City planners say 'no' to request from Hall schools

GAINESVILLE - Gainesville's Planning and Appeals Board Tuesday night turned down a request from the Hall County School System to erect a state-of-the-art, full-color digital message board sign in front of the Lanier Charter Career Academy on Atlanta Highway.

City code calls for digital message boards to display one color only, amber.

School system Technical Director Aaron Turpin said the sign is a marketing tool for students. But planning and appeals board members decided they could not approve it and suggested Turpin seek a code change from City Council.

"I appreciate the Board's consideration and recommendation to bring the opportunity for the City Council to consider amending the sign code," Turpin said.

Planning and Appeals Chairman Dean Dadisman said it would violate the ordinance set up by City Council.

"For us to approve one person, it would be very hard for us to deny somebody else who had a similar request," Dadisman said.

Dadisman said it would be more appropriate for the school system to go to City Council and ask for a code change that would allow the full color LED sign, similar to signs at Atlanta Airport, and said he would support that.