South Fulton Today

Here is a quick overview of the decisions made by your City Council during their October 24 meeting.  If you would like to see the action for yourself, the full meeting video is available at https://alpharettaga.portal.civicclerk.com/event/2829/media

After approving the consent agenda, which included a contract with Home By Dark for free concerts in Brooke Street Park in 2023 and a contract for a community agriculture volunteer and education coordinator, City Council proceeded to conduct three scheduled public hearings.

CLUP-22-03 / Z-22-11 / V-22-20: MID BROADWELL RESIDENTIAL

The application by Toll Brothers sought a change to the comprehensive land use plan, variances, and the rezoning of a 10.77-acre property located just west of Wills Road to allow for construction of 17 single-family homes and 26 townhomes.  Following presentations by City staff and the applicant and comments from two residents, City Council unanimously voted to approve the application with a litany of conditions that were recommended by staff and the Planning Commission.

CU-22-08 PAVLOVA BY MARIAN / 302 NORTH MAIN STREET

The application from Gloria Herdee requested approval for a conditional use to operate a bakery and restaurant, Pavlova by Marian, in an existing building located at 302 North Main Street.  The application was unanimously approved by City Council along with six staff-recommended conditions.

CU-22-07 / PEACHTREE IMMEDIATE CARE / 870 NORTH MAIN STREET

In this application, Peachtree Immediate Care requested a conditional use to operate a clinic in the former IHOP located at 870 North Main Street.  The application was unanimously approved by City Council along with six staff-recommended conditions.

With the scheduled public hearings decided, City Council moved forward to consider two items of business, the removal of the pedestrian scramble at Milton Avenue and Canton Street and an intergovernmental agreement for the use and operation of the Alpharetta jail.

PEDESTRIAN SCRAMBLE

In August of 2021, the City installed a pedestrian scramble at the intersection of Milton Avenue and Canton Street.  A pedestrian scramble, or “Barnes Dance,” is an exclusive pedestrian traffic signal interval that stops all vehicular movement to allow pedestrians access to cross in any direction at the intersection, including diagonally.  It was designed to improve walkability, but even at the time there were concerns about how the scramble could impact traffic in Downtown Alpharetta.

Fast forward to this year, and those concerns about traffic impact became reality.  After field observations by City staff seemed to indicate that the scramble was the primary cause of traffic backups that were impacting surrounding roads, including State Route 9, the decision was made to return the Canton / Milton Avenue intersection to a traditional crosswalk and observe the area to see if the congestion issue was relieved.  It was, significantly.

Following considerable debate on the subject, City Council voted 5 to 2, with Council Members Binder and Mitchell casting the opposing votes, to permanently remove the pedestrian scramble from the intersection of Milton Avenue and Canton Street.

ALPHARETTA JAIL

Beginning in early 2022, the City of Alpharetta entered into discussions with the Fulton County Sheriff on the topic of the reopening of the Alpharetta jail facility located on Old Milton Parkway. Discussions centered on the City making the jail available for use under the operation of the Sheriff, an arrangement that had existed for many years until operation of the facility was abandoned during the COVID pandemic.

During their October 24 meeting, City Council approved an intergovernmental agreement with the Sheriff and Fulton County that re-establishes the arrangement and defines the roles and responsibilities of each party.

NOTE: The preceding is intended only as a summary of key actions taken during the City Council Meeting and does not represent the official minutes of the meeting.  To access meeting agendas, packets, official minutes, and videos, please visit www.alpharetta.ga.us/meetings

Original source can be found here.