Heartbeat.

Road To Safety Admin — Mon, 11 Feb 2008 14:40:36 +0000

by Tim Enloe

IGNORANCE PLEA.

I plead ignorance. Why do I preface the following SOAPBOX editorial in such a fashion? It is really quite simple, actually. The reason is to relay that I don’t have all the answers here.However, what I do have is an idea that could put Milton, Georgia on the map in ways many would have never dreamed.

Our city recently turned into it’s sophomore year. Much has happened in this brief period.We have had elected a city council twice, launched our own fire and police departments,and gained the majority of control of our land use from Fulton County. Impressive, to say the least.

In regards to the later, I wish our citizens had the ability to control our land use 100%. However,with the Board of Education (BOE) holding the chips that they do, that goal is currently not in our favor.

BIRMINGHAM HIGH.

Many of you have most likely heard of the proposed Birmingham High School off of Freemanville Road. It has been relayed by BOE officials that their plan of action once said school is constructed is to redistrict the students. In other words, the student currently going to Milton would go to Birmingham and Milton would become the overflow for a student population from outside Milton, Georgia Boundaries.I find this
troubling to say the least.

Our residents chose incorporation to create their own city and their own identity. Citizens have spoken often about their dislike of sewer, traffic, and density. Many on assigned boards as well as our own council and staff have worked hours upon hours to protect what we all hold so dear. Yet, what is the point of such diligence when we end up being the whipping post for those who live outside our borders?

Getting back to paragraph four, I will share with you the first of many ideas today. If the course of action regarding the BOE is correct, then why are we receiving a new high school? If Alpharetta needs another high school because their population continues to rise, then why isn’t it being built within their boundaries? Take a look at the old Milton High School. The BOE attempted to justify to us a few years back that seven long time residents had to lose their homes because the old location “wasn’t fit for students.” Yet, today, students still go to that old school. Perplexing, to say the least. I don’t doubt that that facility is in need of a good facelift. Better yet, a demolition crew might well be needed,or so I’ve been told. I am also well aware of the new requirement that 70 acres are now the required minimum for a public high school in Fulton County.

CANTON STREET.

Have you driven down Canton Street lately? Notice alot of earth moving and trees coming down, I bet. The “coming Soon” sign states that $400k plus town homes are on the way, taking the place of one of the last quaint areas of Alpharetta. Troubling, but that city is very progressive to say the least.

‘Tis interested that the land where these town homes will be placed border’s the old Milton High grounds. Now keep in mind that the old Milton High location carries 47 acres with it I believe. It is easy to do the math here. One could easily see how a governmental body could amass the required 70 acre minimum by purchasing that land for the town homes. All those neighborhoods around that location came after that school’s initial ground breaking back in the late 1800′s. Oh, and by the way, that area has sewer…

HEARTBEAT – The Central Park Of Milton, Georgia.

Many of you will say “Ok Tim, say the four leaf clover falls in our lap and the BOE agrees with your points.What do you think should happen to that 113 acres in the heart of Milton?” The “what” is easy. The “how to” is another story. In my view, that parcel should become the Heartbeat of Milton. An area that includes our city hall,library,police department and administrative buildings. Within that same parcel, you incorporate a nature park, non-lit recreation fields and a trail system which would tie into White Columns to the North and Wood Road to the south.

Right off the bat, some might assume that sewer would be necessary. I doubt it. The BOE claims that a school housing an estimated 1800 students can go there with a septic system in place. Then why couldn’t the “Heartbeat”approach go there as well with a similar septic system? We both know that the four buildings above would not see 1800 people a day. If anything,they might see a quarter of that. The buildings wouldn’t need to be of a large caliber either.

Less parking and, in turn, less land would also be required as the city staff typically work Monday through Friday and the library is closed on Sundays. The only individuals that would require 24/7 access would be our police officers. In turn, this would allow Milton residents more spaces to park when enjoying the park and trails incorporated during the weekends and evenings.

Such an approach would also help in protecting one of our few gravel byways, Wood Road. Some have told me that this road wouldn’t be impacted if the BOE goes through with their plan of action as they have no plans to tie in. While that is fine and good, the noise and traffic generated from such a facility alone would still force the hand of many Wood Road residents.(Residents, that currently own some impressive equestrian facilities.) You would see residents sell one by one with more developers waiting. To see the impact a high school has, just drive down to Freemanville Road and take a look at all the homes currently for sale within an ear shot of the New Milton High. Significant to say the least…

IN CLOSING – A PERFECT WORLD.

As I said at the beginning, I plead ignorance. I don’t have all the answers. If anything, I just have an idea with dreams.I have very little knowledge regarding our city’s cash flow. However, I do realize that we will eventually require our own city hall, police, and administrative buildings and I also realize that we are on tap for a new
library.

But imagine for a moment a perfect world of our Milton. A place where you can drop your kids off at Central Park while you go read a book at the library and feel safe. Safety for not only your pride and joy but also yourself as you watch our wonderful police drive by on a regular basis. Imagine going to a city hall meeting and seeing a residents on horse back trotting by. Imagine camping with your little ones for the first time and being five minutes from home. Imagine our property values rising because of our “outside of the box” thinking while others chose to expose themselves to monotony.

Some have said that “imagination” can breed false hope. It is simply a trinket for a rainy day. I disagree with this premise. If anything, imagination is the foundation for the future. Remember, there were those that said Milton, Georgia would never be…

Second Crabapple Crossroads Community Plan Update Meeting

Road To Safety Admin — Mon, 07 Jan 2008 04:03:44 +0000

Community Development contact:
Mike Tuller
678-242-2538 O
mike.tuller@cityofmiltonga.usMedia contact:
Lisa Maggart
678-242-2492 O 404-414-3301 C
lisa.maggart@cityofmiltonga.us

Scheduled for January 14 at City Hall

Note: Date and Location ChangeMILTON, Ga., January 4, 2007 –The City of Milton will hold its second meeting to discuss updating the Crabapple Crossroads Community Plan on Monday, January 14. The meeting, which will be held at City Hall at 13000 Deerfield Parkway in Milton, will run from 7:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. The Public is invited to attend.Please note this is a change from the previously scheduled meeting date and location.

The January 14th meeting is intended to provide an opportunity for citizens to meet with the consultants preparing the City of Milton’s Comprehensive Plan and to help consider potential recommendations regarding the City’s review of development requests within the area affected by the Crabapple Crossroads Community Plan during the period when the Comprehensive Plan is being prepared.

If you would like to further orient yourself to the Crabapple Crossroads Plan as adopted by Fulton County and the City of Milton, visit the City of Milton’s website at http://www.cityofmiltonga.us/and go to the “Comprehensive Plan” section.

Additional Background:

In March 2004, the Fulton County Board of Commissioners adopted an amendment to the County’s zoning resolution to create the Crabapple Crossroads Overlay within the Northwest Fulton Overlay District to delineate approximately 511 acres containing the historic mixed-use center of Crabapple and the land surrounding it, and to establish standards for the Crabapple Crossroads Overlay area. The Northwest Fulton Overlay Design Review Board was given the responsibility for reviewing development plans and making recommendations regarding the approval of a Land Disturbance Permit, Building Permit, Sign Permit, or Primary Variance in the Overlay area. The Commission adopted the Crabapple Crossroads Plan of June 4, 2003 as the basis for regulating development in such a way that it would be consistent with Crabapple’s historic and rural village character, preserve 20% of the area as open space, and create an interconnected transportation network to implement a pedestrian-oriented core with surrounding residential uses.

Since the adoption of the Overlay District, the Crabapple Crossroads Community has seen significant changes, including the incorporation of the City of Milton, the construction of the new Milton High School, and substantial development in the southwest quadrant of the community. To the northwest, a large expanse of property has been cleared, followed by the construction of roads and infrastructure for a mixture of commercial, office and residential land uses. South of the schools, property owners are poised to develop the remaining large tracts. How can the Overlay District manage growth effectively to preserve the intent of the Community Plan?

The City of Milton has inherited the Crabapple Crossroads Overlay District and the Overlay Design Review Board, and is committed to addressing these issues by updating the Community Plan as part of the City’s Comprehensive Plan process. Due to the immediate interest in the Crabapple Crossroads Community Plan, an interim update of the Community Plan is being prepared during the initial stage of the Comprehensive Plan process to provide guidelines for the City of Milton to make decisions until the full comprehensive plan is completed in June 2008.

The Marietta office of BRPH, Inc., a full service planning and design firm, is providing services to update both plans.

Milton Sewer Debate Before Council

Road To Safety Admin — Thu, 26 Apr 2007 12:25:55 +0000

Dear Friends and Neighbors,

I am emailing you today to ask you to consider emailing and speaking out to the Milton City Council and Mayor, we have a very important issue before them and your voice needs to be heard. There is a Work Session tomorrow, Thursday, 4/26 at 5:00pm where you can make your comments in person.

If you were not aware, Fulton County has asked Milton to write a letter in support of the extension of sewer and interbasin transfer for Mr. Dennis Potts, this will be discussed tomorrow evening at the Council Work session. Other developers have now come forward to request the same type of exception.

Milton City Council and Mayor need to hear loud and clear that we DO NOT support a letter to Fulton County for the exception of the no sewer policy and no inter basin transfer ordinance for Mr. Potts nor anyone else.

The reasons are simple as to why NOT to support the expansion of sewer and the exception of the No Inter Basin Transfer Ordinance for Mr. Potts or any other petitioners:

· The letter would violate the “no-sewer” policy of Milton and the No Inter Basin Transfer Resolution of March 1995.
· No Sewer policy of Milton is critical to this area to preserve the low-density and rural character of Milton.
· Expansion of sewer would negatively impact our quality of life by allowing more density.
Increased traffic, strains on the current infrastructure, noise, light pollution and lower property values.

· Exception to the No Inter Basin Transfer policy could lead to unnecessary and expensive upgrades or expansion to the Big Creek Treatment plant.
· To reserve our river basins, Etowah River Basin (Chicken Creek Sub-Basin and Cooper/Sandy Creek Sub-Basin), uncontrolled growth has a costly effect on the quality of our environment.

Your local government needs to hear from your today. Please preserve our beautiful community.

Thanks,
Kim Horne