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www.ReporterNewspapers.net | JULY 12 — JULY25,2013 | 5
COMMENTARY
New billboards result of a
settlement agreement
To the editor:
Over the past few days, we have
heard from many regarding the new
billboard installed at Abernathy and Ro
swell roads. “How could we allow such
a thing to happen? What happened to
the protection of our neighborhoods?”
many of you asked.
Our history with billboards began
before Sandy Springs became a city. It is
lengthy, but I believe answers the ques
tions the community is asking.
In 2005, the billboard companies filed
for permits from Fulton County while
the communities of Sandy Springs, Mil-
ton and Johns Creek were still unincorpo
rated. The permit requests were denied by
Fulton County, and the billboard compa
nies then filed suit against Fulton Coun
ty. Fulton County Superior Court ruled
that the county’s sign ordinance was un
constitutional and recognized that the per
mit applications vested with the sign com
panies included a right to erect billboards
in the cities of Sandy Springs, Johns Creek
and Milton. The Georgia Supreme Court
ultimately upheld this action.
In September of 2012, after lengthy
negotiations, the Sandy Springs City
Council approved a settlement agree
ment with four outdoor advertising
companies - Action Outdoor Advertis
ing, KH Outdoor, LLC, Granit State
Outdoor Advertising, Inc. and Board-
works Outdoor Advertising Company
Inc., regarding placement of billboards
within Sandy Springs. The negotiat
ed settlement follows the 2011 affirma
tion by the Georgia Supreme Court of
the ruling by the Fulton Superior Court,
which determined that the advertising
companies had a vested right to build 23
new billboards within Sandy Springs. A
majority of those billboards would have
been located along Roswell Road.
As part of the settlement agreement,
the city was able to successfully negotiate
a reduction in the number of billboards
to be placed in Sandy Springs from 23
applications to 8, also significantly lim
iting the number of billboards to be lo
cated on Roswell Road. The agreement
defines the size and type of structure for
the signs, and includes the use of LED
facing for the signs. According to the
settlement, the companies must obtain
billboard permits within 42 months of
the date of the agreement.
The city has worked with all involved
to identify 10 nodes from which bill
board companies would be able to lo
cate the eight allowed billboards. The
billboard companies are now work
ing with property owners to lease space
within the 10 nodes for location of these
billboards. Sign permits have been is
sued for 6595 Roswell Road (Aberna
thy Square Shopping Center) and 5565
New Northside Drive (Vet Clinic — fac
ing 1-285). A GDOT permit has been
received for property at 8765 Roswell
Road, North River Village Shopping
Center, but to date, no application for
a permit from the city has been received
for this location.
We realize that many of our residents
would prefer to keep the landscape free
of additional billboards.
While I agree, we must adhere to
the law. Reducing the overall number
to eight with the structure specifica
tions was a good settlement for the city.
I hope this explanation provides all with
a better understanding.
Eva GalamboJ
Sandy SpringJ Mayor
Imagine your property taken
through eminent domain
To the editor:
I have been a victim of eminent do
main in another Georgia county where
a road was “needed” for suspect reasons
— a road now only lightly traveled, ex
cept for Saturday during the University
of Georgia football season.
Did I miss a vote by the citizens of
Sandy Springs on whether we wanted a
magnificent municipal complex on Ro
swell Road? Could this “upward of $ 100
million” project cited by Mayor Galam-
bos be an ego trip for our city officials?
I don’t know, but I was appalled by
the mayor’s comments regarding the
city’s intent and attitude in the Sandy
Springs Reporter of June 28-July 11.
Eminent domain is a travesty against
citizens and property rights. What is the
overbearing public need for a huge city
block project that has not been voted on
by the citizens it is to serve? Imagine it
is you whose property is being taken for
such a comparative pittance and against
your wishes.
Sara Eadj
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