Monday, Sept. 21st Zoning Agenda, Budget, Library Update and More

Dear Milton Residents, Friends and Citizens,

This email is intended to inform you about a variety of items and issues including:

• Zoning Agenda for the Monday, September 21, 2009 at 6:00 p.m. This link includes the packet for the zoning items: 

1.    Zoning modification requests for multiple variances by John Weiland in Crabapple,

2.    Historic Preservation Ordinance that currently includes language that would allow a prior use to circumvent current zoning requirements,

3.    Landscaping Business seeking Special Use Permit on Arnold Mill (140) on 1.74 acres including multiple variances.

• Special Called Work Session also on Monday, September 21 at 5:00 p.m. re:Variances and the basis upon which they should be considered or not, link for more information.

• Budget update - another public meeting re: the 2010 City Budget also is on the agenda for Monday, September 21st. Use this link for the current budget proposal.

• Upcoming meetings and events including the Crabapple Antique Fair, Rivers Alive, the Milton Round-up, the First Mayor's Race and more (see right margin for specifics including links regarding the events).

• Updates on Fulton County's Library selection process including the site selection for a Milton Library (scroll down for details),

• November 3rd Election including how to register to vote if you have not already.  Use this City of Milton link, the link from the Secretary of State or scroll down for more information.

• Invitation to participate in this year's Rivers Alive event, Saturday, October 10th from 8:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.  Citizens, school groups, scouts and volunteers of all ages are encouraged to participate in this annual environmentally focused event whereby folks of all ages come together to help clean-up the waterways of our Milton community.  The event will begin at Bailey Farm & Gardens, Inc. at 8:00 a.m. whereby groups will gather for directions and go from there to various waterways and parkland around Milton for specific clean-up at pre-determined sites.  You can contact Bailey Farm & Gardens at baileyfarmandgardens@mindspring.com and Milton Grows Green at MiltonGrowsGreen@earthlink.net.

I hope this information is helpful and encourages you to participate in all aspects of our local community including the future of Milton.  Your personal commitment to contribute in some way to our collective community can and does make all the difference.  In large part, it is what makes Milton so unique and special.
 
As always, I want to thank you for the opportunity and privilege to represent you and the best interests of your families.  I love this community and all that it represents and work hard everyday to protect and preserve those things we hold dear.
 
Please let me know if you have questions or comments about any issue facing Milton.  I will do my very best to get back to you in a timely manner.
 

All my best -

Monday, September 21st - Regular Council Meeting - 6:00 p.m.

 Several Zoning Cases:

1.     Crabapple Variance Requests for John Weiland Development,

2.     Historic Preservation Ordinance that includes language that would allow prior use to trump current zoning requirements.

3.     Landscaping Business on Arnold Mill (140) with multiple variances.

Crabapple Zoning Modification Requests - Applicant - John Weiland ZM09-02 - West Side of Birmingham Highway (SR 372) Land Lots 1096, 1096, 1098, 1135 of the Second District/Second Section - Braeburn Subdivision - By John Wieland Homes and Neighborhoods, Inc. represented by William Woodson Galloway, Dillard & Galloway, LLC. A request to modify the following conditions:

1.     To modify condition 1.d, which currently allows up to 54 townhomes at a maximum density of 0.86 dwelling units per acre, to allow up to 38 townhomes at a maximum density of 0.61 dwelling units per acre based on total acreage zoned.  

2.     To modify 1.e, which currently allows up to 45 single-family residential units at a maximum density of 0.72 dwelling units per acre, to allow up to 61 single-family residential units at a maximum density of 0.98 dwelling units per acre based on total acreage zoned.

3.     To modify the required minimum lot size in condition 1.f from 18,900 square feet such that no more than 15 lots shall have a minimum lot size of 10,890 square feet (approximately ¼ acre) or above, at least three (3) lots (Lots 11-13) shall have a minimum lot size of one (1) acre or above, and the remaining lots shall have a minimum lot size of 14,500 square feet (approximately 1/3 of an acre) or above.

4.     To modify condition 2.a to replace the revised site plan received by the Fulton County Department of Environment and Community Development on June 7, 2006 with the revised site plan received by the Milton Department of Community Development on July 7, 2009.

5.     To modify condition 3.e to reduce the 15-foot building separation to a 10-foot building separation with a 5-foot side yard setback for lots less than one (1) acre.

This case originally was zoned by Fulton County.  The above variances including the request for higher density lots and buffer reductions are considered a "zoning modification" to the original rezoning.  As such, this case did not go to the Planning Commission.  While staff is recommending a deferral until October, given this case has been advertised and has gone through First Presentation, a final vote could be taken Monday night by the Mayor and Council.

Historic Preservation Ordinance - Agenda Item No. 09-926: RZ09-04  An Ordinance to create Article 13 of the Milton Zoning Ordinance; to establish a historic preservation commission in the City of Milton to provide for the designation of historic properties or historic districts; to provide for issuance of Certificates of Appropriateness; to provide for an appeals procedure; to repeal conflicting
ordinances; and for other purposes.

The current draft of this ordinance includes language that effectively would circumvent the zoning process for certain properties. Use this link to review the current draft ordinance.  

Please note, both the Design Review Board and the Planning Commission have noted concerns with this specific language and have recommended that it be removed.  The Planning Commission requested a deferral as well as they wanted to provide more specific input into the current draft including the deletion of this section of the proposed ordinance.
 
Because this item has been advertised, Council could either defer the case as requested by the Planning Commission, approve the ordinance as currently proposed, or modify the current draft and approve it with modifications.
 
While I strongly support historic preservation for Milton and have been a long time advocate for historic preservation, I do not support the current draft given it would circumvent the zoning process for certain properties.  In particular this language could be applied to the Thompson/Hopewell land that has been a zoning matter before us in the past.  The property in question is currently zoned AG-1/residential and the applicant was requesting that the property be rezoned to Commercial. 

Citizens were very vocal about their concern over this rezoning and ultimately it was withdrawn.  The current proposed language for the Historic Preservation Ordinance would allow that same property to be considered for "prior use" thereby allowing the property to be used for a commercial use potentially without having to be rezoned.  I believe such a process circumvents necessary zoning processes and is in direct conflict with the expectations of the majority of citizens in Milton.  Other properties would be affected by this proposed language as well.

Landscaping Business - Special Use Permit - Arnold Mill (140) on 1.74 acres including Variance Requests
(This case was previously deferred several times)
U09-01 / VC09-01, 13120 Arnold Mill Road, by Frank Schaffer, The Landscape Group,Inc. - To obtain a use permit for a landscaping business on 1.74 acres at a density of
3,908.04 square feet per acre (Article 19.4.27). Applicant is also requesting 3-part concurrent variance:

1.     To delete the 50' buffer and 10' improvement setback along the west property line from the right-of-way for a distance of 140' (12H.3.1 Section C.1).

2.     To delete the 50' buffer and 10' improvement setback along the east property line from the right-of-way for a distance of 140' (12H.3.1 Section C.1).

3.     To allow a sign located less than 10' from the right-of-way (Article 33 Section 21.C)

Use this link to view the analysis of staff.

New Library Site Selection - Citizen Input Still Requested

City of Milton
Meetings & Events

Monday, 9/21 - City Council Special Called Work Session, 5:00 p.m.
agenda

Monday, 9/21 - Special Called Meeting, 5:45 p.m. agenda

Monday, 9/21 - Regular Meeting, 6:00 p.m. agenda

Monday, 9/21 - CPAC, 6:30 p.m.
agenda

Tuesday, 9/22 - Planning Commission, 7:00 p.m. agenda

Wednesday, 9/23 - CZIM, 7:00 p.m. agenda

Thursday, 9/24 - Highway 9 Design Guideline Committee, 4:00 p.m.

Thursday, 9/24 - TSAC, 6:00 p.m.

Saturday, 10/3 - Crabapple Antique & Art Festival, 9:00a.m. to 5:00p.m.
for more information

Monday, Oct. 5 - City Council meeting, 6:00 p.m.

Tuesday, Oct. 6 - Design Review Board, 6:00 p.m.

Wednesday, Oct. 7 - MDAC, 7:00p.m.

Thursday, Oct. 8 - Highway 9 Design Guideline Committee, 4:00 p.m.

Thursday, Oct. 8 - Milton Grows Green, 6:00 p.m. at Birmingham Fire Station

Thursday, Oct. 8 - Crabapple Stakeholders Meeting, 6:00 p.m. at Alpharetta Government Center

Saturday, Oct. 10 - Rivers Alive, 8:00 a.m. for more information

Saturday, Oct. 17 - Milton Roundup and Mayors Race, for more information

All meetings held at City Hall unless otherwise noted.

Milton City Hall
13000 Deerfield Parkway
Suite 107
Milton, GA  30004
678-242-2500
fax 678-242-2499

Non-emergency Police/Fire
678-297-6300, Option 1
Public Safety Department
678-242-2570

Click here for a map and directions to City Hall.

City of Milton Contacts

To Report a Problem or Make a Suggestion, please use
this link.

Note:
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Register to Vote

Voter Registration Deadline is October 5 for the November 3 Election.  Fulton County residents, including those in the City of Milton, have until close of business on Monday, October 5 to register for the November 3 Municipal General Election.

In Milton, Districts 1, 3 and 5 have elections.  Please remember that while the candidate has to live in the District they represent, it is an at large election meaning everyone votes for each District.

Voters may register at any of the following locations:

• Fulton County Government Center, Registration & Elections Dept., Suite 4085, 141 Pryor Street, SW, Atlanta;
• South Fulton Service Center, Registration and Elections Office, 5600 Stonewall Tell Road, College Park;
• North Fulton Service Center, Registration and Elections Office, 7741 Roswell Road, Sandy Springs;
• Georgia Department of Motor Vehicle driver's license offices;
• All public libraries and city halls;
• Colleges and universities (for students and staff only)

The Georgia Voter Registration form is also available on the Fulton County website.

On November 3, Fulton County will conduct elections for the cities of Alpharetta, Atlanta, East Point, Fairburn, Milton, Roswell, Sandy Springs, and Union City.

For more information, contact the Fulton County Department of Registration and Elections at 404-730-7072.

Quick Links

Many of you have asked for links to other community and government organizations.  The following links are being provided per your requests.

JZB Newsletter Archive

The opinions expressed in this release are those of Julie Zahner Bailey and may not reflect official positions of the Milton City Council.  No City funds were used for this communication.

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