Moratorium On Hwy. 17 Signage In Place As Sign Ordinance Work Continues

The new, four-lane Georgia Highway 17 corridor in Stephens County will have a temporary moratorium on new signs larger than a certain size will work to consider a county-wide sign ordinance continues.

On Tuesday, Stephens County Commissioners approved a temporary moratorium for signage within the unincorporated portions of Highway 17 extending from the Franklin County line to the intersection of the Toccoa Bypass and then continuing on the Toccoa Bypass until it reaches the Habersham County line in Stephens County.

The request for the moratorium came from a citizens group called “Toccoa Tomorrow.”

Joe Ferguson is a member of that group.

He said that the Highway 17 corridor needs protections and the county has a unique opportunity to do so right now.

Ferguson says the moratorium would allow the county to get a proper sign ordinance in place.

“I appreciate so much you all taking on this signage issue,” said Ferguson. “It is an important one for any community. If you want to see a community cluttered, just look at a community that does not have a sign ordinance.”

The original proposed ordinance put a moratorium on any new sign larger than 5 feet high by 5 feet wide.

However, Commissioner Michelle Ivester noted that real estate signs can sometimes be wider than that.

“A lot of real estate signs are 4 x 8 on that road, they are the size of a piece of plywood,” said Ivester.

Stephens County Attorney Brian Ranck said the size limitations can be what ever the commission sets them at.

Ranck also addressed questions about where the moratorium would apply.

“It covers anything that would have frontage, which in my mind is visually you could see it,” said Ranck.

Existing signs are grandfathered in and not affected by the moratorium, which would only affect new signs, and this only applies to the Highway 17 corridor.

Ranck said the moratorium is not meant to last for a long time.

“It is 90 days,” said Ranck. “You can repeal or rescind this moratorium at any time within that 90 day period. Legally, you can extend it for a reasonable amount of time, not indefinitely.”

Stephens County Commissioners passed the moratorium, with a change to make the maximum allowable size 4 feet high by 8 feet wide, by a vote of 4 to 1.

Commissioner Debbie Whitlock voted against the moratorium, but said she does support a sign ordinance.

Work continues on a proposed county-wide sign ordinance, but no timetable has been given for when one might appear before the commission for consideration.