Milton’s City Council returns to City Hall on Monday evening to discuss several potential City Code text amendments as well as a proposed conservation easement for Birmingham Park.

Those will be among the items on the agenda for this Work Session, during which the Council can listen to presentations, ask questions, and offer general direction but cannot cast conclusive votes. People can attend the April 21 meeting – which will begin at 6 p.m. in Council Chambers – in-person or watch online at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HrqCpkAltO8.

As such, each of the six items on Monday’s Council agenda is under “Reports and Presentations” (a category that, by definition, does not involve binding votes). Below are summaries of each of those items:

• Milton Equestrian Committee Update.

  The Milton Equestrian Committee consists of seven individuals, appointed by the Mayor and Councilmembers, who consider matters of importance to the equestrian community. They share their insights, opinions, and expertise with City staff and City leaders, including through regular updates to Council like they will do on Monday. (For more about this committee, also known as MEC, go to https://www.miltonga.gov/government/boards-committees/equestrian-committee/.)

  During this presentation, MEC members will recap several accomplishments like the recent Birmingham Park Clean-up Day and Barn Fire Safety initiative, and digital outreach efforts. In the context of the “large lot incentive” projects, they’ll also share proposals of interest to farm owners related to manure disposal, pasture management, and other matters.

   

• Arnold Mill Small Area Plan Presentation.

  About a year ago, the City publicly kicked off its effort to create an Arnold Mill Small Area Plan – a guiding visionary document for a picturesque and important section of southwestern Milton. The goal of this project is to develop such a plan for the Arnold Mill Character Area (as defined within the City’s 2040 Comprehensive Plan) that is in keeping with the community’s wishes and Milton’s rural character. You can learn more about this initiative at www.miltonga.gov/ArnoldMill.

  On Monday, project team members will present on what has become of this months-long effort that included multiple in-person and online opportunities for citizens to share their valuable feedback.  The draft plan (which is viewable at https://www.miltonga.gov/home/showdocument?id=7888) highlights landmarks, provides a land use and zoning overview, details infrastructure elements, shares details on community input,  and outlines a proposed vision and design framework for the future. The latter includes two activity nodes – one across from Cox Road, the other nearer the Little River/Cherokee County line – that, in order to align with the vision, may involve text amendments to City Code. (None of them involve changes to building density.) Team members will explain, and seek Council’s feedback, on those potential text amendments.

   

• Discussion of RZ25-01 - a text amendment to Article 6 Special Purpose District of the Unified Development Code for the City of Milton, Georgia to add regulations with respect to a new Arnold Mill Road Hamlet Overlay.

  This item relates to the Arnold Mill Small Area Plan presentation item that precedes it on the City Council agenda. Specifically, it pertains to a specific proposed text amendment to City Code connected to that plan. There will be no vote Monday on this item, though the Council could offer feedback that could alter all or some elements of this proposal going forward.

  If ultimately approved, this text amendment would establish an Arnold Mill Hamlet Overlay (which would be within the current Rural Milton Overlay) that touches on site and building design as well as streetscaping requirements. The current timeline calls for the City Council to vote on this text amendment at its May 5 Regular Meeting.

   

• Discussion of RZ25-04 - a Text Amendment to Article 9 Site Development, specifically adding Sec. 9.1.4.A.8 to clarify parking of commercial vehicles and equipment within Agricultural and Single-Family districts, and modifying Sec. 9.1.6.C. Heavy Construction of the Unified Development Code for the City of Milton, Georgia. 

  City staff on Monday will present about a potential text amendment related to the parking of certain vehicles in AG-1 and single-family residential districts. They’ll seek the Council’s feedback – but no binding votes – on a proposal that would definite limits to where “heavy construction” commercial vehicles can be parked.

  The current version of this text amendment states that such vehicles can be parked/stored in single-family residential and agricultural districts for sustained periods only if their presence relates to an active building permit. (This would not apply to smaller commercial vehicles owned by whomever lives at a given property, like a plumber’s truck.)

   

• Discussion of RZ25-03 - a Text Amendment to Article 12 Administration, Sec. 12.8.6.E Demolition Permits, Public Hearing to amend notification requirements to the Unified Development Code for the City of Milton, Georgia.

  This item relates to another potential text amendment that members of Milton’s Community Development Department have been exploring. If eventually approved, 15 days of advanced public notice would be required – as published in the Milton Herald, the City’s official legal organ – before requested demolitions can be considered by Milton’s Design Review Board. 

  This revised timetable, a reduction from the current 30-day requirement, would be in accordance with local Zoning Procedures Law. (Another change to Article 12 that had once been considered – related where details about Community Information Zoning Meetings – has been withdrawn and will not move forward.)

   

• Discussion of Proposed Birmingham Park Conservation Easement.

Birmingham Park features around 200 acres of trails, forest, pastures, creeks, and other natural features in northwest Milton that has been beloved by the community for decades. Set back from Hickory Flat Road by the entrance to Fire Station 43, it is enjoyed by visitors looking for tranquil hikes and even winding trails to ride their horses on.

City officials have expressed interest in preserving the natural feel and serenity of Birmingham Park for generations to come. One potential way to do that – which will be discussed Monday – would be to institute a “conservation easement” that would formally put in place safeguards to protect the park from development or certain “active” uses (such as athletic fields).

After Monday night, the Council is next scheduled to convene April 28 for a Regular Meeting.