Milton’s City Council on Monday night approved the Arnold Mill Small Area Plan as well as a new “hamlet overlay” to lay the groundwork for two activity nodes – even as they deferred an item on a Use Permit for a rural event facility in that same part of southwest Milton.

The latter item, for the newly constructed Pardue Family Foundation Center on Ebenezer Methodist Church’s 6.61-acre property at the Cox Road and Arnold Mill Road intersection, generated the most discussion. While church-related activities could soon take place at the 23,000 square foot facility, the Use Permit was sought so that an independent commercial company could run events (such as weddings, meetings, and more) from this space for the greater community.

The facility interior can accommodate up to 425 people, though the church has agreed to limit that to 300 attendees at a time. It includes classroom space, a nursery, conference/meeting rooms, and a commercial kitchen. Outdoors, there’s a pavilion area where 100 or more people could gather.

That outdoor space was a focal point Monday, especially as it relates to event-related noise. In addition to traffic caused by numerous visitors, several neighbors expressed concerns that sounds emanating from there – especially later in the night – could be disruptive. Some advocated that the maximum decibel level at the property line should be 45 dba, similar to for the Little River Farms’ event facility and less than the 55 dba the church has proposed. (There was discussion, too, as to the ambient noise level strictly related to vehicles near that often busy intersection, with or without an event.)

Adding another layer to the discussion: Ebenezer Methodist Church, by virtue of being a church, has an existing Use Permit that allows up to 85 dba of sound. Michael McGwier, a representative from the church, said Monday that the church would be willing to have the same rules apply – in terms of noise and other factors – for both strictly religious and non-religious events, meaning they’d accept a lower allowable noise threshold.

The Mayor, Councilmembers, and McGwier went back-and-forth in hopes of finding a compromise amenable to all parties related to maximum decibel levels, amplified sound in the outdoor space, and other matters. They appeared to get closer to a resolution though, given how Council meetings occur, couldn’t engage directly with neighbors or finalize every detail. 

Councilmember Carol Cookerly recommended “a pause” so all parties could get together to find common ground. Mayor Peyton Jamison supported this approach, especially given the complexity of the different Use Permits. Plus, City Attorney Ken Jarrard advised negotiating “on the fly … can be a little bit perilous.”

Ultimately, the Council voted unanimously to defer the matter so that it can be taken up again at its May 19 meeting.

“I like that idea a lot,” Councilmember Phil Cranmer said of the deferral. Then addressing neighbors and the church representative, he added. “I think you are closer than you realize.”

ARNOLD MILL PLAN, ‘HAMLET OVERLAY’ APPROVED

This was one of three Arnold Mill related items on Monday’s agenda.

The others related to the Arnold Mill Small Area Plan, which the Council – through a resolution – adopted at the very end of the meeting. This guiding document lays out an ideal, distinctive vision that respects Milton’s rural heritage and reflects community input as to the desired look, feel, and function for this area in the city’s southwest. You can learn more about this project, and view this plan, at www.miltonga.gov/ArnoldMill. 

The Small Area Plan concentrates on three categories:

• TRANSPORTATION: This reflects citizens’ concerns regarding traffic and other such issues related to getting around this area. The Plan features a conceptual vision for what Arnold Mill Road/State Route 140 might look like years from now with trees in a landscaped central median, multi-use paths flanking that road, and four travel lanes. The Georgia Department of Transportation oversees this road, and its future, so any plans must be approved and implemented by that State agency. GDOT has signaled its long-term intention to widen Arnold Mill Road, though there’s currently no firm timetable.

  
  

• DESIGN GUIDELINES: These are the types of architectural styles and design standards for new buildings on the Arnold Mill corridor. The idea is that these should fit into the uniquely Milton aesthetic, as well as align with the Arnold Mill area’s own distinct character.

• ACTIVITY NODES: The Small Area Plan envisions two “hamlets” that could have different types of activity, beyond pure residential or agricultural. As a member of the City’s project team said, the goal is to maintain this corridor’s rural character while channeling modest development into the right places.

One node is near the historic McConnell-Chadwick House, Little River, and Cherokee County line. The Gateway Village concept in the plan includes a potential country inn with 16 cottages. The other is around where Arnold Mill meets Cox Road (including the opposite side of the State route). The Small Area Plan features two concepts for the Cox node, each featuring a possible park, residential and minor commercial mix, and a significant buffer to limit how close something can be built to the main street – the latter aimed at preserving the scenic rural viewshed that drivers will see and experience.

To make those activity nodes possible, the Council approved a “hamlet overlay” on Monday. This overlay does not change the allowed density or zoning in these nodes,  though it does make other strategic modifications (like defining buffers and setting standards for porch dining enclosures) and generally allow for greater flexibility.

PROCLAMATIONS FOR POLICE, MUSIC, SENIORS, CITY CLERK

To start Monday’s meeting, the Council approved a Consent Agenda and, as part of it, an agreement with Selig Enterprises to handle parking at “Meet the Neighbors.” This community event dedicated to all-things-horses will feature animals, activities, vendors, food, and fun between 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. this Saturday, May 10, at the City’s Freemanville-Birmingham greenspace.

This was followed by four proclamations, each meaningful in their own ways.

The first kicked off Music Week in Milton and, with it, celebrated talented musicians who call our city home as well as the many enriching benefits this diverse, dynamic art form has on those who practice and enjoy it . Students from the Cambridge High School music family, past Milton’s Got Talent winners, members of The Well Collective band, and representatives from Music Milton – a new initiative aimed at promoting music education and bringing world-class performers to our community – officially accepted the proclamation before posing for a picture with the Mayor and Councilmembers.

This was followed by a proclamation recognizing May as Older Americans Month in Milton. This is an opportunity to enhance awareness about the challenges facing seniors; dispel misperceptions; celebrate their past, present, and future contributions; and generally rally around special members of this community. Leaders from the Milton Senior Center – a home-away-from-home for elders in our area, operated by Senior Services North Fulton out of the City-owned and maintained Thomas S. Byrd, Sr., house – were on hand to receive the proclamation. 

An impressive group of Milton Police Officers, meanwhile, posed for the next set of pictures – this one ahead of Police Week. Police Week happens every year to remember law enforcement who lost their lives, to celebrate police’s valuable contributions, and to bolster community connections. The Milton Police will mark Police Week from May 11 through 17 with a public shredding event, blood drive, “torch run,” visits with children, and awards ceremony. 

The final proclamation focused on a critical function of municipal government – the City Clerk who, among other responsibilities, takes the lead on processing open records, ensuring the smooth and effective operation of City Council and committee meetings, and promoting transparency – and the woman, Tammy Lowit, in that role in Milton. As the proclamation notes, “On a daily basis, Tammy makes our City a better place through her smart and valuable contributions; impressive production;  charismatic and kind nature; and selfless commitment.”

TEXT AMENDMENT CLARIFIES ‘HEAVY CONSTRUCTION’ VEHICLE PARKING

Also at Monday’s meeting, the Council approved:

• Alcohol beverage licenses for Vice Steakhouse and Smash Burgers by Vice, both issued to the same restaurant group for establishments in the downtown Market District Crabapple development. The steakhouse will occupy a space overlooking the Starbucks courtyard, and the burger-plus restaurant will be in the same building as Hyde Brewing. 

• Variances for 36 of 40 lots in a new private, gated subdivision off Freemanville Road to be called Blakely Manor. These variances would not add any buildable area but rather would shift where structures can be built. They can be least 50 feet from the road (rather than the previous 60-foot minimum), while there now needs to be a 20-foot rear yard/pool setback. (This does not apply to the neighborhood’s four parcels fronting Freemanville Road.)

• A similar set of variances for another new private gated community, in this case Crescent Ridge off Hopewell Road. The applicant cited several site constraints like an undisturbed buffer on one side of the development, a stream buffer on another, and a 20-foot draining easement on its south-side. The front yard minimum decreased to 35 feet (from 50 feet) while – in an exact flip – the back-yard minimum rose to 50 feet (from 35 feet). 

• A City Code text amendment that, in the interests of efficiency, reduces from 30 days to 15 days the advanced public notice required before Milton’s Design Review Board can consider demolition requests. Such notice would be published in the Milton Herald, the City’s legal organ, and would comply with local Zoning Procedures Law. 

• Another text amendment clarified when and where “heavy construction” vehicles (which are 11,000 pounds or heavier and 20 feet or longer) can be parked within single-family and agricultural properties. This measure has been reviewed by City committees, with a recent addition being language stating that such large vehicles are permissible if they are “not visible from roadways or adjacent properties” (whether parked inside a structure or tucked deep into a lot).

The Council’s next Regular Meeting will take place on Monday, May 19.