Woodstock Tables Billboard Decision -- Again

The Woodstock City Council is expected to make a decision in the near future on whether it will overrule city staff’s decision to deny an application to install a billboard near the Outlet Shoppes at Atlanta.

The council on Monday once again unanimously voted to table consideration of the appeal from Tinsley/Postiglione to construct a billboard on 3.49 acres on Woodstock Parkway south of Ridgewalk Parkway.

As outlined in its ordinance, the council will issue a ruling in writing to the applicants. In a related case, the council unanimously rejected a sign variance request from the same company. Tinsley/Postiglione requested the variance for relief from the city’s ordinance that prohibits billboards within 500 feet of properties either zoned or designated for single-family residential use.

The proposed billboard location is located 426 feet from the Deer Run subdivision, the city contends. The parcel in question is currently zoned light industrial within the Technology Park Overlay, which allows for single-family residential uses.

City staff denied the billboard application for the same reason outlined in its denial of the variance.

Adam Webb, who represented Tinsley/Postiglione in Monday’s appeal hearing, noted the subject parcel is ”very strange,” as it would not be suitable for residential use anytime in the near future.

As a compromise, Webb said if the property is ever developed for residential use, the applicants would offer to remove the billboard within 90 days of any particular groundbreaking.

Bob Postiglione said there’s an “enormous amount” of demand from Woodstock businesses for billboard advertising. Some of the companies that have utlized billboards space provided by the company include All About Health, Dress-Up Boutique and Northside Hospital-Cherokee.

If approved, the company would install a tri-face billboard that would accommodate six different advertisements on the structure. Postiglione added they’ve already received four commitments from companies to use space on the billboard.

Tinsley/Postiglione originally submitted a request in 2013 to install the billboard on the same parcel. City staff denied the request, and the company appealed the decision. However, Tinsley/Postiglione eventually withdrew its appeal of city staff’s decision.

The council is expected to issue its ruling at its March 23 meeting.

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