DUNWOODY, Ga. — Editor's Note: The above video is from a previous version of this story.
A Dunwoody homeowner has won her battle against a complaint launched against her popular dinosaur yard display.
Lisa Torres told 11Alive on Tuesday that she received a letter from the city stating "the extension has expired. No action needed on your behalf."
The complaint from the city of Dunwoody claimed that Torres was violating the sign code - almost causing an extinction-level event for the display. The inflatable dinosaurs were ordered to come down by Wednesday, Sept. 20.
The City previously sent a statement saying:
"In response to an email complaint sent to the city on August 31, the homeowner was given a courtesy notice by code enforcement indicating the inflatables in the yard violate Dunwoody’s sign code. This was done on September 5. In response to this case, city leaders have asked staff to review the sign code and consider possible modifications. To allow more time for that review, the compliance date has been pushed back from Sept. 20 to Oct. 20.
Dunwoody’s sign ordinance remains under staff review. These issues are complex, so we need time to get it right and avoid unintended consequences."
Mayor Lynn Deutsch also spoke about the issue at a previous council meeting, saying she was thrilled to see the level of community engagement and said the City was working on a solution.
Community members and city officials rallied for Torres, asking for the city to modify the ordinance.
"The community wasn’t ready. So, they took the reins. They created a movement. They spoke up. They stood up for me, for my family, and for them," Torres said.
Torres said the city gave her an extension past the Sept. 20 date and worked out a permanent solution to allow the dinosaurs to stay.
Since 2020, her display has been a popular attraction among local residents, changing with the seasons as the prehistoric figures don Santa hats, hold pumpkins, celebrate birthdays and even wave American flags. In 2021, Torres started adding inspirational sayings to the yard in hopes of further spreading the positivity.
Torres estimates she now has more than 100 of the inflatable dinos.
"They’re no longer mine," Torres said. "They’re Dunwoody’s dinosaurs."
"Today is very symbolic," Torres previously told 11Alive. "Because today is actually the day we were supposed to take them down."
Like they say in the movie "Jurassic Park," life finds a way.
Torres and her ancient display can now allow her to continue transporting residents and communities members back 65 millions years into the past.
