City Council is set to cast several votes Monday related to the Arnold Mill area, including on the adoption of a plan outlining a community-driven vision for that section in southwest Milton.

The May 5 meeting is set to begin at 6 p.m. in City Hall’s Council Chambers. People can attend the meeting in-person or watch it online at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qlkWxTzs8nE.

As is customary for a Regular Meeting, the agenda for this one is split into distinct sections that each have their own ground rules. They are:

• The CONSENT AGENDA, for routine items that are voted on collectively (so a single yes-no vote that covers all items)
• REPORTS AND PRESENTATIONS, which is where you’ll find proclamations and presentations during which the Council might offer direction but cannot take binding votes
• FIRST PRESENTATION, the place for certain types of items that cannot be voted on conclusively until they are on the agenda of a future City Council meeting
• PUBLIC HEARING, a part of the agenda that allows for special opportunities for public comment for select items
• ZONING AGENDA, the home for zoning-related items that can be discussed and voted on conclusively (having appeared on a past agenda under First Presentation)
• NEW BUSINESS, which has items appearing on a Council agenda for the first time that can be discussed and voted on decisively

Below are summaries of every May 5 agenda item.

• Approval of the April 28, 2025, Regular City Council Meeting Minutes.

  This is to formally approve the “minutes” – or official written record – from the City Council’s most recent meeting on April 28. That evening, the Council listened to and engaged with a presentation about plans for a future park along Deerfield Parkway, expressing a preference for ensuring adequate field space above all else. This same meeting featured an independent auditor sharing news of a “clean report” on the City’s finances and a discussion of potential text amendments to City Code specific to Deerfield’s future. A full recap of the evening’s proceedings can be found HERE: https://www.miltonga.gov/Home/Components/News/News/2954/1351.

  

• Approval of an Agreement between the City of Milton and Selig Enterprises, Inc. dba AAA Parking for Operation of Parking Services for the 2025 Meet the Neighbors Event.

  “Meet the Neighbors” – the City’s annual equestrian-themed event featuring vendors, animals, food, and more – will take place between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. on Saturday, May 10th.  The event, which has steadily grown in popularity, will take place at the City-owned 21-acre greenspace at the intersection of Freemanville and Birmingham roads. This property doesn’t have a large parking area though it does have flat, pasture space where vehicles can go. This is an agreement for professionals from Selig Enterprises to assist in arranging parking and the safe, efficient movement of vehicles in and out of the greenspace on that Saturday.

   

   

  REPORTS AND PRESENTATIONS

• Proclamation Recognizing Music Week As Well As Talented Performers and Those Dedicated to Sharing This Impactful Art Form.

  National Music Week – this year occurring between May 4 and 11 – is an opportunity to showcase the beauty and many benefits as music, as well as the individuals who bring it to life. Milton is home to impressive musicians young and old, as well as people who enjoy and support this timeless art form. These include members of bands, orchestras, and choruses at Cambridge and Milton high schools; exceptional “Milton’s Got Talent” contestants; and Music Milton, a non-profit dedicated to staging concerts with world-class musicians and supporting music education.

  

• Proclamation Joining with the Milton Senior Center in Recognizing May as Older Americans Month.

  About one-quarter of the nation’s population is over 65, including more than 1.6 million such people in Georgia alone. These individuals offer worthwhile perspectives, remarkable expertise, and time-tested character that – among everything else they have done and continue to do – help make our society better and stronger. This proclamation will celebrate that group in May for Older Americans Month. Leaders from the Milton Senior Center, which is run by Senior Services North Fulton out of the City-owned and maintained Thomas S. Byrd, Sr., house, will be on hand to accept it. At 10 a.m. the next day (May 6th), citizens are welcome to come to the Byrd House for the center’s own Older Americans Month celebration.

   

• Proclamation Recognizing Police Week in Milton.

  Law enforcement officers never know what dangers they will face on a given day, too often putting their lives on the line while serving and protecting citizens. National

  Police Week – which this year runs from May 11 to 17 – occurs to remember and honor the fallen, recognize police officers’ countless contributions, and bolster law enforcements’ connections to communities. In addition to this proclamation, the Milton Police Department will mark Police Week with a shredding event, blood drive, and walk-with-students-to-school morning, as well as their annual awards event.

  
  

   

• Proclamation Recognizing the 56th Annual Professional Municipal Clerks Week.

  The smooth, proper, effective functioning of a City, and a City Council, depends on talented, dedicated individuals who serve selflessly and diligently in public view and behind-the-scenes. This proclamation will shine a spotlight on one, in particular – City Clerk Tammy Lowit – in conjunction with Professional Municipal Clerks Week, which is from May 5 through 11. Lowit is an invaluable member of Team Milton as a leader when it comes to communications, transparency, production, and reflection of the high priority the City places on service.

   

   

  FIRST PRESENTATION

• Consideration of RZ25-07 Text Amendment to Article 1 Introductory Provisions, Article 7B Deerfield Form Based Code, Article 8 Use Provisions, Article 9 Site Development and Article 13 Definitions regarding changes to development requirements, uses, signage, incentives, and the Regulating Plan (Zoning Map) for the Deerfield Form Based Code.

  The City has been working for months to chart a future for Deerfield that is vibrant, sustainable, and uniquely Milton and reflects citizens’ and key stakeholders’ input. For more on this multi-faceted project, go to www.miltonga.gov/Deerfield.

  The proposed text amendments to City Code on Wednesday’s agenda would help make it possible for the vision in the Deerfield Implementation Plan to become a reality. These cover a lot of ground from the creation of “Sub Districts” to spelling out incentives that line up with key community goals to specifying requirements, and much more.

  To view all the potential changes, follow this link: https://mccmeetingspublic.blob.core.usgovcloudapi.net/miltonga-meet-9c9fe81c55514e9c90095b81365659a7/ITEM-Attachment-001-eb9459cc384a47b6a8d8a95765c541d5.pdf.

   

  PUBLIC HEARING

• Consideration of the Issuance of an Alcohol Beverage License to Vice Restaurant Group LLC dba Smash by Vice, 3100 Heritage Walk, Suite 101, Milton, Georgia 30004.

  This is a Public Hearing – which offers special opportunities for public comment – about the City potentially issuing an alcohol beverage license to Vice Restaurant Group allowing alcoholic drinks to be sold at Smash by Vice. This is a new burger-themed restaurant planned for the Market District Crabapple development, specifically in the same building as Hyde Brewing, in downtown Milton. The Council will vote on whether or not to issue the license later in Monday’s meeting.

   

• Consideration of the Issuance of an Alcohol Beverage License to Vice Restaurant Group LLC dba Vice Steakbar, 3000 Heritage Walk, Suite 101, Milton, Georgia 30004.

  This potential alcohol beverage license would be for the same parent company, Vice Restaurant Group, albeit for a different restaurant, Vice Steakbar. Vice Steakbar would also be in Market District Crabapple, occupying a space across from the Starbucks courtyard.

   

• Consideration of Primary Variance-V25-10 at Freemanville Road - Parcel ID 22 439004550087, 0 Freemanville Road - Parcel ID 22 439004550152 Milton, Georgia 30004by David Chatham to Request a Primary Variance to: Sec.3.1.4.A. – Unified Development Code To Reduce the 60 feet Minimum Front Yard to 50 Feet for Thirty-Six (36) Total Lots In the Proposed Blakley Manor Subdivision.

  Chatham Neighborhoods plans to build 36 detached single-family homes on corresponding lots spread across just over 50 total acres along Freemanville Road. This developer of what’s being called the Blakely Manor subdivision is seeking a primary variance for each of those parcels so that the required 60-foot minimum front yard can be reduced to a 50-foot minimum. As part of that same proposal, the minimum back yard setback for all 36 lots would increase from 50 feet to 60 feet (with the 10-foot minimum pool-related setback rising from 10 to 20 feet). In other words, the building footprint would simply shift and there would not be more construction as part of the change. These variances are being sought to address topography issues.

  Variance requests for individual parcels are generally reviewed by other City committees. But since this would apply to more than 10% of a development’s lots – in fact, 100% -- the City Council must consider and vote on it.

  This is being considered under Public Hearing, which allows for special opportunities for people to make public comment. A Council vote should take place later in the meeting.

   

• Consideration of Primary Variance-V25-11 at 13175 Hopewell Road, Milton, Georgia 30004 A Request by Thomas Fuqua Jr. to Request Primary Variances to:Sec.4.4.4.A. – Unified Development Code To Reduce the 50 Feet Minimum Front Yard to 35 Feet for Eleven (11) Total Lots for the Proposed Crescent Ridge Subdivision;Sec.4.4.3.A. – Unified Development Code To Reduce the 100 Feet Minimum Lot Width to 88.98 Feet for Lot 5 of the Proposed Crescent Ridge Subdivision;Sec.4.4.3.A. – Unified Development Code To Reduce the 100 Feet Minimum Lot Width to 85.44Feet For Lot 6 of the Proposed Crescent Ridge Subdivision; andSec.4.4.3.A. – Unified Development Code To Reduce the 100 Feet Minimum Lot Width to 93.19 Feet for Lot 7 of the Proposed Crescent Ridge Subdivision.

  This variance request – for a new Crescent Ridge subdivision off Hopewell Road – is similar to the one directly preceding it in three ways. For one, it’s being considered by the City Council it involves variance requests involving every parcel (in this case, 11) in the proposed neighborhood, 2) it would shift the frontyard and backyard setbacks without changing the overall amount of buildable space, and 3) it’s being sought to suitably work around topography issues.

  In this instance, among other changes, the applicant wants to decrease the front-yard setback requirement from 50 feet to 35 feet. On the other side (literally) of the same lots. the back-yard setback minimum would become 50 feet (up from a 35-foot requirement).

   

  ZONING AGENDA

• Consideration of U25-01 Located at 12900 Arnold Mill Road zoned AG-1 (Agricultural) to Request a Use Permit for a Rural Event Facility (Sec. 8.7.1.H of the UDC) for a Maximum of 300 Attendees Within the Existing 23,000 Square Foot Activity Center on a 6.61-Acre Property.

  The newly constructed Pardue Family Center is on the Ebenezer Methodist Church property at the intersection of Arnold Mill and Cox roads. This facility features a large hall, stage, a commercial and warming kitchen, conference/meeting rooms, plus an outdoor area.

  The applicant is seeking a “rural event facility” Use Permit for the Pardue Family Center that, if granted, would allow certain gatherings with no more than 300 attendees. The events could include weddings and receptions, concerts and plays, community and company gatherings, and classes.

  This item appeared under First Presentation on the April 28 Council agenda, thus it can be voted on decisively on Monday.

   

• Consideration 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 similarly was on the agenda of the Council’s most recent meeting, meaning it can be voted on Monday. Its approval would establish an Arnold Mill Hamlet Overlay (which is within the current Rural Milton Overlay) that addresses site and building design plus streetscaping requirements in the Arnold Mill area. (It would not alter zoning or density.) The proposed text amendment has been reviewed by Milton’s Planning Commission and Design Review Board.

  This came out of the community-driven process to create an Arnold Mill Small Area Plan for this special section of southwestern Milton. You can learn more about the project at www.miltonga.gov/ArnoldMill. Among other things, this plan recommends two activity nodes that could contain commercial elements along with more traditional rural, residential elements that encompass the majority of this corridor.

  

• Consideration of RZ25-03 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 text amendment, if approved, would reduce from 30 days to 15 days the advanced public notice (as published in the Milton Herald, the City’s legal organ) required before requested demolitions can be considered by Milton’s Design Review Board. This revised timetable would be in accordance with local Zoning Procedures Law. The City Council discussed this proposal at its April 21 Work Session, and it was on the April 28 agenda under First Presentation.

   

• Consideration of RZ25-04 Article 9 Site Development, Specifically Adding 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 to the Unified Development Code for the City of Milton, Georgia.

  This item was also on the last two City Council agendas. If approved, this text amendment would restrict overnight parking of “heavy construction” commercial vehicles within AG-1 and single-family residential districts. Such vehicles could only be parked in such area for sustained periods if related to an active building permit. (This would not apply to smaller commercial vehicles – such as a plumber’s truck – owned by whomever lives at that property.)

   

  NEW BUSINESS

• Consideration of the Issuance of an Alcohol Beverage License to Vice Restaurant Group LLC dba Smash by Vice, 3100 Heritage Walk, Suite 101, Milton, Georgia 30004.

  With this item, the Council will vote on whether or not to issue an alcohol beverage license for Smash by Vice as described above under Public Hearing.

   

• Consideration of the Issuance of an Alcohol Beverage License to Vice Restaurant Group LLC dba Vice Steakbar, 3000 Heritage Walk, Suite 101, Milton, Georgia 30004.

  This is also where the Council will vote on whether or not to issue an alcohol beverage license for a restaurant outlined above under Public Hearing – in this case, Vice Steakbar.

   

• Consideration of Primary Variance-V25-10 at Freemanville Road - Parcel ID 22 439004550087, 0 Freemanville Road - Parcel ID 22 439004550152 Milton, Georgia 30004by David Chatham to Request a Primary Variance to:Sec.3.1.4.A. – Unified Development Code To Reduce the 60 feet Minimum Front Yard to 50 Feet for Thirty-Six (36) Total Lots In the Proposed Blakley Manor Subdivision.

  This item refers to a Council vote on the proposed variances for the new Blakely Manor subdivision along Freemanville Road described above under First Presentation.

   

• Consideration of Primary Variance-V25-11 at 13175 Hopewell Road, Milton, Georgia 30004 A Request by Thomas Fuqua Jr. to Request Primary Variances to:Sec.4.4.4.A. – Unified Development Code To Reduce the 50 Feet Minimum Front Yard to 35 Feet for Eleven (11) Total Lots for the Proposed Crescent Ridge Subdivision;Sec.4.4.3.A. – Unified Development Code To Reduce the 100 Feet Minimum Lot Width to 88.98 Feet for Lot 5 of the Proposed Crescent Ridge Subdivision;Sec.4.4.3.A. – Unified Development Code To Reduce the 100 Feet Minimum Lot Width to 85.44Feet For Lot 6 of the Proposed Crescent Ridge Subdivision; andSec.4.4.3.A. – Unified Development Code To Reduce the 100 Feet Minimum Lot Width to 93.19 Feet for Lot 7 of the Proposed Crescent Ridge Subdivision.

  Similarly, this is for a final Council vote on whether or not to grant primary variances for all 11 parcels in the planned Crescent Ridge neighborhood off Hopewell Road.

  

• Consideration of a Resolution to Adopt the Arnold Mill Road Small Area Plan for the Arnold Mill Character Area.

In coordination with citizens, stakeholders, and relevant City committees, the City has worked for months to create an Arnold Mill Small Area Plan. The vision accounts for what makes this area special, especially its rural look and feel, and articulates its ideal future looks like in a coherent, thoughtful, forward-looking, uniquely Milton manner.

Those efforts culminated in the draft Small Area Plan that the Council will vote Monday on adopting. After explaining the Arnold Mill area’s present condition and sharing community input highlights, the Plan outlines a vision for transportation, design guidelines, as well as a pair of activity nodes (one across from Cox Road and the other close to the Little River/Cherokee County line) that could have commercial elements).

A draft of the Arnold Mill Small Area Plan that the Council will vote on can be found here: https://www.miltonga.gov/home/showpublisheddocument/7888/.