County Commission Extends Sign Moratorium Coverage Area

Stephens County Commissioners vote to extend the sign moratorium currently in place for the Georgia Highway 17 corridor throughout the entire unincorporated portion of the county for billboards.

The county commission did that on Tuesday by a 4-1 vote.

The moratoriums are in place while work continues on a sign ordinance for Stephens County Commissioners to consider.

County Commission Chair Dennis Bell cited a recent billboard on Big A Road as one example of why he feels the moratorium needs to be extended.

Bell said he has multiple concerns.

“Public safety is the number one thing,” said Bell. “Second, you just do not want these things popping up everywhere. It makes your community looks really bad.”

He also said he wants to make sure the land use ordinance and sign ordinance match up with each other.

Commissioner Debbie Whitlock voted against extending this moratorium to the entire unincorporated area of the county.

She said this goes a little too far in her opinion.

“I have already agreed to the moratorium on the new 17,” said Whitlock. “However, 17 in town is a business district and people should be allowed to advertise their businesses.”

Work continues on a sign ordinance.

Stephens County Administrator Phyllis Ayers said she hopes to have something ready soon for the commission to consider.

Ayers said the sign ordinance will deal mainly with topics like size of signs and setbacks.

She said she hopes to have something ready for the commission to consider in the coming weeks for a possible vote by the end of the calendar year.