Merchants Weigh in on Proposed Sign Ordinance

Stone Mountain City Council members, the city manager and several of the area’s merchants spent a good chunk of Tuesday’s council work session discussing concerns and compromises to the proposed new sign ordinance -- as well as its benefits -- which will be voted on next month.

Business owners who attended the meeting at particularly didn’t like the 22-page proposal's limit of only two outside banners per year, down from six.

Beth Griswold, owner of in Stone Mountain Village, suggested upping the proposed number of banners per year to four.

After several minutes of input from the city's leadership and businesses, it was agreed that the proposal would be changed to four banners per year for businesses with permanent signage.

Using a banner instead of a permanent business sign can create problems, said council member Susan Coletti.

After a while, “people ignore it because it’s been there so long,” Coletti said.

Coletti also recalled that during a tour of the area, Bruce Green, director of tourism product development for the Georgia Department of Economic Development, noted a dearth of permanent signs with pertinent information such as the business name, telephone number and web site.

The lack of permanent signs in the Village sometimes makes it tricky for visitors.

"I often have to say, 'it's the third door up on the right.' I can't direct people where there aren't signs to be seen," said Kim Cumbie, manager of the Stone Mountain Village Visitors Center.

Where there was some disagreement on the banner issue was the length of time they could stay up. The proposed ordinance has a 30-day limit. Some merchants suggested 45 days instead, in order to run a banner during the winter holiday shopping season about specials, for example.

For businesses with permanent signs, some council members such as Nan Nash stood firm in support of the 30 days.

Mayor Pro Tem Chakira Sallee said she was “a little on the fence” on the time length; Richard Mailman suggested two banners for 30 days and two for 45 days.

Finding an acceptable middle ground is key, said council member Steve Higgins: “We have to do everything we can to compromise so y’all get business,” he said.

The council is scheduled to vote on the new ordinance at its October 4 meeting, 7:30 p.m.