After months of conducting research, soliciting public feedback, and engaging stakeholders, City Council took significant steps forward Monday to revamp regulations related to AG-1 zoning and building – approving some changes while deferring others for future exploration.

The Council did so in a multi-layered vote that followed a detailed presentation in which Deputy Community Development Director Tracey Wildes and Community Development and Public Works Director Sara Leaders explained this effort’s rationale before deliberately outlining potential City Code text amendments. The two identified certain issues and corresponding proposals as higher priorities that could be acted on immediately. Other possibilities were recommended for deferral to allow for further study, modifications, and most importantly more opportunity for citizens and groups like the Planning Commission to share their input. 

The changes that the Council did approve at Monday night’s meeting will:

• Create one unified definition for “impervious cover” in City Code to clear up ambiguity and ensure consistency
• Mandate a maximum of 20% lot coverage for parcels that touch a public street right-of-way
• Allow 25% lot coverage for parcels of 3 acres or larger
• Add standards to ensure buildable and usable areas are large enough to function properly on new lots
• Define natural areas to remain undisturbed during construction (with flexibility after building is complete)
• Require a 20-foot natural area setback along roads for any new minor plat to preserve a rural look
• Clean-up some code related to minor plats, such as regarding Fulton County Board of Health plan submittals and shared infrastructure verification, to add clarity and promote consistency
• Require a “Foundation Survey” when lot coverage falls within 5 percentage points of the maximum allowed or within 5 feet of the minimum setbacks
• Require an “As-Built Survey” that shows impervious surfaces, lot coverage calculation, and confirmation of setback compliance, with a Certificate of Occupancy issued after compliance is verified
• Modify Code related to “lake lots” so property lines extend to common areas, rather than into a common area or a lake (maintained by an HOA)
• Clarify bond requirements to eliminate liability for recurring long-term cash bonds – allowing cash bonds for anything less than $250,000 and less than 18 months, while requiring a surety bond in other cases

These votes and deferments were tied to two separate items – one listed under “Zoning Agenda” and the other about building code that was under “Unfinished Business” – on the April 13 agenda.

Related to all this, the Council lifted the moratorium – which was put in place earlier this year – that had barred the City’s acceptance of certain applications to subdivide land on certain AG-1-related lots.

After the extensive discussion and votes, Mayor Peyton Jamison said, “This is one of those processes where we’re not going to have 100% winners or 100% losers. But I think that, at the end of the day, we’re going to have a better city.”

MARTIN APPOINTED TO TRAILS ADVISORY COMMITTEE

This topic highlighted a meeting that began with approval of the Consent Agenda, which included agreements between the City and:

• Evergreen Solutions to update a comprehensive classification and compensation study to support a City initiative aimed at ensuring Milton employees earn fair, competitive pay relative to comparable nearby positions
• Tri Scapes to continue working to ensure the safety, maintenance, and overall appearance of roadways and right-of-way areas, as well as work with the City through on-call and emergency response services
• AtkinsRealis USA to provide aesthetic design enhancements that align with Milton’s character and vision for two planned bridge replacements within Milton’s City limits that span the Little River – one along Clarity Road and the other at Hickory Flat Road
• Crabapple Green, LLC, so the City can hold (free of charge) its annual Memorial Day ceremony on that downtown Milton space this upcoming May
• AAA Parking to oversee visitors’ parking at Meet the Neighbors, a horse-themed event scheduled for between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. this Saturday at the City’s Freemanville-Birmingham greenspace
• Fulton County for that government to reimburse the City of Milton for costs associated with relocating a water line in and around the Cox Road at King Road intersection

After this, Julie Martin was appointed to the Milton Trails Advisory Committee. Mayor Jamison, who nominated Martin, described her as a 21-year Milton mother of four children who “will be a tremendous asset to the committee.”

GEORGIA CITIES WEEK, EARTH DAY PROCLAMATIONS

The Mayor and Council on Monday night issued a series of proclamations – celebrating the Earth, the City, as well as a legendary figure in Milton’s history. 

The latter is the retiring Bob Buscemi, who as City Architect and Community Development Director has played pivotal roles in every major construction project in Milton’s history. His pivotal efforts include helping design and see-through the building of places like City Hall, the Public Safety Complex, Fire Station 42, and Milton City Park and Preserve’s Community Center. He also worked diligently to ensure that private projects had the look, feel, and high quality that fit Milton – all while being a visionary, bridge-builder, and champion for the city. 

“His influence is literally all around us,” said the Mayor. “We are grateful … and we all wish you congratulations on your retirement.” 

After the reading of a proclamation in his honor and subsequent standing ovation, Buscemi addressed the Council for the last time as a City employee. 

“I just want to say thank you,” he said. “Milton is truly a part of my soul.” 

Another proclamation recognized April 20 to 25 as Georgia Cities Week in Milton. This is an annual occurrence, spearheaded by the Georgia Municipal Association, to showcase City services, people, and programs that positively, significantly impact communities across the state. 

Then came a third proclamation officially marking April 22 as Earth Day. It also highlighted special, City-led ways for residents to better connect with the natural environment planned this month. Three of those will be on Saturday, April 18 – a Trail Opening Celebration at Milton City Park and Preserve; an Electronics Recycling Event in City Hall’s parking lot; and the horse-themed, family-friendly Meet the Neighbors at the Freemanville-Birmingham greenspace. For details, check out: https://www.miltonga.gov/Home/Components/News/News/3433/1351

DISCUSSION OF FUTURE OF FREEDOM PARK, BIRMINGHAM PARK

Monday’s meeting doubled as the graduation ceremony for the 9^th cohort of Milton’s Citizens Government Academy.  This is an 8-week program in which about 20 people annually learn the ins-and-outs of every aspect of City government directly from those behind it. (To learn more and to apply to be part of future cohorts, visit www.miltonga.gov/CGA.) 

Community Outreach Manager Emily Salerno described this particular class as “incredibly engaged,” commending them for showing up every week curious, eager to learn, and poised with “phenomenal questions.” 

Mike Toto, the “class speaker,” lauded City staff – including members of every department – for fostering what he described as a “great experience.” 

“It’s a special way to learn about our community,” Toto said of the Citizens Government Academy. “We thank you all for your dedication and hard work.” 

Parks and Recreation Director Tom McKlveen then made a pair of presentations about two City parks. 

The first focused on Freedom Park, which is a 1-acre City property at the intersection of Webb Road and Deerfield Parkway. McKlveen gauged the Council’s interest in revamping this park to enhance interest and more intentionally honor the military veterans who fought to protect our freedom. 

He mentioned how now was a prime time for such introspection with the Destination Deerfield initiative in full swing, as well as an active park planned to be built a few hundred yards from Freedom Park. Any effort to reimagine Freedom Park would include feedback from the Parks and Recreation Advisory Board, veterans groups, stakeholders, and the public at large. 

The City Council responded favorably to what Councilmember Jan Jacobus called “a great opportunity to reimagine the park.” 

“Intentionality is what that area needs to both honor (veterans) and educate the community,” added Councilmember Phil Cranmer. “…The time is perfect, so I support it.” 

McKlveen then related the good news that Milton had proceeded successfully through the first competitive stage of securing a $200,000 State grant for improvements at Birmingham Park. The plan is for this to pay for roughly half of a project to create a restroom, add ADA-accessible parking, as well as make improvements to trails and a bridge.

GO-AHEAD FOR PART OF ARNOLD MILL, GREEN PROJECT

Also on Monday, the Council – after much discussion – voted to defer to a future date a proposal to alter certain notice requirements on public hearings for Unified Development Code-related matters. 

They did approve several other measures, such as:

• To remove the “Limited Food Service Restaurants” category and amendment development standards for Farm Winery (specifically “Tasting Rooms”) from the UDC – in both cases to correspond with what’s already reflected in Chapter 4, the alcohol component of the City Code.
• To approve funds to acquire land needed for a project to improve the intersection of Green Road and State Route 140/Arnold Mill Road. This TSPLOST project will incorporate a traffic signal, dedicated left turn lanes on Green Road and Birchdale Drive, and a new 10-foot-wide sidewalk connecting the Oakmont, Glenview and Waterside subdivisions to the Kroger plaza. For more about it, visit https://cleargov.com/georgia/fulton/city/milton/projects/1213/sr-140-arnold-mill-road-at-green-road-tsplost.
• To make small revisions (affecting a few lot lines) to the Lyndon Creek subdivision plat 
• To grant a waiver for Jarrard & Davis to represent the cities of Milton and Alpharetta on matters related to inmate housing at the Alpharetta jail. 

The Council's next Regular Meeting is scheduled for April 27.