Milton’s City Council on Monday extended a moratorium on certain permit and other applications for the Deerfield area, with the extra time allowing for potential City Code changes to work through the public meeting process.

In collaboration with citizens and other stakeholders, the City has been working for months to craft a Deerfield Implementation Plan – a dynamic, long-term vision for an area that includes Highway 9, Windward Parkway, Morris Road, Deerfield Parkway, Webb Road, and surrounding areas. (You can learn more about this project at www.miltonga.gov/Deerfield.)

That effort has progressed substantially, with City Manager Steve Krokoff noting Monday, “We are doing everything we can to set things up for success.”

City staff have been approached by developers with proposals “that may very well align with the changes” that might be made to City Code in line with the Deerfield Implementation Plan, said Krokoff. This project will specify architectural styles, building sizes and ratios, a trail network, favored amenities and uses, as well as other features that fit the community’s desires for this pivotal part of southeastern Milton.

Responding to a question from Councilmember Doug Hene, Krokoff estimated it could take up to four months for prospective Code changes to work through the public meeting process – though that timing could speed up or slow down.

On February 10, the Planning Commission will join the City Council for a Work Session dedicated exclusively to what happens next in Deerfield. Some of the potential alterations could be discussed at that meeting.

Describing the timeline as “very appropriate,” Mayor Peyton Jamison said, “Monday’s Work Session is going to be very important.”

ALCOHOL LICENSE APPROVED FOR VOLCANO’S NEW OWNER

After an invocation by City Church Pastor Billy Lowe, the Council unanimously approved a Consent Agenda that included agreements with: 

• Spectrum Fence to replace fencing surrounding the City’s five multipurpose athletic fields at Legacy Park and Bell Memorial Park with a stronger, more durable fence than what is there now
• The Georgia Department of Natural Resources and White Columns Gated Community Association (HOA) related to the same $225,000 project (at no cost to the City) to improve the Glenover Dam in the Chicken Creek Watershed
• Edge Business Systems to manage printing services for the City government in an effort to improve the operation and functioning of the City’s printers
• NV5 Engineers and Consultants to closely examine State Route 372/Birmingham Highway – specifically near three adjacent schools and the Heritage Walk roundabout – and create design alternatives to improve efficiency and safety for drivers, pedestrians, bicyclists, and those on PTVs
• Sweeping Corporation of America to continue to clean Milton’s roads with street sweeping at four points over the coming year
• Kimley-Horn to work with the City to tackle three tasks related to the implementation of a $1 million federal Safe Streets and Roads for All (SS4A) grant aimed at making Milton’s roads safer for drivers, pedestrians, and bicyclists

This vote was followed by the Council’s approval of an alcohol beverage license for the new owners of Volcano Sushi and Ramen along Windward Parkway.

CITY AGREES TO JOIN AMBULANCE OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE

The evening’s final two items pertained to Milton joining a new North Fulton Emergency Medical Response Oversight Committee to ensure quality ambulance service.

State law proscribes American Medical Response (AMR) provides ambulance service throughout the northern part of Fulton County, an area including Sandy Springs, Roswell, Alpharetta, Johns Creek, as well as Milton. Last year, Milton Fire leaders engaged with their counterparts and AMR to discuss how best to sustain and, ideally, provide better ambulance service.

That led to a new service level agreement that City Council approved in summer 2024. This pact had several accountability elements built-in such as obligating responses to be 12 minutes or less and requiring as least one paramedic and one EMT in every ambulance.

On Monday, the Council took that accountability a step further. After first authorizing a waiver so Jarrard & Davis could represent Milton and Alpharetta in developing bylaws for this new group, the Council approved Milton joining the aforementioned Oversight Committee as well as its bylaws.

Milton Fire-Rescue Chief Gabe Benmoussa explained this committee will give all five cities a “structure” to ensure the contract terms are met. Fire Chiefs will likely belong to it, with local EMS chiefs serving on a subcommittee.

The City Council is next set to meet February 10 for its joint Work Session with Milton’s Planning Commission.