18 | December 1, 2016 | Milton Herald | NorthFulton.com
BUSINESSPOSTS
Forsyth enacts emergency billboard moratorium By KATHLEEN STURGEON kathleen@appenmediagroup.com FORSYTH COUNTY, Ga. — The Forsyth County Board of Commissioners approved a 30-day emergency moratorium Nov. 17 regarding the conversion of billboards to LED signs. The moratorium bars applications for the conversion. County Attorney Ken Jarrard said billboards are legal in the county under its sign code. But the county doesn’t allow any new billboards and hasn’t for some time. “However, technology changes,” Jarrard said. “We certainly have seen the changes when the push to convert signage to LED signs occurred.” Nonconforming sign structures, or
billboards, have been allowed in the past to change to LED signs, he said. There is a requirement the billboard owners work with the county to publish public safety notifications. Now, the county has seen some challenges on Buford Highway, he said. “We have an overlay on Buford Highway that no longer allows electronic message boards,” Jarrard said. “And yet right now we have at a minimum three signs that are in some sort of a position, asking for an upgrade to an LED sign.” Jarrard said there is an interest in reviewing as a “matter of right.” “Right now there are no limitations,” he said. He suggested discussing the issue further at a work session.
BUSINESSSPOTLIGHTS
Lynch: Continued from Page 16
Newtown Family Dental opens in Johns Creek Business name: Newtown Family Dental Owner: Alim J Grant DDS About: Newtown Family Dental offers general and cosmetic dentistry for the entire family with an emphasis on patient comfort. The office facilitates a relaxing and non-threatening envi-
Metro Diner opens in Roswell Business name: Metro Diner Owner: Charity Chancellor About: The Metro Diner comes all the way from Jacksonville, Florida, where it was first opened in 1992. The diner offers contemporary culinary techniques, a commitment to creating dishes from scratch, an award-winning presentation, unique recipes and imaginative twists on old classics. Opened: Oct. 25, 2016 Address: 880 Holcomb Bridge Road, Roswell, Ga. 30076 Phone: 678-539-0879 Website: www.metrodiner.com
ronment so that patients will want to return again and again. Opened: November, 2016 Address: 3280 Old Alabama Road, Suite 200, Johns Creek, Ga. 30022 Phone: 404-437-7331 Website: www.newtownfamilydental.net
party at Tongue and Groove. Some of the most ridiculous things would come through, and I’d say, ‘Sure, I’ll do that.’” The pace never let up, and she said she would never hire help because she was so careful about how her products were made, delivered and marketed to the public. “I felt the integrity of the company would be damaged if I didn’t have every single finger in every single part of it,” she said. “I didn’t want somebody to deliver the cupcakes for me because they would be a representative of the company.” The business kept Lynch either in front of an oven or on deliveries for seven days a week with no vacation, no days off. Then, in 2012, she learned she was about to make one of the biggest deliveries of her life. “When I got pregnant, it was not possible to continue because of how hard I worked,” she said. So, after talking it over with her husband, they decided to put the business on hold and possibly pick it up in a few years if the demand was still there. But, after the birth of her son Hayes, Lynch went to work as director of sales at Ruth’s Chris Steakhouse in Alpharetta where she joined the Chamber of Commerce in 2014. She takes over from retiring President Hans Appen as the head of the 350-member organization. “I think Hans did a remarkable
job of making the Alpharetta Chamber very fun,” she said. “When I was a member while at Ruth’s Chris, I always enjoyed going to the events. They were fun, and they were just no pressure.” She said she wants to continue that legacy because it makes members feel more welcome. “I’m going to continue to do that,” she said. “I want our events to be fun and interesting and I want it to feel like a break from work.” She said such a system allows businesses to grow their reputations organically rather than through forced networking with people you may have nothing in common with. As for other goals, Lynch has set a mark of adding another 350 members within the next year. “There are 6,000 businesses in Alpharetta that can be a part of a chamber of commerce,” she said. “I know firsthand what it’s like to head up a small business. You have to get down on the ground and network and it’s just blood, sweat and tears every day. I know exactly how that feels.” She also knows that if she’d been introduced to the benefits of chamber membership back in her cupcake days, she would have jumped at the chance. “That’s the biggest mistake and regret I have,” she said. “Being a prior business owner and not knowing what a chamber was back then, I just didn’t know. I would’ve killed to have been a part of such an organization. “It’s such an easy thing for $250 a year and to be put in front of so many people in such a great platform. It’s phenomenal.”