Johns Creek Council Gets Feedback On Signs

publication date: Jan 31, 2009

author/source: Tim Altork / STAFF / Beacon Media

By Tim Altork / STAFF Johns Creek Mayor Mike Bodker definitely got his wish. Two weeks after stopping just short of begging Johns Creek residents to voice their opinion on the council’s deliberation of the city’s sign ordinance, the council’s chamber was bustling with a near capacity crowd of interested observers. Fourteen people – mainly business owners in the community – filled the public comments portion of the meeting voicing their opinions on the proposed sign ordinance that was made public last week.“This is the first time that we’ve used the entire 30 minutes,” Bodker said, commending the turnout.

Council meetings have a total of 30 minutes allotted to public comment each week.The comments were civil, yet pointed. Business owners railed against the limitations in the proposed ordinance, saying that their businesses would suffer if they were unable to use signs to corral potential drive-by customers.

Marion Davidson, who is opening a business in the Johns Creek Walk development, said that she put up two of the two-foot by two-foot roadside signs permitted by the current ordinance.“They’re just not big enough,” she said. “I’m looking for them. I know where I put them, and I still struggled to see them because they just aren’t visible from the road.”

Geoff Berlin, who owns Abbott’s Bar and Grill on Medlock Bridge Road and is the president of the Johns Creek Chamber of Commerce, said that getting the sign ordinance correct was “critical” to businesses in the community. He said that signs must be permitted to be large enough to capture the attention of drivers who are increasingly distracted by things like cell phone conversations while they are in the car.“Diversions are so numerous that present signage is of diminishing value,” Berlin said.

The council also heard from the non-profit sector. Gene Ray, an administrator for Johns Creek United Methodist Church, implored the council to create verbage in the ordinance to allow for exemptions from fees for the use of banners beyond the number allowed by the ordinance. Ray said the church could use upwards of 50 banners throughout the year to promote their various ministry efforts, such as vacation Bible school. The current ordinance allows for three banners per calendar year.Johns Creek citizen Susan Miller addressed the aesthetic challenges that an overuse of signs presents.“I believe if you own a business you don’t win with signs, you win with good service,” she said.

The council was hoping to put the new ordinance to a vote at Monday’s meeting, but the large turnout forced them to table the item one more time in order to consider the new input. A vote on the ordinance is expected at the February 9 council meeting.

Muslims Welcomed

The council unanimously approved the construction of a Jamatkhana, a place of worship for the Ismaili sect of the Islam faith, in Technology Park. Since a final construction plan was not presented to the council, the approval was made on the condition that the city’s community development department will have a final pass at the building’s design before a final approval is made.In their presentation the Ismaili representatives showed pictures of other Jamatkhanas around the country to give council members an idea of what the one in Johns Creek would look like. Each facility is unique, however, in accordance with the faith’s guidelines. Some have a distinct middle-eastern look while others are more contemporary.

“I know it’s going to look nice,” said council member Randall Johnson, after seeing the presented images, “I’m just hesitant to move forward without seeing the final draft.”
“I want some reassurances of what it will look like,” Johnson added.

There are an estimated 600 Ismailis in the North Fulton area who currently have to drive to one of the four other Jamatkhanas in the metro Atlanta area in order to practice their faith. The sect has worship services seven days a week, but the primary service is on Friday evening.“I was initially hesitant about putting it in Tech. Park, but the designated times of primary traffic make it appealing,” said council member Ivan Figueroa. “I’m in support of it.”