Revision allows temporary signs

The Columbia County Planning Commission on Thursday approved two amendments to an ordinance regulating temporary signs for special events.

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The county's Development Services staff has met with area business owners for the past year to improve the division, according to county documents. A common complaint heard by officials involved the temporary sign ordinance.

Buckhead, Ga., resident Larry Conn said he and his wife own Great Clips in Riverwood Town Center in addition to three other stores throughout Georgia.

"Columbia County is the most restrictive when it comes to the sign ordinance, and it does place a burden on businesses like ours," he said.

Citing current economic conditions, the planning staff recommended that provisions be made to allow temporary signs for grand openings and other special events for a full week once each year.

The revision, which passed unanimously, also permits signs that are as large as 32 square feet or 5 percent of the building's frontage. Temporary banners would be allowed four times each year for 15 days at a time. The updated ordinance would include off-premise signs for county events.

If approved by county commissioners, the revision would remain in effect until Dec. 31, and would be reviewed again in 2011.

A second amendment approved by the planning and zoning board expands the list of usable building materials and architectural features in the Evans Town Center Overlay District, which primarily includes the area surrounding the intersection of Washington and Belair roads.

"I think with technology, we have got to move forward and make these changes to allow things to go forward in the county," said Chairwoman Jean Garniewicz.