THOMASVILLE, GA, – August 30, 2016 – On Monday, September 12, 2016, the Thomasville City Council will consider on first reading a new sign ordinance. This will mark the first step in the process to formally adopt the new ordinance. The proposed ordinance will require two readings by the City Council to become effective as the new guideline for signage in the city of Thomasville.
“We have had a great deal of public input regarding the sign ordinance, which has been extremely beneficial in ultimately shaping the final draft,” said City Planner Brian Herrmann. “We are very fortunate to have such an engaged community, and we’ve taken care to be sure that our final recommendation to the City Council takes into account the concerns that we’ve heard.”
According to Herrmann, changes to the current ordinance are needed for clarity.
“Some of the challenges associated with the current ordinance include limited signage options for the public to choose and standards that may sometimes be unclear,” said Herrmann. “For example, the standards intended for historic districts extend into areas that are not considered historic and have a far different character and context. In addition, the current ordinance is extremely restrictive in regards to internally-lit signs.”
The City of Thomasville began working toward improving the existing sign ordinance in 2014. As part of the revision process, the City created multiple opportunities for community feedback. After more than two years of work, including numerous meetings with local citizens and business owners, the proposed ordinance will be heard before the City Council during regular session.
The proposed ordinance is linked on the City of Thomasville’s website, Thomasville.org, and public feedback is encouraged. The Council will meet on September 12th at 7:00 p.m. in Council Chambers, 144 E. Jackson Street.