Billboards are large advertisements typically reserved for major highways and dense, urban cities. Johns Creek, however, is set to put up billboards at 10 different locations, which fall right outside their suburban neighborhoods. These families must become acquainted with the massive advertisements they will pass during their daily commutes. Many residents of Johns Creek are outraged by this decision, and countless unsuccessful petitions have gone around.

Aesthetically, this billboard ruins the sense of comfort we feel, especially since it is placed outside the local favorite, Sara’s Donuts. The grand advertising method also asserts the control of the elite businessmen in this area. Due to its placement at one of the most accident-prone intersections in all of Georgia, the billboard also raises a major safety concern. In addition, it also disrupts one of the community's historical sights, the Macedonia African Methodist Cemetery. Despite the entire community and city’s efforts to stop the implementation of the project, the wealthy businesses prevailed.

When Fulton County was first created, these companies bought the right to put up these billboards, but many lawsuits were initiated to prevent it. Once Johns Creek officially became a city in 2006, they joined in on the lawsuit in hopes of blocking the approval of these applications. Any current petitions and lawsuits were disregarded due to the fact that laws were created after these private companies obtained the rights to the land. After the defeat in the Georgia Supreme Court, five permits were issued with five more to follow. Luckily, this number was reduced from the initial 27 that were set to be constructed.

The future billboards are set to be placed on major streets including State Bridge Road, Medlock Bridge Road, Holcomb Bridge Road, Abbotts Bridge Road, Kimball Bridge Road and McGinnis Ferry Road.

Click here to sign the petition to preserve our community!