The recently installed ad signs at The Avenue shopping center were the subject of some questions at last week’s City Council meeting.

Councilwoman Cyndi Plunkett inquired if the center was allowed to advertise off-site ventures, and as City Attorney Ted Meeker said, the city does not regulate the content of signs.

Meeker was referring to a federal court ruling that led the city to change its sign ordinance last year. But it was a different ordinance, in fact a “special” one called a sign program, that allowed The Avenue to erect the signs.

The signs advertised a country radio station, two nearby subdivisions and other businesses. The sign program was adopted by the city’s planning commission.

City Planner David Rast said an official with Cousins Properties, which manages The Avenue, was aware of the city’s concerns about advertisements for off-site businesses and the company will “try to limit that to tenants.”

Rast said the signs were in violation of the sign program for having too much internal lighting, and Cousins was working with the city to resolve the issue.

Rast noted that similar signs were approved as part of the third phase of the Kedron Village retail center, which includes the Target superstore.

Plunkett said she didn’t want to see the city have its sign ordinance challenged just because of The Avenue’s signs.

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