The East Ellijay City Council reviewed a revamped sign ordinance and approved an addition to its zoning procedures when meeting last week.
There will be a few, but probably not many changes to the sign ordinance, which covers everything from billboards to business signs to signs in people’s yards, noted Larry Callahan, public safety director.
The current sign ordinance states, among other requirements, that all permitted freestanding signs or outdoor advertising structures located near streets, driveways or intersections must be at least 10 feet above ground level so as not to impede traffic or obscure vision. The current ordinance also prohibits several types of signage including some commercial billboards, signs imitating warning signals and certain oversized and painted signs.
“It may change (height requirements) a little bit, but it would be very little compared to the old one,” Callahan said.
A preliminary version of the ordinance underwent a first reading and will have to have a second reading before the council can vote on it. It can still be amended up till that time.
“We didn’t want to halfway do it. If we were going to do it, we were going to do it all. We’re still running through it,” Callahan said.
“It will also include a new application that folks can fill out.”
The zoning ordinance change authorizes the city council to act as a planning committee when reviewing zoning change requests.
Callahan said East Ellijay doesn’t currently have a planning committee for that specific purpose as zoning change requests aren’t that common. The revised ordinance allows one to be formed in the future, if needed.
