Stephens Co. Considering Sign Ordinance

Stephens County is considering putting a sign ordinance in place for the county.

Commissioners talked about the possibility at their work session on Tuesday.

County Administrator Phyllis Ayers said she is bringing this to commissioners because members of the public have come to her asking the county to look at the matter.

“We have a request from citizens to get a sign ordinance out there before the 17 project gets complete for billboards,” said Ayers.

Ayers presented county commissioners with the sign ordinances currently in place in Banks, Union, and Hart counties as examples to start from.

Stephens County Commissioner Stanley London said he likes Hart County’s sign ordinance because it is the most concise one that he says still covers everything that is in the other two ordinances.

However, Commissioner Dean Scarborough said he does not feel like Hart County’s ordinance on its own would take care of everything, though saying it is a good start.

“I do like the fact it is a simple format,” said Scarborough. “I think there are a few questions unanswered.”

He also questioned some of Hart’s requirements and suggested compiling the best parts of all three.

Scarborough also noted that the county will have to address signs already in place in the ordinance and how they will be grandfathered in.

Ayers said she will construct a sample ordinance based on feedback from commissioners over the coming days, using Hart County as the starting point.

That would allow public hearings to start soon to get the process going.

“Once you have public hearings, you can always change,” said Ayers.

Ayers said time is of the essence in order to have something is in place before crews finish construction on the new, four-lane Georgia Highway 17.

That road is still expected to be finished this Spring.