Milton, GA
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Deerfield is the city’s chief commercial driver, as well as home to or within reach of a significant portion of residents. It’s also primed for invigoration, reinvention, and success. The Deerfield Implementation Plan is a dynamic, purposeful guide to ensuring this area is an inviting, thriving, vibrant, and uniquely Milton destination for residents and visitors. To view City Code changes that emerged from this exhaustive community-driven process, CLICK HERE. And the Destination Deerfield Urban Design Manual can be found HERE.
What is Deerfield?
For the purposes of this project, what is considered Deerfield includes all the terrain covered under the Deerfield Form-Based Code.
This includes the Milton segments of Highway 9, Windward Parkway, Deerfield Parkway, Morris Road, and other places in that vicinity. (The focus is not limited to what’s around Deerfield Parkway or the “Deerfield Character Area.” It’s bigger than that.) To view this map in PDF form -- so you can zoom out -- CLICK HERE.
To continue getting updates on what's happening in and around Deerfield, follow the City’s Facebook page, or subscribe to get City emails or text alerts (some of them specific to this area).
Informing, involving, and listening to residents and businesses owners were pivotal to the creation of the Deerfield Implementation Plan (which is not a document, per se, but an intentional approach to this area's future). More importantly, it’s pivotal to the long-term success of the Deerfield area. That’s why the City prioritized public engagement throughout the process—to listen and learn from the community. This engagement took many forms including:
- PUBLIC FORUMS: The Public Kickoff was on August 25, 2024, at Milton Municipal Court. CLICK HERE to watch video from this event.
An "Open House" then took place inside Stonecreek Church (13540 Highway 9) on September 17. Attendees visited tables focused on different topics like landscaping, building styles, open space and parks, Highway 9, and transportation generally to view visuals and share their thoughts. People also could share their opinions on the dozens of visual alternatives in an online survey conducted in October.
A second "Open House" happened on December 11 at the Milton Municipal Court. Citizens heard the latest on this project and can offer opinions on what's next, including what's in the Urban Design Manual guiding developers and their projects for this area.
- STAKEHOLDER GROUPS: The targeted outreach included conversations with stakeholders ranging from HOA leaders and bicyclists to business owners who are interested and invested, in some manner, in Milton’s future.
- CITY MEETINGS: Deerfield's future has been discussed at several public meetings. The first such presentation occurred at the August 19, 2024, City Council meeting. (VIEW PRESENTATION) There have been many more since, including these in 2025:
- A joint session of the Design Review Board and Planning Commission on February 4, 2025. (VIEW VIDEO - starting at 2:10:00)
- A joint session of the City Council and Planning Commission on February 10, 2025. (VIEW VIDEO - with Deerfield being the lone agenda item)
- A City Council Regular Meeting on February 19, 2025. (VIEW VIDEO - Starting at 23:30)
- A City Council meeting on May 19, 2025, at which text amendment changes and the Design Manual were approved. (VIEW VIDEO: Starting at 1:07:00.)
- WRITTEN FEEDBACK: Right up to this project's completion, people could share their thoughts by filling out a form on this webpage.
Is the City working with GDOT regarding what’s happening on Highway 9? If so, how? The Georgia Department of Transportation ultimately controls what happens with Highway 9, as well as when it happens. Yet after extensive discussions, the City will now manage the design phase of this project, in collaboration with GDOT and using State funding.
Will the Deerfield Implementation Plan dictate what goes in this area? This effort is a guide containing community-driven and Council-approved ideas for this area. And it does come with Council-approved Cite Code changes that detail what is (and is not) allowed. Still, aside from City projects (like the proposed active park along Deerfield Parkway), the City will need to coordinate with private developers and others to bring the vision to life. Ultimately, private investment – and, with that, ideas – will be vital in driving the specifics of this area’s future.
What is the “Design Manual”? The Urban Design Manual is a working guide for developers and others thinking of embarking on projects in this area. The idea is to show what kinds of architectural styles, uses, and scale the City of Milton – and its community – think would be the most appropriate fit for this area. You can view it HERE.
Aside from the Highway 9 road project, are transportation changes part of this Plan? The Plan does recommend multi-use paths, bike lanes, and other transportation-related projects (like the new road connecting Deerfield Parkway and Highway 9, via a new active park, that has been proposed).
Could there be zoning or other changes recommended as part of this Plan? There is a slight zoning change. Still, the overall focus was more on design than density. In other words, the Plan offers a vision for what the community and City leaders think will best fit this area and what it should look like.
Is the design and construction of the 21-acre Deerfield Parkway active park part of this plan, or is it distinct? The planning processes will be separate, as well as related public engagement, with Milton’s Parks and Recreation team driving the park planning process. That said, the Deerfield Implementation Plan team recognizes how the new park will be vital to this area. As such, there will be regular, close coordination with Parks and Recreation team.