The digital billboard that looms above Corky's has caused consternation in Brentwood for a decade.

Metro files appeal with Brentwood's support
By SUSAN LEATHERS
Brentwood Home Page
The City of Brentwood made a decision late last year not to appeal a decision by Metro's Board of Zoning Appeals that allowed the "Corky's Billboard" to go digital. However, city officials told their Metro counterparts that if Metro officials filed an appeal, Brentwood would support it.

Lamar Advertising recently changed the north-facing side of the billboard from a trifold style billboard to a much brighter digital one.

On Monday, the Metropolitan Government of Nashville and Davidson County filed an appeal against its BZA, Lamar Advertising and Investors Towne Center Partners I, LLC.  The action, a petition for Writ of Certiorari, requests a review of the BZA's action on Nov. 23, 2011.

The goal of the appeal is to prevent a precedent from being set that would allow other billboards throughout Nashville to be converted even if they are in nonconforming locations similar to the “Corky’s” billboard which stands at 100 Franklin Pike, just feet outside of Brentwood’s city limits.

At Monday’s Brentwood City Commission meeting, city attorney Roger Horner informed the commission that the Nashville had filed an appeal that he had told Metro staff that “we would support the action.”

The appeal states that “The BZA’s decision is contrary to law and should be reversed, or, in the alternative, the case should be remanded to the BZA for a correction consideration of the issues."

It contends that the Nov. 23 action was in violation of Metro’s zoning code that specifically prohibits LED message boards and digital signs on property zoned mixed use-limited.  The Metro government is asking for a judicial review of the BZA’s Nov. 23 decision and either overturn it or send it back to the BZA for “a correct analysis under the zoning code and state law.”