Sign applicant tells council Food Saver sign will be a "much better concept" for Fort Oglethorpe historic district

At a public hearing on Ordinance 2026-23 — an application for a certificate of appropriateness for tax parcel 0003F044-2911 in the Fort Oglethorpe historic district — the applicant, Randall Tipton, told the council the proposal is to replace the existing Save‑A‑Lot wall sign and multi‑tenant panel with signage for Food Saver.

Tipton spelled his last name for the record when invited to the podium and described the proposed sign replacement as a ‘‘much better concept’’ that he expects the community to like. He also told the council the corporate office will be Houchens Industries in Bowling Green, Kentucky, and said the new format will offer low prices and better meat selections.

The ordinance record indicates the application was requested by a sign company as part of a certificate of appropriateness filing for the Fort Oglethorpe historic district. No opposition to the sign replacement was recorded during the hearing. Because the item was at first reading and part of the certificate of appropriateness process, council will take further action in subsequent proceedings (the ordinance text was read at first reading during the regular meeting).

Why it matters: Certificates of appropriateness control changes in historic districts; replacing storefront signage may affect the visual character of the district and is subject to the city’s historic‑district review standards. The applicant’s public remarks were supportive and no members of the public indicated opposition at the hearing.