Stephens Co. Still Looking At Sign Ordinance

Stephens County Commissioners are going to get with another group to work on a possible sign ordinance for the county.

Earlier this month, county commissioners began looking at sign ordinances in other counties with the thought of putting together a sign ordinance for Stephens County.

Discussions on the issue continued at Tuesday’s Stephens County Commission meeting.

County officials said that there have been concerns raised about having a sign ordinance in place to control billboards and other signage along the Georgia Highway 17 corridor once that road becomes four lanes.

Stephens County Commissioner Dean Scarborough said that the Toccoa-Stephens County Tomorrow group has also been working on signage rules, specifically for the 17 corridor.

Scarborough said that while any ordinance would cover the whole county, the commission should work with this group and get its ideas and suggestions before moving forward.

“They are going to give us something in a couple of weeks,” said Scarborough. “They also asked if there was any chance of doing a moratorium.”

Stephens County Attorney Brian Ranck said a moratorium is something that could be considered by the county, especially for the four-lane Highway 17 corridor, to keep control while a sign ordinance is drafted and voted on.

“That is an option,” said Ranck. “Other counties have done that.”

Ranck said he will research the issue further and get back to commissioners.

Meanwhile, commissioners voted unanimously on Tuesday to table the issue until they have something from the other group working on the matter.