City Council on Wednesday approved measures so the Milton Montessori School could grow its campus with a new structure to accommodate 160 more students built on over 5 acres of land.

The Council action included a Private School Use Permit, replacing the previously issued Senior Living Use Permit for 98 units on the same property. Interim Community Development Director Diana Wheeler noted that the school expansion in most ways constitutes a “less intensive” use of the property – meaning it should have less of an overall effect on those in the surrounding area than a senior living development of that scale. 

The existing school and abutting property sits along Bethany Bend, across from Forsyth County and near several multifamily residential developments. Wheeler noted a large amount of open space on the campus along with a buffer around a perennial stream should help minimize the expansion’s impact on neighbors.

According to a Milton Herald profile, the Milton Montessori School began in January 2008 with two classrooms. A new 6,000 square foot building opened in summer 2017 to accommodate students ranging from infants to those in elementary grades. A proposed structure would add 14 classrooms and 24,000 square feet of space, with vehicles going in-and-out via a new roundabout.

Biju Eappen, the owner of the Milton Montessori School, thanked City staff for their efforts over the last six months to set the stage for Wednesday night’s vote.

“We worked hard to get where we are now,” Eappen said.

Ultimately, the City Council unanimously approved the revised use permit as well as two parts of a three-part concurrent variance. The only rejected variance component – as recommended by the Design Review Board and Planning Commission – was to reduce the sidewalk width along Bethany Bend near the property from six to five feet. The City is looking to grade this stretch to set the stage for a wider, TSPLOST-funded path that enlarges Milton’s trail network.

STEM LEGO PROGRAM, LEGACY PARK FENCE ITEMS APPROVED

Earlier in the evening City Church Pastor Billy Lowe gave an invocation in which he cited a Bible passage and famed author J.R.R. Tolkien while referencing Wednesday’s deadly school shooting in Winder, Georgia.

“We should recognize that we live in a blessed community and that this could happen anywhere,” Lowe said.

After two general public comments – one on pedestrian safety outside Hopewell Middle School and the other on field configuration at the new Deerfield Parkway park property – the Council approved a Consent Agenda that included agreements with:

• Bounce House Inflatables of Atlanta to provide children’s entertainment options for Crabapple Fest, which will be October 5 in downtown Milton
• Flylock Security Solutions to replace the system that automatically opens the two public, parking lot-side entry doors to-and-from City Hall
• American Alarm Corporation to provide alarm monitoring tied to the burglar systems and fire panels at City facilities, as well as special phones inside elevators
• NeoGov so the City can utilize more of its HR-related program’s features including those related to benefits, time and attendance, payroll, and performance management
• Play-Well TEKnowledgies to run a new STEM Lego program for children at City facilities in partnership with Milton’s Parks and Recreation Department
• Spectrum Fence Company to replace an aging, damaged chain link fence by the Legacy Park entrance with a new four-board style fence with metal farm-style gates

SEPTEMBER RECOGNIZED AS MILTON MENTAL WELLNESS MONTH

At Wednesday’s meeting, the City once again shined a spotlight on mental wellness.  The City for years has tabbed September as Milton Mental Wellness Month, timing that coincides with World Suicide Prevention Day (this year on September 10) and National Suicide Prevention Week (falling from September 8 through 14).

These efforts have included an annual proclamation, as well as proactive efforts to share valuable resources, work to reduce stigmas, and acknowledging many in our community (like in every other place) suffer from depression, anxiety, and other mental health ailments. Much of this information is available on a dedicated webpage: www.miltonga.gov/mentalwellness.

Another tradition continuing in 2024 is an expert-driven webinar with the City’s longtime partners at LRJ Foundation, a local nonprofit focused on raising awareness, sharing tools, and offering support related to mental health, and particularly suicide prevention. The next edition – titled “Emotional Intelligence: Empowering Yourself and Others” – features sought-after speaker Dr. Scott Livingston; anyone can access it online at www.miltonga.gov/EmotionalIntelligence between 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. on September 12. (It will later be posted on the City’s website alongside past webinars.)

Prior to reading this year’s proclamation, Mayor Peyton Jamison on Wednesday thanked the LRJ Foundation, and specifically its Executive Director Teressa Ruspi, for all the “wonderful” work they have done in our community.

ALCOHOL LICENSE OK’d FOR LILY SUSHI BAR

The Council later approved a new alcohol beverage license for Lily Sushi Bar Milton, which is set to open soon on Heritage Walk in the Crabapple Market building once occupied by Dua Vietnamese.

Deputy City Manager Bernadette Harvill then gave two budget-related presentations during the Public Hearing portion of the agenda.

The first focused on proposed amendments to the City’s budget for Fiscal Year 2024, which ends on September 30. Harvill detailed updated revenue projections for various funds as well as amended expenditures.

Then came a presentation on the City’s proposed Fiscal Year 2025 budget, covering a timeframe from October 1, 2024, to September 30, 2025. This was another opportunity to explore this draft budget, as City staff previously presented on its elements during four Council input and feedback sessions, plus one more comprehensive draft budget presentation.

As with the FY24 budget amendments, Harvill went through expected City revenues and proposed expenditures for the coming fiscal year. The latter were in line with what Harvill had previously and publicly presented.

In accordance with State law, the City Council did not vote on either budget item. That is set to happen at its next Regular Meeting on September 16.

SALE APPROVED FOR STRIP OF MCPP LAND

In other matters, the City Council approved resolutions giving the City the authority to issue condemnations for four parcels needed for the Big Creek Greenway Connection. This project will create multi-use paths so people can more safely walk or bike to-and-from the Greenway and the Cambridge High School area.

Engineering Program Manager Rob Dell-Ross explained that these resolutions’ approval does “not end negotiations (with affected property owners). This just allows the City to move forward with the project.”

He said that, since the City Council agenda was published, the City agreed on a price for two of the parcels. Dell-Ross also expressed optimism in a mutually agreed upon price for a third parcel.

In addition, the Council signed off on the sale of a narrow strip of land now in Milton City Park and Preserve to a neighboring property owner. This property is triangle-shaped at 50 feet wide at its widest point and 321 feet long. Per the agreement terms, the new owner cannot build on or make changes to this property aside from fencing and landscaping.

The agenda’s final item, also approved, was a final plat revision for the Lyndon Creek subdivision off Cogburn Road. Since the plat’s initial approval in 2021, the developer purchased an additional 1.3 acres of land. Several lots are larger (than originally planned) in the revised plat, in addition to other minor changes like a reconfigured entrance to the soon-to-be gated neighborhood.

The City is next set to convene on September 9 for a Work Session.