Milton’s City Council provided valuable feedback Monday night on priorities for a future park along Deerfield Parkway, expressing a preference for ensuring adequate active field space above all else.

“I don’t think there’s anything more important than getting the fields just right,” Councilmember Carol Cookerly said, a sentiment echoed by other Councilmembers.

The 2027 Comprehensive Parks and Recreation Master Plan as well as an internal analysis based off athletic enrollment numbers both found a need for two additional rectangular fields (for sports like lacrosse and football) and four diamond fields (for baseball). The two concepts shared Monday satisfied those criteria with six total turf fields, with one also showing additional rectangular spaces that can fit within two of the baseball diamonds.

While they made clear that adding sufficient field space was their focus, Councilmembers didn’t oppose other, non-field features. New playgrounds and trails were supported, as was a bridge over what would be a new road cutting through the park (connecting Deerfield Parkway and a potential mixed-use development along Highway 9) that people could use to safely go from one side to the other.

Generally, the Council voiced support for aligning with community members’ preferences for these features – even as they noted that more details, especially the still-to-be-determined cost of each alternative, could drive whether or not a feature is built sooner, later, or at all. Councilmember Jan Jacobus suggested – with agreement from others – that the City should invest in covering detention ponds to provide more workable space, even if pickleball courts, a splash pad, or other amenities aren’t added (depending on budgetary factors) until further down the road. 

Engineering Project Manager Rob Dell-Ross noted the concepts presented Monday did not have the ideal number of parking spaces for when all fields are being utilized. But he said the City’s project team has been talking to nearby property owners, adding that he’s “very confident” there will be an agreement soon for shared parking with the owner of the old City Hall property directly adjacent to the southwest of the park site.

While no conclusive votes were taken during Monday’s meeting, the input shared can help guide next steps in the process. An even more refined site plan could come before Council in the coming months, with summer 2026 being the earliest ground could be broken to start building a new park.

AUDITOR SHARES ‘CLEAN REPORT’ ON CITY FINANCES

This productive discussion came during a meeting that began with approval of the Consent Agenda. This consists of routine matters that the City Council votes on collectively – so a single yes-no vote covering all included items. On Monday, these included agreements with:

• Happy Kiz Yoga to become a program provider through Milton’s Parks and Recreation Department to lead yoga classes and camps for children at City facilities
• Roman’s Kicks and Tricks, another new recreational program provider that will teach no-contact martial arts and fitness programs also at Milton locales
• NOC Adventure, to work with Milton Parks and Rec to connect residents to invigorating natural experiences including summer camps that offer kayaking, rafting, ziplining, and mountain biking
• Blount Construction Company to undertake the City’s annual reconstruction and resurfacing to improve the condition of roads around Milton, with most work occurring between soon after the school year ends and before the next one begins

This vote was followed by a proclamation retroactively recognizing Georgia Cities Week. This is an initiative, spearheaded by the Georgia Municipal Association, to showcase the services, programs, and people in local government as well as to strengthen their relationships with their communities.

Then came a presentation about the City’s latest annual audit, in this case covering the Milton government’s finances for Fiscal Year 2024 (which ran from October 1, 2023, to September 30, 2024).

Will Derzis from Mauldin & Jenkins, an accounting firm that worked independently from the City, went page-by-page through the official audit.

“I’m pleased to say we issued an unmodified, or clean, report,” said Derzis.

Among other things, he pointed to the City’s Annual Comprehensive Financial Report that “goes above and beyond the standards required by the State of Georgia.” (You can view that document here: https://www.miltonga.gov/home/showpublisheddocument/8270.) Derzis also went through the City finances in broad terms, saying Milton is in a “healthy position.”

DISCUSSION OF TEXT AMENDMENTS TIED TO DEERFIELD PLAN

The evening’s other agenda item was a presentation related to Deerfield’s future – specifically a proposed text amendment to bring City Code in line with the community-driven vision outlined in what’s called the Deerfield Implementation Plan.

Nearly a year ago, the City began work to create a comprehensive, cohesive plan to help ensure the Deerfield area is uniquely Milton, vibrant, and in line with citizens’ perspectives and preferences. You can learn more about this project at www.miltonga.gov/Deerfield.

The text amendment discussed Monday – which the Council can vote on conclusively as soon as May 19 – would codify pertinent changes to the Deerfield Form Based Code and related regulations. Director of Special Projects Bob Buscemi went through them in detail, inviting and responding to the Council’s questions and feedback throughout his presentation. 

Among other things, Buscemi noted the creation of four subdistricts that have different rules and regulations. Councilmember Phil Cranmer said that this approach “has resonated” and given people “confidence” that there will be healthy variety in the look and feel across the area. 

The proposed subdistricts have different ratios as to what percentage of development is residential vs. commercial. Buscemi said, “Everything that we did in this Implementation Plan is driving towards that 20% commercial tax base” – since one goal of this effort was to support commercial success which, in turn, can help alleviate the share paid by residential taxpayers. 

Buscemi outlined ways that the changes could incentivize developers to further City priorities such as public open space, trails, linear parks, and parking structures. The text amendment also contains language restricting certain types of businesses like check cashing establishments, pawn shops, and car washes. 

In addition to asking questions, the Council offered a handful of suggestions like adding a minimum width for townhomes where they’re allowed. They also pointed out how this plan can work well with the City’s efforts to help redesign Highway 9 (following an agreement with the Georgia Department of Transportation). 

Cranmer said, “If the output of this beautifies Highway 9 and Deerfield, … I’m excited.”

To which Buscemi added, “Between the City taking control of the design of Highway 9 and then the architecture abutting it, it will transform the entire City.”