Update 5:25 p.m., Tuesday: City attorney Roger Horner informed Brentwood Home Page that the city received word Tuesday afternoon that Metro Codes will be rescinding the permit to convert the sign to digital.  “We’re waiting to get more information, but apparently Metro’s staff determined that the zoning for the site precludes digital signs after all, regardless of the legal status of the existing sign,” Horner stated.

City attorney updates board on ACLU suit status
By SUSAN LEATHERS
Brentwood Home Page
The city is ready to take steps to fight the infamous Corky’s billboard again if needed, city attorney Roger Horner told Brentwood city commissioners at the board’s Monday night meeting.

Horner explained that Lamar Advertising, which owns the billboard located just 12 feet into Metro Nashville that's supported by poles in the Franklin Road barbecue restaurant's parking lot, applied with the Metro Board of Zoning Appeals (BZA)  to turn large billboard into a digital sign with bright lights. The sign is visible to all who enter Brentwood from its northern gateway near Old Hickory Boulevard at Franklin Road.  

Although there was no old or new business listed on the official meeting agenda, commission Rhea Little asked to add a motion under New Business to address the sign.

“I move that the City of Brentwood staff be authorized to file an appeal with the Metropolitan Nashville Board of Zoning Appeals in regard to the conversion of the billboard at 100 Franklin Pike to a digital sign, if Brentwood staff determines that allowing the conversion would be inconsistent with the applicable regulations,” Little said.

The motion won unanimous approval from the seven commissioners.

Immediately following the meeting, Horner said the city is “still trying to understand why Metro staff felt it had no choice but to file the permit” allowing the billboard's transition to digital. Metro’s BZA had first said it wouldn’t allow the change.

Also at Monday’s meeting, Horner gave commissioners an update on the ACLU’s suit against the city which stemmed from the sale of The Contributor, the local newspaper sold by homeless vendors throughout Middle Tennessee.

With pretrial activities, depositions, and discovery phases yet to be complete, the first date it could go to trial would be Dec. 18, 2012, Horner said.

In other actions, the commission:

• Authorized an agreement with Embassy Suites in Cool Springs to host the 2011 Employee Recognition banquet.
• Authorized city participation in the TML Risk Management Pool Driver Safety Matching Grant Program
• Authorized the acquisition of a temporary construction easement for the Concord Road Fiber System Expansion Project
• Endorsed a grant application with the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) under the Fire Operations and Firefighter Safety Grant Program for self-contained breathing apparatus for the Fire & Rescue Department.

The commissioners also approved the donation of surplus Fire & Rescue Department vehicle to the Two Rivers Volunteer Fire Department in Cheatham County.

To learn details of the agenda items, click here.