruling.

"We may have had to deal with the settlement, but we didn't deal with the issue," he added.

Bodker noted he agreed with the sentiment of the resolution, but stated the outright banning of signs -- whether they are billboards or smaller signs -- has been ruled unconstitutional at the U.S. Supreme Court level.

It would be "silly" to ask the General Assembly to pass legislation where part of it would be invalidated by the courts, Bodker said.

"While we may agree with the sentiment, I think we ought to only ask the General Assembly to do something which legally can withstand the scrutiny," he stated. "Because I'm sure the governor won't sign it if it won't because he gets that advice."

Gray said the feedback that he received from State Rep. Brad Raffensperger is to consider passage of the resolution and to work with other cities to get some common support across north Fulton and elsewhere.

He also said he'd incorporate Mayor Bodker's comments to modify the resolution before it's placed on the Jan. 23 agenda.

Councilman Lenny Zaprowski said he was "all on board" with supporting the resolution.

"This is great, and I hope we can get to the other cities," he said. "And I think it should be more than North Fulton. I would think everybody would want this."

Image via Shutterstock