Real Estate Solution for Report clean water Sponsored section ►►PAGE 20
Simple filtering system changing lives ►►PAGE 9
Balloon trip takes detour
M Chocolat wins prize for new bar
Residents get colorful Flyover – fly-under? ►►PAGE 5
Snack leaves judges tickled blueberry ►►PAGE 10
April 3, 2014 | northfulton.com | 73,500 circulation Revue & News, Johns Creek Herald, Milton Herald & Forsyth Herald combined | 50¢ | Volume 18, No. 14
Business owners want sign relief Sign committee listens as store owners sound off
HATCHER HURD/STAFF
Mount Pisgah Head of School John Marshall stands at the construction site for the new 48,000-square-foot addition to the school’s campus.
Mount Pisgah School gets $17.5M expansion under way Already raised $15.3M of costs By HATCHER HURD hatcher@northfulton.com JOHNS CREEK, Ga. – Steel girders are coming out of the ground at Mount Pisgah Chris-
tian School on Old Alabama Road that are the harbingers of the new $17.5 million, 48,000-square-foot expansion that will be the new upper school (high school). The good news is 87 percent of the required funding has already been donated or pledged. This is the latest phase in the school’s strategic plan. The expansion will allow the Pisgah
See SCHOOL, Page 11
Jean Ramsey, owner of Shabby Chic, an antiques and vintage clothing store, said the city is simply too restrictive — a complaint the task force heard repeatedly. By HATCHER HURD “Doing business in the hatcher@northfulton.com city is so restrictive, even down to displaying balloons,” JOHNS CREEK, Ga. – The Ramsey said. “They weren’t Johns Creek sign task force allowed even for our grand held a public hearing March opening.” 26 to get community feedAll business owners in her back on city sign ordinances shopping center agreed, she — and the business commusaid. nity took full advantage. “We understand there has The sign to be limits,” she ordinances said, “but the rehave not been strictions are just reviewed since too broad.” the creation of Another comthe city in 2006. mon complaint The Johns Creek was that permitChamber of ted signs are Commerce has often too small to requested the be seen from the city do so. street. Johns Creek “They are so Chamber Presismall, they are dent John Besimply ineffecmont said it was tive,” Ramsey JEAN RAMSEY, the No. 1 issue said. “We are not Owner of Shabby Chic among chamber even allowed to members. put up a ‘Coming The city is in Soon’ sign or a a public-private partnership ‘Now Open’ sign to let people to fund Johns Creek Advanknow we’re new and open for tage, an organization charged business.” with not only attracting new Joe Huggins recently businesses to the city, but opened a new high-end masretaining and assisting the sage therapy business. city’s existing businesses. He said after he read the A task force comprised of sign ordinance, he wanted two City Council members, to find a location in another two members of the business city. community and two repre“If I could have found the sentatives of the homeowner right place, I wouldn’t have community wanted to hear come to Johns Creek,” Hugrecommendations and comSee SIGNS, Page 4 ments for consideration.
Doing business in the city is so restrictive, even down to displaying balloons.”