A variance granted to Southtowne Hyundai during Tuesday's Coweta County Commission meeting may trigger the county to further examine its policy concerning grandfathered signs.

Nearly 25 years ago, Southtowne had allowed a BP service station to use part of its property to erect a sign. The BP station recently closed and Southtowne officials sought permission from the county to replace the old gas station sign with a new car dealer sign.

The old sign has a 210-sq. ft. face, which is 10 feet larger than is allowed under the county's sign ordinance. The sign also is 70 feet from another Southtowne sign, which is 30 feet less than the ordinance specifies.

County planner Robert Tolleson said the company planned to use the existing structure for its new sign and recommended the county grant a variance for the 30-feet distance violation, but said the company had agreed to make the sign face 200 feet to comply with current regulations.

While none of the commissioners objected to the variance, Commissioner Vernon "Mutt" Hunter suggested the county needs to look at its grandfathering policy on signs.

Hunter said the gas station is no longer there, so he isn't sure if the sign is really grandfathered. Tolleson said Southtowne had a year from the gas station's closing to do something with the sign or it would have to meet all the new sign ordinance requirements.

Hunter said he is pleased that there was a time limit, but said the county's staff needs to look at tightening the ordinance so none of the signs would be grandfathered in "perpetuity."

In other news, the commission:

*Waived the fees for Main Street Newnan to use the courthouse during the group's annual Taste of Newnan celebration. The county would normally charge $60 for the use of the facility, but agreed to let the group use the facility for free.

* Set public hearings for Nov. 12 for:

* Jack Powell to rezone property on Ga. Highway 34 east from Rural Reserve to Commercial and Office-Institutional.

* Dana Steele to rezone property on Ga. Highway 34 east from Rural Reserve to Office-Institutional.