Dear Friends, Neighbors and Milton Citizens,

I promised to provide you an update tied to the discussion surrounding the "no sewer" policies as discussed at the Mayor and Council Work Session of January 17th.  Many of you emailed your opinions as to what you expect the "no sewer" policies to continue to mean for Milton, previously unincorporated Northwest Fulton County.  Thank you for ensuring your opinions and expectations are communicated to the Mayor, Council and staff.  Your continued input remains important on this critical issue. 
 
The next meeting tied to this topic of Milton's sewer versus no sewer policies has been called for tomorrow night, Wednesday, January 30th at 6:00 p.m. at City Hall.

As a bit of background, the item was first placed on the Jan. 17th , 2008 Work Session agenda at the request of staff.  It was noted during the meeting that staff wanted to verify with the Mayor and Council what "no sewer" meant to us for purposes of applying those policies to various requests that come before staff.  The Work Session was for discussion purposes only and no votes were taken.  Staff noted that they understood the no inter basin transfer policies for the Little River Basin, but were focused on trying to verify our intent regarding possible sewer extension within the Big Creek Basin to certain parcels in that basin that did not currently have access to public sewer.

For the record, I made it clear that my understanding historically and currently is that the "no sewer" policies for this area include no extension of sewer beyond where sewer currently exists - regardless of whether the parcel(s) is in the Little River Basin or the Big Creek Basin.   The extension of public sewer and the extension of associated trunk lines to any parcels not currently served by such sewer trunk lines would represent sewer extension from my perspective.  

Others on Council shared this view, but not all.  As noted above, the next step is that a Special Called meeting has been scheduled for tomorrow, Wed., January 30, 2008 at 6:00 p.m. and will be held at City Hall.  Please view the agenda by using this link.

Tomorrow night's meeting will include additional discussions on this very important topic and staff will provide maps of the areas for which they are asking for additional clarification.  This is a public meeting and public comments will be allowed.  I encourage you to express your opinions in writing and at the meeting during the public comment period and/or when the item itself is before us. 

Beyond tomorrow night's meeting, a brief summary of the results of the Mayor and Council Meeting of January 24th can be found to the right.  Please note, Milton has changed our Mayor and Council meeting dates as well as our Work Sessions to Monday nights beginning with the first Monday, i.e. February 4th.  These meetings will begin at 6:00 p.m.  Scroll down for more details on this topic and use this link to review the Resolution that initiated the change of dates including the attached chart of dates for 2008. 

On the right are the results of the zoning cases that came before us on January 24th.

Please join me in congratulating Council member Tina D'Aversa as our new Mayor Pro-Tem.  She was nominated by Mayor Lockwood and received a unanimous showing of support.

As always, your input and comments are valuable and I encourage you to share them as we affirm what the no sewer policies mean for Milton and our collective community.  Please let me know if you have any questions or comments.

All my best,


Julie Zahner Bailey
Milton City Council
770-664-5529 (h)
404-310-6344 (c)
Julie4Milton@mindspring.com
Julie4Milton.com

City of Milton Meetings

Wednesday, 1/30-City Council Special Called Meeting 6PM, agenda

Monday, 2/4- City Council Meeting 6PM

Tuesday, 2/5- Design Review Board,
agenda

Monday, 2/11 -City Council Work Session, 6PM

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All meetings held at City Hall unless otherwise noted.

City Hall

13000 Deerfield Parkway
Suite 107
Milton, GA 30004
Phone: 678.242.2500
Fax: 678.242.2499

Click here for a map and directions to City Hall

Summary of Results - January 24, 2008 Mayor and Council Meeting 

Case U07-007/VC-07-012
Canine Assistants - Approved Conditional 7-0

Specific conditions enumerated including reduced parking requirements, leaving natural buffers in place, moving of a dumpster from current location, use of 4 board, equestrian style fencing, etc.  (see the action minutes for the detailed conditions).

Case RZ07-005/VC07-015-Day care Facility on Webb Rd (Request to rezone from O-I to O-I to expand the existing day care facility)  Approved Conditional 7-0

Specific conditions include: limited to 78 students, use of 4 board black equestrian fencing at front, earthen detention facilities, restricted use to day care facility, etc.(see the action minutes for detailed conditions).
 
Case RZ07-005/VC07-002 Crabapple- Mayfield Road (Previously deferred on 8/16/07). Denied 4-3

Applicant requested to rezone from AG-1 to MIX use including 15,000 sq. ft. of medical offices, 3,500 sq. ft. of commercial and 9 higher density housing units on approximately 4.5 acres.  This rezoning case had been recommended for denial by Staff and the Planning Commission.  The application was in direct conflict with the Comprehensive Land Use Plan, the Crabapple Master Plan and the Neighborhood Activity Node definitions and maximum densities. (see the action minutes for detailed conditions).

Council member Julie Zahner Bailey put the motion forward to deny and was seconded by Council member Alan Tart.  The denial passed 4-3 with Zahner Bailey, Tart, D'Aversa and Hewitt voting to deny and Lockwood, Lusk and Thurman opposing the denial.

Note: Zahner Bailey read a prepared statement into the record noting the legal reasons to deny this case to be certain the legal rationale from Staff's analysis and other policies were officially a part of the record.