[1. CALL TO ORDER]
[00:00:02]
IT'S AMAZING TO HAVE THIS MANY PEOPLE HERE THIS EVENING.
I KNOW WE'VE GOT A LOT ON THE AGENDA, SO I'LL GO AHEAD AND CALL THIS MEETING TO ORDER.
I DO WANT TO, BEFORE WE GET STARTED, I WANTED TO ANNOUNCE A FEW CHANGES FROM THE ORIGINAL PRINTED AGENDA FOR THIS EVENING.
JUST IN CASE SOMEONE SHOWED UP FOR SOMETHING THAT MAY HAVE BEEN DEFERRED.
THE FOLLOWING ITEMS HAVE BEEN DEFERRED AND WILL NOT BE CONSIDERED THIS EVENING.
THAT IS MP DASH 26 DASH OH THREE SLASH CL DASH 26 DASH OH ONE SLASH Z DASH 26 DASH OH ONE SLASH V DASH 26 DASH ZERO TWO TPG BROOKSIDE WEST MP TWO MP DASH 26 DASH OH ONE SLASH CU DASH 26 DASH OH ONE.
SPIRIT OF GOD CHURCH, ONE WORD IN MASTER PLAN POD 16 Z DASH 25 DASH 10 SLASH V DASH 25 DASH 22 LEVITAN SLASH 75 AND 91 ROSWELL STREET.
AND THE FOLLOWING ITEMS HAVE BEEN WITHDRAWN AND WILL NOT BE CONSIDERED THIS EVENING.
AND THOSE INCLUDE MP DASH 26 DASH OH FOUR SLASH CL UP DASH 26 DASH OH TWO Z DASH 26 DASH OH TWO C DASH 26 DASH OH TWO MOON VALLEY SLASH REGENT PARTNERS MP AND MP DASH 25 DASH OH EIGHT CU DASH 25 DASH 13 B DASH 25 DASH SEVEN HANOVER WINWARD PARK, WINWARD MASTER PLAN POD 66.
SO IF ANY OF YOU CAME FOR SPECIFICALLY THOSE ITEMS, YOU MIGHT HAVE SAVED YOURSELF A FEW HOURS THIS EVENING.
I'LL GO AHEAD AND NOTE FOR THE RECORD THIS EVENING THAT ALL MEMBERS OF COUNCIL ARE PRESENT AND ACCOUNTED FOR.
AND WE ALWAYS BEGIN OUR CITY COUNCIL MEETINGS FOR THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE.
SO IF YOU ARE WILLING AND ABLE, PLEASE STAND AND JOIN US.
MY PLEASURE, ALLEGIANCE TO THE PLAQUE OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND TO THE REPUBLIC STANDS ALL NATION UNDER GOD, INVIS WITH LIBERTY JUSTICE ALL.
[A. Proclamation: Alpharetta All-Star Georgia State Championship Baseball Teams]
FIRST ITEM WE'LL BE TAKING UP THIS EVENING AS PRESENTATIONS AND PROCLAMATIONS SEEMS THAT WE DO HAVE A PROCLAMATION FOR THE ALPHARETTA ALL STAR GEORGIA STATE CHAMPIONSHIP BASEBALL TEAMS. SO IF EVERYONE AFFILIATED WITH THE TEAMS WANTS TO MEET ME DOWN FRONT HERE, THIS ONE, THAT'S A LONG ONE.WHO'S THE HEAD COACH? HOW YOU DOING TODAY? I'M DOING GREAT, COACH.
HOW ABOUT YOURSELF? YOU WANNA TELL US A LITTLE BIT ABOUT YOUR PROGRAM AND WHICH WE'RE HERE TONIGHT? MY NAME IS SPENCER RIPLEY.
WE'RE WITH A YBA, WHICH IS ALPHARETTA YOUTH BASEBALL ASSOCIATION, RIGHT DOWN AT WILLS PARK.
RIGHT NOW YOU'RE LOOKING AT TWO OF OUR ALLSTATE OR, UH, STATE CHAMPIONS FOR THE ALL-STAR TEAMS RIGHT HERE.
WE HAVE A GREAT GROUP OF GUYS, GREAT COACHES.
WE PLAYED OVER 31 GAMES THIS SUMMER, AND THAT WAS FROM MEMORIAL DAY ALL THE WAY TO 4TH OF JULY.
UM, THIS GROUP THAT YOU'RE LOOKING AT RIGHT HERE IS A 10 U TEAM.
AND, UH, WE ENDED UP WINNING THE STATE CHAMPIONSHIP THROUGH BRAVES COUNTRY.
AND WE'RE GONNA BE PLAYING AGAIN THIS SPRING AND THROUGH THE SUMMER, AND THEY PLAY REC BALL, BUT PLAY ALL STAR AND WE BEAT SEVERAL TRAVEL TEAMS, SO BE PROUD OF THESE GUYS.
UH, I'M RYAN ROSE, UH, THE COACH FOR THE 12 U ALL STAR TEAM.
WE PLAYED ALL THE WAY UP UNTIL JULY.
UM, THE BOYS WON THE 12 U ALL STAR CHAMPIONSHIP THROUGH BRAVES COUNTRY.
UH, THEY WENT UNDEFEATED AND WE ACTUALLY HAD MULTIPLE, UM, SINGLE GAME PITCHERS, SO, UH, IT WAS, IT WAS A GOOD, WE ONLY USED FOUR, FIVE PITCHERS IN THE WHOLE SERIES.
[00:05:01]
SO IT WAS REALLY GOOD.THEY, THEY WORKED REALLY HARD.
I'D ALSO LIKE TO SAY THANK YOU TO THE CITY COUNCIL TOO.
WE GET A LOT OF SUPPORT FROM YOU ALL OVER AT, UH, WELLS PARK.
I'M ON THE BOARD THERE AND, UH, IT MEANS A LOT TO US, EVERYTHING THAT Y'ALL DO FOR US AS WELL.
SO SOME OF MY FAVORITE MEMORIES WERE MY SON PLAYING AT WILLS PARK AND THEY EVEN LET ME, OR WERE FORCED TO LET ME COACH BACK BECAUSE ALL THE GOOD COACHES WOULD WANT TO PLAY FOOTBALL COACH IN THE FALL.
SO THEY WOULDN'T LET ME BE A COACH AT WILLS PARK DURING THE SPRING WHEN IT REALLY WAS SERIOUS BALL FOR 'EM.
BUT THEY LET THE SCRUBS LIKE ME PLAY AS A COACH EVERY FALL, JUST SO WE COULD DO SOME IN INTERESTING BASEBALL IN THE OFF SEASON THEN.
I LOVE WILLS PARK AND I AM APPRECIATIVE TO ALL THE VOLUNTEERS THAT MAKE THIS POSSIBLE AT A YBA AND THE COACHES.
I KNOW HOW CHALLENGING THAT CAN BE, SO GOD BLESS YOU ALL.
SO WITH THAT BEING SAID, I'VE GOT A RATHER LENGTHY PROCLAMATION FOR ALL OF THESE ACHIEVEMENTS.
AND THIS IS A PROCLAMATION BY THE MAYOR AND COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF ALPHARETTA, GEORGIA, 2025 ALPHARETTA ALL STAR YOUTH BASEBALL TEAMS. WHEREAS THE 2025 ALPHARETTA YOUTH ALL STAR BASEBALL TEAMS RECEIVED SEVERAL ACCOLADES THIS SEASON.
AND WHEREAS THE ALPHARETTA EAGLES AGES NINE AND UNDER HAD AN OVERALL RECORD OF 2010 AND WON, THERE'S NO TIES IN BASEBALL
THE GEORGIA REGIONAL BECAME THE GEORGIA STATE CHAMPIONS AND WERE RUNNER UP AGAINST THE ENTIRE SOUTHEAST THIS SEASON.
EVERY OPPONENT THE TEAM FACED WAS SCARED TO STEP UP TO THE PLATE AGAINST THEM THIS SEASON.
EVERY OPPONENT STEPPING INTO THE BATTER'S BOX AGAINST THE TEAM, 12 OF THE VICTORIES CAME BY DOUBLE DIGIT MARGINS AND THEIR ONLY LOSSES WERE TO NATIONALLY RANKED TRAVEL BASEBALL TEAMS. AND WHEREAS THE ALPHARETTA EAGLES AGES 12 AND UNDER HAD AN OVERALL RECORD OF 19 AND 11 SCORING A REMARKABLE 268 RUNS, EARNING 13 WINS IN WHICH THEY TALLIED MORE THAN 10 RUNS BEYOND THEIR SUCCESS ON THE FIELD.
THE TEAMS CONSISTENTLY DEMONSTRATED OUTSTANDING CHARACTER, BRINGING RELENTLESS COMPETITIVENESS AND EFFORT TO EVERY GAME WHILE ALSO SUPPORTING YOUNGER TEAMS, CHEERING THEM ON AND ENCOURAGING THEM TO GROW AS BOTH PLAYERS AND PEOPLE.
AND WHEREAS THE FOLLOWING STUDENTS AND COACHES ARE A PART OF THE 2025 ALPHARETTA YOUTH BASEBALL TEAMS. THERE'S QUITE A FEW OF THESE NAMES.
SO I COULD USE THE WORKOUT
BENNETT GALLAGHER, LANDON SHEPHERD, WESTON COLO.
JOSEPH WEISBECKER, RYAN LE AND COOLER KEAN MISERY, SPENCER O GRIFFIN, BROCK, WILLIAM RIPLEY, JAMES MASSINO, COACHES HEAD COACH, SPENCER RIPLEY, EXCUSE ME.
ANTHONY GALLAGHER, ADAM COLO, NILAND MYSTERY, AND GREG LULA.
ALPHARETTA REGULATORS 11 AND UNDER ALL STAR PLAYERS IS LINCOLN, CHERYL, WYATT CHAPMAN, ALEX ABRAHAM, NATHAN GUTMAN, NOLAN HAHN, ETHAN HAZARD, OLIVER BARONS, DYLAN ROBERSON, SANTIAGO SALVADOR, BRANDON TANG, MADDOX HUNT WITH COACHES BEING HEAD COACH JACK, CHERYL, CHERYL, EXCUSE ME, ASSISTANT COACHES, SCOTTY HA HAZZARD, MIKE BARONS, MATT ROBERTSON AND HONG
[00:10:01]
CHERYL, WYATT, CHAPMAN, ALEX, ABRAHAM MILES, ROSE MG WITHERS.NATHAN GUTHMAN, NOLAN HAN, JAYDEN, ANNA, SORRY IF I MASTERED THAT ONE OUT.
ETHAN HAZZARD, OLIVER BARONS, COACHES HEAD COACH RYAN ROSE, ASSISTANT COACHES CHARLES KIM, STEVE HEARN, HAL RICHMOND YOUNG JEN.
NOW, THEREFORE, WE, THE MAYOR AND THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF ALPHARETTA, GEORGIA DO HEREBY RECOGNIZE THE 2025 ALPHARETTA YOUTH ALL STAR BASEBALL TEAMS FOR THEIR DEDICATION AND DETERMINATION THIS SEASON.
AND GIVE THANKS TO THE COACHES AND THE PARENTS WHO I KNOW WERE THERE ALL THE TIME AND SPENT A GREAT DEAL OF TIME IN THOSE PARKS.
SO FOR THEIR DEDICATION AND DETERMINATION THIS SEASON, AND GIVE THANKS TO THE COACHES AND PARENTS FOR GUIDING THEM THROUGH THE SEASON.
SO PROCLAIM THIS 23RD DAY OF FEBRUARY, 2026 BY THE MAYOR AND THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF ALPHARETTA, GEORGIA.
SO I'LL PRESENT THIS TO YOU AND WE'RE GONNA TRY TO FIT ALL OF YOU INTO A PICTURE SO THAT THE PAPER CAN PUBLISH THAT FOR YOU.
AM I SUPPOSED TO DO THIS DOWN HERE? UP AT THE DESK? THE, UM, WELL, IT'S HARD TO BE THAT, BUT WE DO HAVE SOME OTHER REALLY OUTSTANDING PRESENTATIONS.
[B. Presentation: Cambridge High School AG Business Students]
MS. AMANDA, IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO COME FORWARD AND RECOGNIZE THE PRESENTATION FOR CAMBRIDGE HIGH SCHOOL AND BUSINESS STUDENTS.UM, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR HAVING US HERE TONIGHT.
I AM, UM, JUST GONNA VERY BRIEFLY INTRODUCE OUR 20 25, 20 26 CAMBRIDGE HIGH SCHOOL AG BUSINESS STUDENT COHORT, AND THEY ARE GONNA SHARE, UM, SOME GREAT, UH, LEARNINGS AND EXPERIENCE WITH YOU THIS EVENING.
AND SIR, BEFORE YOU CONTINUE, DO YOU MIND TO PRESS THE MICROPHONE ON BUTTON? YEP.
AND JUST, IF YOU WOULDN'T MIND REPEATING YOUR FIRST AND LAST NAME, PLEASE.
I'M A SENIOR AT CAMBRIDGE HIGH SCHOOL.
I, I PLAY VARSITY TENNIS FOR CAMBRIDGE.
AND NEXT YEAR I'LL BE STUDYING BUSINESS MANAGEMENT AT GEORGIA SOUTHERN UNIVERSITY THROUGH THE AG BUSINESS PROGRAM AT CAMBRIDGE HIGH SCHOOL.
I'M PART OF A BUSINESS BLOCK CALLED AGTA BOX.
[00:15:01]
AGTA BOX IS A STUDENT LED COMPANY, FOUNDED IN 2019 BY THE CAMBRIDGE HIGH SCHOOL AGRI AGRIBUSINESS MANAGEMENT AND LEADERSHIP CLASS.WE GO TO OLD ROCKER FARM EVERY DAY, THROWN ABOUT HOW TO GROW LOCAL PRODUCE, OPERATE A, OPERATE A BUSINESS, AND GATHER NECESSARY SKILLS TO PREPARE US FOR FUTURE CAREERS.
SOME OF THESE SKILLS INCLUDE TIME MANAGEMENT, COMMUNICATIONS, AND COOPERATIONS.
WE SELL WEEKLY CSA BOXES TO THE MEMBERS OF, I DON'T KNOW WHY IT KEEPS GOING OFF.
UM, AT THE END OF THE YEAR, THE MONEY THAT WE EARN, WE SPLIT IN HALF, HALF OF THE MONEY GOES TO SUPPORT THE NEXT YEAR'S, UH, RETA TEAM, AND THE OTHER HALF WILL BE, WILL BE DIVIDED AMONGST US.
WELL, WITHIN AETA BOX, WE EACH HAVE DIFFERENT JOBS.
I MAKE AND POST DIFFERENT PHOTOS AND GRAPHICS TO OUR INSTAGRAM AND FACEBOOK PAGES AND FORM OUR CUSTOMERS WHEN THE STORES OPEN.
AND I UPDATE CUSTOMERS ON DIFFERENT ACTIVITIES AND TASKS WE ARE DOING.
WE ARE DOING THAT WEEK THROUGH SOCIAL MEDIA PLATFORMS. I'VE CREATED T-SHIRTS TO WORK AS A WALKING ADVERTISEMENT.
WE GOT SOME EXAMPLES OVER HERE.
DO YOU WANNA GRAB THE OTHER ONE? JUST LOOK LIKE THIS, THE BACK.
THROUGH BEING IN CHARGE OF MARKETING, I'VE LEARNED TO BE MORE CREATIVE WHEN IT COMES TO THE DIFFERENT WAYS I ADVERTISE OUR BUSINESS.
NOW WE'VE PASSING THE TAPE TO SHOW YOU WHAT HE DOES AT RETA BOX.
I WANNA MAKE SURE THIS STAYS ON.
UH, I'M A SENIOR AT CAMBRIDGE HIGH SCHOOL AS WELL.
UH, I PLAYED FOOTBALL IN THE FALL.
AND, UH, I LOVE TO HUNT FISH AND JUST BE OUTDOORS IN GENERAL.
I PLAN, I'VE BEEN ATTENDING, OR IN AGRICULTURE CLASSES SINCE I WAS A FRESHMAN.
UM, AND I'LL BE ATTENDING GEORGIA SOUTHERN UNIVERSITY AS WELL IN THE FALL, MAJORING IN CONSTRUCTION MANAGEMENT.
UH, HERE AT RETA BOX, I AM IN CHARGE OF SALES.
SO WHAT THAT ENTAILS IS, UM, I TAKE INVENTORY OF ALL OUR PRODUCE.
UM, I CREATE NEW ITEMS, I PUT THEM ONTO OUR ONLINE STORE.
I TAKE, UM, ALL OUR SALES RECORDS, I LIKE COMPILE THEM AND KEEP TRACK OF THEM.
AND I FACILITATE DISCUSSIONS EACH WEEK, UM, ABOUT WHAT ADDED VALUE ITEMS AND PRODUCE TO INCLUDE IN OUR CSA BOXES TO SELL TO OUR CUSTOMERS.
UM, OVER TIME, COMPLETING THESE TASKS, I HAVE BECOME VERY EFFICIENT WITH THEM, UM, LEARNING THE QUICKEST AND THE BEST WAYS TO DO 'EM ALL.
BUT MORE IMPORTANTLY, UM, THROUGH THIS OPPORTUNITY AT THE FARM, I HAVE LEARNED IMPORTANT TIME MANAGEMENT, COOPERATION AND COMMUNICATION SKILLS THAT, UH, I CAN CARRY WITH ME FOR MY FUTURE, FUTURE AND MY CAREER.
UM, ONE SPECIFIC EXAMPLE OF A BUSINESS SKILL THAT I'VE LEARNED HERE AT THE FARM IS THE, UM, IMPORTANCE OF CONSISTENCY THROUGHOUT MY JOB EVERY DAY.
UM, IF I COMPLETE MY TASKS EACH AND EVERY DAY, JUST IT'S A SMALL TASK.
UM, I CAN LIMIT MY WORKLOAD AND HELP AROUND IN OTHER AREAS OF RETA BOX, BUT IF I LET IT PILE UP ON ME AND I'M NOT, UM, CONTINUALLY ON IT, IT BECOMES A BURDEN TO ALL OF US.
AND IT LIMITS SALES AND CAUSES POOR PERFORMANCE FOR ALL THREE OF US.
UM, ANOTHER GREAT PART OF THIS RETA BOX, UH, PROGRAM IS OUR OPPORTUNITY TO, UM, CHANGE DIFFERENT ASPECTS OF IT.
UM, ONE EXAMPLE OF THAT IS THE SHIRT THAT WE SHOWED YOU EARLIER.
ANOTHER IS THIS, UM, THIS GIANT BLUE BOX THAT WE HAVE.
UM, IT'S A REUSABLE PLASTIC TOTE THAT WE PUT ALL OUR CSA PRODUCE IN EACH WEEK.
UM, CUSTOMERS CAN BRING IT BACK, UH, AND IT'S JUST ADDED TO THE, UH, VALUE OF OUR BOXES.
EACH WEEK THROUGH THIS, UM, WE'VE ACTUALLY NOTICED A HUGE INCREASE IN OUR SALES.
UM, WE'VE MET AND EXCEEDED, UM, THE BENCHMARKS THAT ALL OF THE OTHER TEAMS THAT HAVE COME THROUGH RETTA BOX.
UM, WE'VE REACHED ALMOST $4,000 IN SALES OF PRODUCE AS OF THIS WEEK.
UM, AND WE'RE NOT GONNA STOP THERE.
WE'RE ACTUALLY PUSHING TO GET 7,000 BY THE END, UH, $7,000 WORTH OF PRODUCE BY THE END OF, UM, THIS SCHOOL YEAR.
UM, BUT ABOVE ALL, WE JUST APPRECIATE JUST THE, THE BLESSING THAT WE GET TO BE OUT, UH, IN THE FIELD EACH MORNING, UM, TO BE OUTSIDE, UM, AND GET OUR HANDS DIRTY AND GET SOME HANDS ON WORK.
UM, WITH THAT, I'LL PASS IT TO PEYTON TO TALK ABOUT HIS ROLE IN RETA BOX.
I'M A SENIOR AT CAMBRIDGE HIGH SCHOOL AS WELL.
UM, IN THE FALL I PLAN TO GO TO THE UNIVERSITY OF MISSISSIPPI AND MAJOR IN BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION.
SO WITH THAT, THIS OPPORTUNITY OF WORKING ON THE FARM HAS REALLY JUST HELPED ME UNDERSTAND HOW BUSINESS RUNS AND HOW I CAN, CAN MANAGE IT AND KEEP TRACK OF EVERYTHING WE DO WHILE THEY'RE, UM, I'VE
[00:20:01]
ALSO BEEN TAKING AGRICULTURE SINCE FRESHMAN YEAR WITH THESE TWO, SO MM-HMMUM, MY JOB AT A AT BOX IS I'M IN CHARGE OF COMMUNICATIONS AND CUSTOMER SERVICE.
SO EVERY WEEK I SEND OUT A STORES OPEN EMAIL.
IT'LL INCLUDE A BUNCH OF COOL LITTLE THINGS, JUST A LITTLE GET TO KNOW STORY.
AND THEN ALSO INCLUDE OUR ITEMS IN THE BOX THIS WEEK, OR IF WE HAVE NEW PRODUCTS FOR SALE.
UM, I ALSO HELP WHEN CUSTOMERS HAVE ANY QUESTIONS ABOUT THEIR ORDERS GONE THROUGH OR WHAT'S NEW, HOW CAN I DO THIS, RESPOND TO THEM, LET 'EM KNOW HOW CAN WE HELP, HOW THEY CAN CHANGE THEIR SITUATION.
SO WITH THAT, I HAVE LEARNED A LOT AT RETA BOX.
IT HAS HELPED ME WITH COMMUNICATIONS.
ENGLISH HAS NEVER BEEN A STRONG SUBJECT FOR ME.
SO THE, IT WAS A BIG TASK TO START, BUT WITH THIS, I'VE BEEN ABLE TO EXPERIENCE AND GROW IN MY WRITING.
SO I'VE BEEN ABLE TO WRITE MORE PROFESSIONAL, STRAIGHT TO THE POINT, BUT ALSO COMMUNICATE WITH THE CUSTOMERS PROPERLY AND HOW THEY WOULD LIKE IT.
AND WITH LEARNING, IT'S NOT ONLY JUST CLASSROOM LIKE RIDING.
WE'VE ALSO MET A LOT OF GREAT PEOPLE LIKE WILL HARRIS.
WE WENT TO WIDE OAK PASTURES OUT IN BLUFFTON, GEORGIA.
AND WE'VE LEARNED A LOT ABOUT HOW WE CAN CHANGE THE LAND, BECOME MORE ORGANIC, SUSTAINABLE, AND MAKE THE ENVIRONMENT MUCH BETTER.
WHICH AT ARID BOX, EVERYTHING'S ORGANIC AND MORE SUSTAINABLE, WHICH THOSE BOXES ARE MORE SUSTAINABLE THAN JUST GETTING THE PAPER BAGS THAT WE USED TO AND JUST TOSSING THEM.
SO, UM, WE'VE, WITH THE PEOPLE WE'VE MET, IT'S WILL HARRIS, THE PLACES WE'VE BEEN, WE WENT TO WHITE OAK PASTURES, MERCEDES-BENZ ARENA, WHICH WE MET WITH THIS LADY WHO'S IN CHARGE OF YOUNG FARMERS.
AND, UM, SHE SHOWED US ALL AROUND MERCEDES-BENZ STADIUM, HOW THEY READ, USE WATER, KEEP CONTROL OF THE GREENERY.
THEY EVEN HAVE A, LIKE A SMALL GARDEN OUTSIDE OF THE STADIUM, WHICH NOBODY REALLY KNOWS ABOUT, WHICH I THOUGHT WAS REALLY INTERESTING.
WE ALSO WENT TO BOTANICAL GARDENS, WHICH WE PICKED UP PUMPKINS AND ME AND TATE OUT THERE.
AND IT WAS A LOT OF WORK, BUT IT WAS A BLAST.
WE GOT TO SEE ALL THE BEHIND THE SCENES IN BOTANICAL GARDENS EXPERIENCE, A LOT OF COOL THINGS THAT MOST PEOPLE WOULD NEVER EXPERIENCE.
AND WE GET TO THROUGH GER ATTA BOX.
UM, A LOT OF PEOPLE HAVE CAME OUT TO THE FARM AS WELL.
WE HAD A GUY FROM FRESH HARVEST, WHICH IS A WEBSITE WHERE YOU CAN PURCHASE ORGANIC, UM, PRODUCE AND IT WILL BE DELIVERED RIGHT TO YOUR DOORSTEP IN A BOX JUST LIKE THAT.
AND HE TOLD US ABOUT THESE AND WE WORKED OFF OF THAT.
AND HE CAME OUT AND TAUGHT US ALL ABOUT, UM, CUSTOMER SERVICE COMMUNICATIONS, WHICH WAS GREAT FOR ME 'CAUSE I NEED A LOT OF HELP AT THE START OF THE YEAR.
A LOT OF PEOPLE FROM UGA SOIL SAMPLERS LADY CAME OUT THE OTHER WEEK AND TAUGHT US ALL ABOUT HOW OUR SOIL, WHICH AMANDA IS VERY HAPPY ABOUT.
IT'S 24% ORGANIC MATTER, WHICH IS UNHEARD OF.
MOST PEOPLE STRIVE FOR FOUR OR 5% AND IT TAKES MANY OF YEARS.
SO THAT WAS A GREAT EXPERIENCE TO MEET THEM.
AND ANOTHER MAN, MR. JEFF, HE OWNS A MUSHROOM FARM IN MILTON AND HE TAUGHT US ALL ABOUT THE MUSHROOMS. AND WE STARTED THROWING OUR MUSHROOMS AND THERE IN A FEW BOXES, WHICH WAS GREAT.
BUT WITH THAT, I WANT TO END BY SAYING THANK YOU FOR ALL OF Y'ALL.
WE REALLY APPRECIATE Y'ALL GIVING US EXPERIENCE.
NOBODY IN THE COUNTRY GETS TO EXPERIENCE WHAT WE DO.
AND IT'S HELPFUL FOR LEARNING EXPERIENCES FOR ALL OF US.
AND I ALSO WANNA SAY THANK YOU TO ALL THE WORKERS AT THE FARM, LIKE AMANDA AND ALL OF 'EM.
MR. BOLAND, OUR TEACHER, THEY HELP US WITH EVERYTHING.
DOES ANYONE FROM COUNCIL HAVE A QUESTION FOR THE YOUNG MEN? JUST REALLY IMPRESSIVE.
I MEAN, UH, YOU DID A GREAT JOB PRESENTING.
I'VE SEEN OVER THE YEARS, MANY ADULTS PRESENT TO ME AND NOT DO REALLY AS GOOD A JOB AS YOU FELLOWS DID.
SO BEST OF LUCK TO YOU NEXT YEAR AND THANK YOU FOR WHAT YOU DO FOR OUR COMMUNITY.
WE ALSO HAVE A LITTLE GIFT FOR Y'ALL.
SO FROM OUR, UM, FARM, WE HAVE SOME FRESH GROWN SALSA OR, UH, TOMATILLOS THAT WE MADE SALSA VERDE WITH.
SO WE HAVE A LITTLE GIFT FOR EACH OF Y'ALL UP HERE THAT WILL HAND OUT FROM THE ALPHA TO HIGH SCHOOL CULINARY GROUP.
I WANNA SAY THANK YOU TO THEM AS WELL.
THEY, WE GIVE 'EM PRODUCE AND THEY MAKE IT FOR US.
YOU WANNA PASS THAT AT THE ENDER? GOOD.
HOPEFULLY WE HAVE ENOUGH FOR ALL OF Y'ALL.
[00:25:06]
AND MR. BAYER, IF WE COULD HAVE THEM, UM, TAKE A PHOTO IN FRONT OF THE DAIS.I KNOW THEIR TEACHERS WOULD APPRECIATE THAT.
OH, GENTLEMEN, WOULD YOU LIKE TO TAKE A PICTURE RIGHT HERE IN FRONT OF THE DA? OH, YEP.
[C. Presentation: Atlanta Regional Commission Award to the City of Alpharetta for Old Rucker Farm]
UP ON OUR AGENDA WILL BE THE PRESENTATION FOR THE ATLANTA REGIONAL COMMISSION AWARD TO THE CITY OF ALPHARETTA FOR OLD RUCKER REFORM.I CAN'T JUST LET THAT END WITHOUT SAYING HOW PROUD WE ARE OF THESE STUDENTS.
SO PROUD FROM NOT ONLY THE WORK THAT THEY DO, BUT THEIR PRESENTATION TONIGHT.
I MEAN, JUST VERY, VERY PROUD OF THEM.
SO NEXT I'M REALLY EXCITED TONIGHT TO HAVE, UM, JILLIAN PORTER WILL WILSON WITH US TONIGHT FROM THE ATLANTA REGIONAL COMMISSION TO, UM, PRESENT SOME EXCITING, UM, AN EXCITING AWARD TO OUR PROGRAM COMING UP.
GOOD EVENING, MAYOR AND COUNCIL.
I FEEL LIKE THESE YOUNG GENTLEMEN DID ALL THE TALKING FOR ME BECAUSE I WAS JUST GONNA STAND UP HERE AND TALK ABOUT HOW AMAZING AN OLD RUCKER FARM IS.
BUT LET ME GO BACK TO OCTOBER 24TH, 2025.
THIS IS A TAD LATE TO BE IN FRONT OF YOU GUYS, BUT I'M SO EXCITED TO SAY THAT THE ATLANTA REGIONAL COMMISSION AT OUR STATE OF THE REGION GAVE ALPHARETTA CITY A ALPHARETTA AND AMANDA AND THE OLD RUCKER FARM AND THE BROADER AT ALPHARETTA COMMUNITY, AN AWARD CALLED GREAT PLACES FOR OLD RUCKER FARM.
AMANDA ASKED ME TO COME OUT HERE TONIGHT TO TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT WHY THIS WAS CHOSEN AS THE GREAT PLACES AWARD AND OUT OF 26 NOMINATIONS, I THINK THE JURY KNEW FROM THE BEGINNING WITHOUT EVEN SEEING THE REST OF THEM, THAT THIS IS A VERY UNIQUE PROJECT AND IT WAS GOING TO RECEIVE AN AWARD OF SOME SORT.
AND I'M SO HAPPY IT GOT GREAT PLACES.
AT OUR, AT ATLANTA REGIONAL COMMISSION, WE FIND THIS AWARD SPECIFICALLY GREAT PLACES TO BE EXTREMELY MEANINGFUL.
THIS IS SOMETHING THAT'S FAR DIFFERENT THAN WHAT WE CALL OUR INNOVATIVE DEVELOPMENTS OR OUR VISIONARY PLANNING.
GREAT PLACES TO US IS SOMETHING THAT'S INSPIRING, THAT GETS PEOPLE TOGETHER AS A COMMUNITY THAT EITHER CAN IMPLORE PEOPLE, GET PEOPLE TO GO OUT IN NATURE OR EVEN PROVIDE HOUSING OF SOME NATURE.
AND THIS RIGHT HERE DOES A LOT FOR YOUR COMMUNITY.
AMANDA, VERY GRACEFULLY LET US HAVE A MEETING AT THE FARM.
I HOST A COMMITTEE CALLED THE LAND USE COORDINATING COMMITTEE AND WE INVITED A BUNCH OF PLANNERS AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT STAFF FROM ACROSS THE REGION.
SO HORSE SIZE ROCKDALE HENRY COUNTY.
WE INVITED THEM TO OLD RUCKER FARM AND WE TALKED ABOUT CITY AGRICULTURE PLANNING AND SPECIFICALLY THE WORK THEY'RE DOING WITH THE OLD RUCKER FARM.
AND NO ONE HAS SEEN ANYTHING LIKE THAT ANYWHERE ACROSS THE REGION.
SO YOU REALLY HAVE SOMETHING SPECIAL.
AND SO I AM BEYOND HONORED TO LIKE ALSO HEAR THE AMAZING STUFF THAT'S HAPPENING RIGHT NOW AT FARM, BUT TO ALSO GIVE YOU AN AWARD HONORING THE GREAT PLACE THAT YOU HAVE HERE IN THE CITY OF ALPHARETTA.
I DON'T KNOW IF YOU WANTED TO ADD ANYTHING, MANDY, YOU HAVE TO TAKE THIS OPPORTUNITY TO BRAG ON YOURSELF AND FARM.
THANK YOU TO THE A RC FOR NOMINATING AND AWARDING, UM, OLD DRUCKER FARM, THE CITY OF ALPHARETTA.
UM, THE GREAT PLACE, UH, OLD BOARD.
IT'S, IT MEANS A LOT TO US TO BE RECOGNIZED ON SUCH A LARGE SCALE AND A REGIONAL SCALE.
UM, WE'RE REALLY PROUD OF WHAT WE DO AS, AS A CITY.
WE'RE REALLY PROUD OF OLD FARM AND IT'S REALLY A BEAUTIFUL THING TO BE RECOGNIZED, UM, IN, IN THE REGION.
AND I WOULD LIKE TO ADD, THIS IS THE ONLY PROJECT OF THIS NATURE THAT'S BEEN GIVEN AN AWARD BY THE ATLANTA REGIONAL COMMISSION.
I, THIS IS THE FIRST FARM AT ALL TO BE GIVEN AN AWARD.
SO REALLY THIS IS AMAZING AND I HOPE TO SEE MORE THINGS LIKE CONCEPTS LIKE THIS ACROSS THE REGION.
'CAUSE BEING ABLE TO EDUCATE AND FEED PEOPLE IS EXTREMELY IMPORTANT.
SO I LOVE THIS AND I'M SO HAPPY THAT WE WERE ABLE TO GIVE THIS TO YOU AND THAT THE JURY CHOSE.
[00:30:01]
RIGHT.[D. Presentation: SR 400 Express Lanes Project]
OUR AGENDA IS THE PRESENTATION FOR THE STATE ROAD 400 EXPRESS LANES PROJECT REPRESENTATIVES FROM GEORGIA EXPRESS LANES SR 400 AND SR 400 PEACH PARTNERS ARE GOING TO PRESENT AN UPDATE REGARDING THE UPCOMING GEORGIA 400 ROADWAY IMPROVEMENTS.GENTLEMEN, YOU HAVE THE FLOOR.
HOW ARE Y'ALL DOING? WELL GET THIS THING FIRED UP.
FIRST AND FOREMOST, JUST WANNA SAY THANK YOU FOR THE INVITATION TO COME BEFORE YOU GUYS, UM, THIS AFTERNOON GIVE YOU A QUICK UPDATE ON THE STATE ROUTE 400 PROJECT.
UH, MY NAME IS BO QUALES, I'M THE GDO PROJECT MANAGER FOR THE PROJECT.
ALONG WITH ME IS, UM, JAVIER ROTIERRE, CEO FOR R 400 BEACH.
SO TODAY WE'RE JUST GONNA KIND OF WALK YOU THROUGH A HIGH LEVEL, UM, OVERVIEW OF THE PROJECT SCOPE, PROJECT TIMELINE, AND SOME UPCOMING ACTIVITIES WITHIN THE CITY OF ALPHARETTA.
UH, CITY LIMITS ALONG THE CORRIDOR.
ALRIGHT, FIRST AND FOREMOST, JUST WANNA DO A QUICK INTRODUCTION TO OUR UM, P THREE PARTNERS.
THE STATE ROUTE 400 EXPRESS LANE PROJECT IS BEING DELIVERED BY THE STATE DEVELOPER PARTNER STATE ROUTE 400 PEACH PARTNERS, LLC AS A PUBLIC PRIVATE PARTNERSHIP, OR A P THREE WHO WILL BE RESPONSIBLE FOR DESIGN CONSTRUCTION IN ALL OPERATIONS AND MAINTENANCE THROUGHOUT THE, THE CORRIDOR FOR A 56 YEAR TERM.
THE STATE ROUTE 400 PEACH PARTNERS IS A CONSORTIUM COMPRISED OF MERIDIUM A CS INFRASTRUCTURE AND O CONCESSIONS.
SO WHAT THAT MEANS IS STATE ROUTE 400 EXPRESS, UH, BEACH PARTNERS IS MADE UP OF HISTORY EXPERTS, UM, THAT HAS THE EXPERTISE IN DELIVERING COMPLEX MULTI-YEAR CONTRACTS, TRANSPORTATION, PRO UH, PRODUCTS.
SO FOR QUICK OVERVIEW OF THE PROJECT SCOPE, THIS IS A DESIGN BUILD FINANCE OPERATE AND MAINTAIN A DBF OM IS WHAT WE REFER TO IT.
SO THAT, ONCE AGAIN, THAT MEANS THE DEVELOPER IS RESPONSIBLE FOR OPERATIONS AND MAINTENANCE, FENCE DEFENSE OR RIGHT OF WAY TO RIGHT OF AWAY THROUGHOUT THE CORRIDOR.
UH, FOR THAT 50, IT'S A 50 YEAR TERM.
AFTER CONSTRUCTION IS, IT'S FINISHED.
SO THIS IS THE FIRST OF ITS KIND IN IN GEORGIA.
WE'RE REALLY EXCITED ABOUT IT.
UM, IT'S A, IT'S A MASSIVE PROJECT, ONE OF THE BIGGEST IN THE COUNTRY.
SO SCOPE IS ADDING 16 MILES OF OPTIONAL EXPRESS LANES FROM NORTH SPRINGS MAR STATION TO MCFARLAND PARKWAY.
THERE'LL BE TWO EXPRESS LANES IN EACH DIRECTION BETWEEN NORTH SPRINGS WEST STATION AND MCG, GUINNESS FERRY ROAD, AND THEN ONE EXPRESS LANE IN EACH DIRECTION FROM GUINNESS FERRY TO MCFARLAND PARKWAY.
THE PROJECT WILL ALSO INCLUDE DEDICATED MARTA BUS RAPID TRANSIT OR BRTS AS MARTA'S PREFERRED ALTERNATIVE HIGH CAPACITY TRANSIT.
SO PART OF OUR PROJECT SCOPE IS WE WILL BE BUILDING OUT OR PROVIDING SUBSTANTIAL INFRASTRUCTURE IMPROVEMENT TO FACILITATE THOSE BRTS THROUGHOUT THE PROJECT.
AND WE ARE SCHEDULED TO OPEN IN 2031, FEBRUARY, 2031.
AND JAVIER HERE HAS TOLD ME WE'LL MAKE IT EARLIER, SO WE'LL SEE.
SO HERE, UH, HERE'S A, A DIAGRAM, TWO DIAGRAMS ILLUSTRATING CURRENT BASELINE ACCESS ACCESS MAPS FOR THE EXPRESS LANES AND THAT MARTA BRT.
SO DURING THE PYRAMID PHASE AND THROUGH A SERIES OF ALTERNATIVE TECHNICAL CONCEPTS, ATCS STATE ROUTE 400 PEACH PARTNERS, WERE, WERE ABLE TO PROVIDE AN ADDITIONAL TWO NEW, TWO NEW DIRECT CONNECTIONS, WHICH ARE FROM INTERCHANGES TO THE EXPRESS LANES.
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AND THOSE ARE REPRESENTED IN THE YELLOW DOTS AND THEN NON ADDITIONAL EXPRESS LANE CONNECTIONS OR MERGE POINTS THROUGHOUT THE EXPRESS LANES ALONG THE CORRIDOR.AND THOSE ARE REPRESENTED IN THE BLUE DOTS FROM THAT FIGURE TO THE LEFT.
SO LOOKING AT THE BASELINE BUS, RAPID RAPID TRANSIT MAP ON THE RIGHT, WE ARE BECOME CONSTRUCTING TWO BRT STATIONS ALONG THE CORRIDOR.
THE FIRST ONE'S AT HOLCOMB BRIDGE ROAD, THE SECOND'S AT NORTH POINT MALL.
SO THE PROJECT WILL PROVIDE DIRECT ACCESS, DIRECT EXPRESS CONNECTIONS AT WINDWARD PARKWAY PARK AND ROD AND NORTH SPRINGS MARTA STATION.
SO TWO OF THE LANES OF THE EXPRESS LANE IN EACH DIRECTION WILL DOUBLE AS AS DEDICATED BRT LANES AS WELL.
SO I LET JAVIER JUMP IN HERE AND TALK ABOUT THE FINANCING OF THE PROJECT.
WELL, AND THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME HERE.
AND JUST TO ADD ON THE PREVIOUS COMMENTS FROM BO, I THINK PROBABLY EVERYBODY HERE IS GLAD THAT THE PARADE DEFINITIVELY IS HAPPENING.
IT'S A PROJECT THAT WAS DUE A LONG TIME AGO AND AFTER THAT FAILED, UH, PROCUREMENT INITIALLY IN 21, I THINK, UH, THE DT WAS INCREDIBLY AGILE IN ORDER TO MAKE IT TURN AROUND AND CHANGE THE, THE, THE WAY THE PRO THE PROJECT WAS GOING TO BE PROCURED.
WE ARE VERY HAPPY THAT HAPPENED.
SO WE ARE HERE THANKS TO THAT.
BUT I'VE SEEN IN ANY OTHER STATES, WHEN A PROJECT GOES DOWN FOR WHATEVER REASON, IT TAKES THEM YEARS AND YEARS TO MAKE THE HAPPEN.
SO, AND SEEING THE CORRIDOR IN 400, THE PROJECT IS NEEDED, THE CONGESTION IS INCREDIBLE AND WE ARE REALLY HAPPY TO BE HERE.
SO GOING INTO THE DETAILS ON THE, ON THE, ON THE FUNDS FOR THE, FOR THE PROJECT, WE HAVE RAISED A FINANCE FOR TWO SOURCES.
THE PRIVATE ACTIVITY BONDS 3.5, UH, $4 BILLION AND $3.9 BILLION FROM TIA.
THAT IS A FEDERAL, SO FEDERAL LOAN.
SO WE'LL HAVE TO RETURN THOSE, UH, THOSE, UH, LOANS THROUGH THE TERM OF THE, OF THE CONTRACT THAT, AS BOTH SAID, IS THE FIVE YEARS OF CONSTRUCTION PLUS THE 50 YEARS OPERATION AND MAINTENANCE OF COLLECTIVE TO, AND ALSO THERE IS EQUITY FROM THE THREE SPONSORS THAT BOB MENTIONED THAT IS, UH, ANOTHER $3.4 BILLION IN ORDER TO GET US HERE FROM WHEN WE WERE AWARDED THE PROJECT.
THAT WAS IN AUGUST, 2024 BECAUSE THE CONTRACT IN NOVEMBER THE SAME YEAR, AND, UH, OBVIOUSLY WE HAD TO RAISE THE FINANCE IN IN THAT NEXT YEAR, WE COULD FINANCE ALMOST LAST YEAR.
AND IN ORDER TO GET US FROM THOSE DATES TO TODAY, THERE WAS A $120 MILLION THAT THE DOT PROVIDED TO US IN ORDER TO START THE DESIGN AND NOT LOSE THOSE, UH, THOSE 12 MONTHS, UH, WAITING FOR, FOR, FOR THE FUNDS TO COME.
WE ARE NOT IN A POSITION WHERE WE ARE ABOUT TO START THE PROJECT.
WE'LL, WE'LL GIVE MORE DETAILS ON THAT LATER ON.
THE, THOSE ARE THE SOURCES OF THE, OF THE PROJECT.
UH, THE USERS ARE GOING TO BE, MOST OF IT IS GOING TO BE CONSTRUCTION.
WELL, HALF OF IT IS, UH, 4.7 A BILLION IS GOING TO BE DEDICATED FOR CONSTRUCTION RIGHT AWAY.
ITS AND, AND THE TOLL COLLECTION, UH, BACK OFFICE AND SO FORTH, EH, $3.8 BILLION HAVING PAID TO THE STATE AS AN RO PAYMENT THAT WAS PART OF THE, OF THE PROCUREMENT PROCESS.
AND THOSE FUNDS, UH, DOT IS COMMITTED TO INVEST THOSE IN THE 400 CORRIDORS.
SO THAT WILL BE GOOD MONIES, UH, TO BE ABLE TO IMPROVE ALL THE INFRASTRUCTURE AROUND THE 400.
AND THE REST IS, UH, FINANCING COSTS DURING CONSTRUCTION AND BID COSTS.
ALRIGHT, SO HERE JUST A HIGH LEVEL TIMELINE OF WHERE WE'VE BEEN, WHERE WE ARE AND WHERE WE'RE GOING.
YOU KNOW, THE PROCUREMENT THING GOING ON FOR, FOR, FOR MULTIPLE YEARS.
AND, AND DURING THAT TIME TOO, WE'VE BEEN ACQUIRING RIGHT AWAY THROUGHOUT THE, THROUGHOUT THE CORRIDOR, GOING THROUGH OUR ENVIRONMENTAL PROCESSES.
SO ONE THING IS THE PROJECT WAS AWARDED IN AUGUST 15TH, 2024.
UM, IN DECEMBER OF 24, WE ISSUED PEACH PARTNERS THEIR FIRST NOTICE TO PROCEED OR NTP ONE.
AND WHAT THAT DOES, WHAT IT KICKS OFF EARLY WORKS FOR THE DEVELOPER, ALLOWS 'EM TO GO OUT AND DO SOME SUB SUBSURFACE INVESTIGATIONS, GEOTECHNICAL SURVEYING, UTILITY VERIFICATION DURING THAT TIME.
UM, AND ALSO IN THAT PROCESS, GETTING THEIR TEAM, UH, GEARED UP GOING THROUGH A LOT OF, OF MANAGED PLANS.
JUST A LOT OF ADMINISTRATIVE WORK THAT'S REQUIRED IN ORDER TO START CONSTRUCTION.
I MEAN, IT'S A, IT'S A BIG, BIG, UH, IT'S A BIG TASK.
UM, AND IN APRIL OF 25, WE ISSUED THE SECOND NOTICE TO PROCEED, UH, NTP TWO.
AND THAT REALLY KICKS OFF OFFICIAL DESIGN A DESIGN'S BEEN GOING ON DURING THAT WHOLE PROCUREMENT PROCESS.
BUT THIS IS REALLY THEIR OFFICIAL START JUST REALLY PACKAGING EVERYTHING UP UP TO THE DEPARTMENT FOR ACCEPTANCE.
UH, AND IT ALSO ALLOWS EARLY WORKS, UM,
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SOME, SOME EARLY CONSTRUCTION WORKS AND WHICH IS TREE CLEARING, WHICH BACK IN LAST YEAR, SEPTEMBER, OCTOBER, WE STARTED CLEARING TREES THROUGHOUT THE CORRIDOR, UM, IN, IN CERTAIN LOCATIONS, UH, VERY STRATEGIC LOCATIONS AND ALSO ALLOWS US TO DO SOME EARLY UTILITY RE RELOCATIONS.AND WE'RE ANTICIPATING ISSUING NTP THREE, WHICH IS KICKS OFF OFFICIAL CONSTRUCTION HERE IN THE NEXT TWO MONTHS.
SO WHAT'S NEXT? WHAT TO EXPECT? SO AS I WAS SAYING JUST A, A FEW SECONDS AGO, DURING THAT PROCESS FOR TREE CLEARING, WE'VE, WE'VE REALLY, DEVELOPER STRATEG STRATEGICALLY GOT THREE LOCATIONS FOR EARLY WORKS, EARLY CONSTRUCTION WORKS.
THE, THE, THE PROJECTS, IT IS DIVIDED INTO THREE ZONES.
SO JUST TO THINK OF IT AS THREE SEPARATE PROJECTS GOING ON AT AT ONE TIME BECAUSE IT'S SUCH A BIG, YOU KNOW, UNDERTAKING.
SO SEGMENT A IS FROM NORTH SPRINGS MARTA STATION TO CHATTAHOOCHEE BRIDGE, SEGMENT B, HOLCOMB BRIDGE TO OLD MELTON, SEGMENT C MCGINNIS FERRY UP TO SHILOH ROAD.
UM, SO WE'VE IDENTIFIED THOSE THREE AREAS.
INITIAL CONSTRUCTION PACKAGES, WE REFER TO 'EM AS ICPS, STARTING THERE IN THE YELLOW AS YOU SEE ON THE, ON THE, ON THE, THE GRAPH THERE.
IT'S AROUND THE SPALDING DRIVE AREA.
UM, THE OTHER ONE'S THAT HOLCOMB BRIDGE AND THEN JUST NORTH OF MCGINNIS FERRY UP TO THE SHALLOW ROAD.
AND BY THE END OF THE YEAR WE'LL HAVE CONSTRUCTION ALONG THE WHOLE CORRIDOR.
SO WHAT IS IN IT FOR ALPHARETTA? WHEN IS IT COMING INTO TO YOUR AREA? UM, SO THE MCGINNIS FERRY, WE'RE JUST, WE'RE JUST NORTH OF, OF YOU GUYS RIGHT THERE.
THAT'S THE CUTOFF, RIGHT? BUT WE ARE ANTICIPATING SOMETIME MIDDLE TO LATE SUMMER FOR CONSTRUCTION TO START START HEAVY CONSTRUCTION IN THE ALPHARETTA AREA ALONG THE CORRIDOR BETWEEN, UH, SALE ROAD AND MCGINNIS FERRY, LET'S SAY MID TO, TO LATE SUMMER.
AND AS WE APPROACH CLOSER TO THOSE DATES, WE'LL BE DOING A LOT OF COORDINATION, PETE AND HIS TEAM AND YOU GUYS TO GIVE THE UPDATES AND, AND TO GET THAT INFORMATION OUT TO THE PUBLIC AS WELL.
UH, AS, AS EARLY NOTICES, ONCE WE, UM, WE GET THOSE SCHEDULES TIGHTENED UP, UH, CLEARING ACTIVITIES WILL RESUME STARTING MARCH 1ST ALONG CORRIDOR.
UM, SO EXPECT TO SEE THE GUYS THAT ARE CUTTING SOME MORE TREES AND HAULING TREES OFF.
UM, WE ARE WORKING WITH ALL THE CITIES AND COUNTIES, UH, ALONG THE CORRIDOR FOR, YOU KNOW, WHEN WE IN, WE HAVE ANTICIPATED, UH, LANE CLOSURES ALONG THE CORRIDOR JUST TO INFORM THE PUBLIC.
UM, SO WE'LL CONTINUE DOING THAT, UH, THROUGH THE PROCESS.
AND THE MAIN GOAL, OR OUR, OUR GOAL IS DURING CONSTRUCTION IS TO TRY TO HAVE AS MUCH WORK AS WE CAN BEHIND TEMPORARY BARRIER.
UH, IT'S SAFER FOR THE WORKERS AND IT'S LESS DISRUPTION TO THE TRAVELING PUBLIC AS WELL.
SO HERE'S JUST, UH, AN ILLUSTRATION OR A RENDERING, UM, JUST SOUTH OF MCGINNIS FERRY.
THIS IS SHOWING THE EXPRESS LANES GOING DOWN THE CENTER OF STATE ROUTE 400, UH, GOING ELEVATED ALONG MSC WALLS THERE AND THEN GOING OUTWARDS, UM, WITH SOME BRIDGE STRUCTURES ALONG SOME STRADDLE BENTS, GETTING YOU UP AND OVER THE GENERAL TWIST LANES TYING IN GETTING ACCESS IN AND OUT OF OR TO THE EXPRESS LANES FROM MCGINNIS FERRY ROAD.
SO NEXT ARE TWO LITTLE RENDERINGS, JUST KIND OF GOING BACK TO THE BRT STATIONS.
UM, THE ONE ON THE LEFT, THAT'S, YOU GOT WINDWARD PARKWAY THE WAY IT IS NOW, THE EXISTING CONDITION.
AND THEN BELOW THAT IS GOING TO BE THIS ILLUSTRATION OF THE FINAL CONFIGURATION, ONCE AGAIN, GETTING TRAFFIC FROM THE EXPRESS LANES FROM THE CENTER TO THAT PARKING RIDE LOT, UH, FOR THE, FOR THE MARTA BUSES AND FOR, UM, EXPRESS LANE USERS.
AND ON THE RIGHT WE HAVE A RENDERING OF THE BRT STATION AT HOLCOMB BRIDGE ROAD.
UH, OUR SCOPE FOR THAT IS TO BUILD OUT THE PLATFORMS. IT'S JUST, IT'S REALLY JUST BUILDING THE MAIN INFRASTRUCTURE THERE, UH, TO ACCOMMODATE THE BTS.
BUT THAT'S JUST A QUICK RENDERING OF, UH, OF THE MARTA BUS IS GOING IN AND OUT OF THAT, THAT STATION THERE.
AND THAT IS ALL I HAVE FOR YOU UNLESS YOU HAVE ANYTHING ELSE, JAVIER? YES.
AS YOU'VE SEEN, UH, WE ARE GOING TO BE ON THE CONSTRUCTION IN THE WHOLE CORRIDOR AT THE END OF THE YEAR, SO IT'S GOING TO BE INTERESTING.
UH, AND, AND, AND WE REALLY, UH, ARE SORRY FOR THE PAIN THAT WE ARE GOING TO CAUSE DURING THE NEXT, UH, FIVE YEARS.
BUT, UH, FROM MY EXPERIENCE, I'VE BEEN IN SIMILAR PROJECTS IN OTHER, IN OTHER STATES, UH, IS WORTH IT.
AT THE END OF THE DAY, WE'LL BE NOT ONLY PROVIDING THE EXPRESS LANES FOR THOSE WHO CHOOSE TO, TO USE THEM AND GO AT A MINIMUM OF 55 MILES PER HOUR, THAT IS ONE OF OUR ONLY CONTRACTUAL OBLIGATIONS
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IS TO KEEP THE EXPRESS LANES AT AN AVERAGE OF 55 MILES PER HOUR OR MORE.ACTUALLY HALF OF THE, OF THE ROAD WILL BE POSTED AT 70 OR HALF AT 65 FOR FOUR FOR DESIGN CONDITIONING.
AND EH, WHAT WE'VE EXPERIENCED IN OTHER PROJECTS IN SIMILAR CORRIDORS WITH THE SAME CONGESTION IS NOT ONLY YOU PROVIDE THAT OPTION FOR THE PEOPLE TO, TO USE THE LANES, WE WILL BE DISPLAYING WHATEVER, WHOEVER CHOOSES TO USE THE
THERE WILL BE PLENTY OF ACCESSES THROUGH DIRECTLY FROM SOME INTERCHANGES ALL THROUGH THE DIRECT CONNECTION FROM THE, WHAT WE CALL THE GENERIC PORT LANES.
AND WHAT WE'VE SEEN IS NOT ONLY THAT, BUT THE SPREAD LANES ARE THERE FOR WHOEVER WANTS TO TAKE THEM, BUT WHAT WE CALL THE GENERAL PURPOSE LANES, WE'LL BE MAINTAINING THE SAME CAPACITY AS, AS, UH, THERE IS TODAY IMPROVING BECAUSE IT'S GOING TO BE A NEW ROAD.
SO THE FOUR LANES WILL BE STILL THERE FOR FREE.
AND WHAT WE'VE SEEN IS IMPROVEMENT IN AROUND 25% OF TRAVEL TIMES ALSO IN THE, IN THE, IN THE FREE LANE.
SO WE ARE SORRY FOR THE PAIN THAT WE ARE GOING TO CAUSE, BUT I'M SURE IT'S GOING TO BE WORTH IT FOR THE NEXT 50 YEARS.
ANY QUESTIONS? COUNCILMAN DORITO, MR. QUALES AND MR. GUTIERREZ, THANKS FOR YOUR PRESENTATION COMING HERE THIS EVENING.
UM, I'VE NOT REALLY DISCUSSED THIS PROJECT IN, IN PUBLIC OR IN DETAIL SINCE I, I'M SURE DISCUSSIONS ON THIS IS HAPPENING FOR QUITE SOME YEARS NOW.
COULD COULD YOU TELL ME, UM, WHAT'S THE IMPETUS BEHIND THIS PROJECT? EXCUSE ME, SIR, WHAT'S THE IMPETUS? LIKE WHAT, WHAT'S THE BUSINESS CASE FOR? WELL, THIS PROJECT, THIS IS THE GROWTH OF THE REGION.
I MEAN, THIS IS ALL A PRIVATE, PRIVATE RISK, UH, UH, INVESTMENTS.
WE ARE INVESTING, RAISING THE, THE FUNDS, THE CONSTRUCTION RISK IS ALL ON THE DEVELOPER SIDE AND WE RECOVER OUR INVESTMENT THROUGH THE TOLLS.
WHAT IS THE BUSINESS CASE FOR THE PROJECT? MEANING WHY ARE WE DOING THIS? I KNOW YOU'RE GONNA MAKE MONEY ON IT OVER 30 YEARS OR 50 YEARS, WHATEVER THE TIMEFRAME IS.
YOU'RE GONNA RECOUP IT THROUGH THE, THE TOLLS THAT EVENTUALLY GONNA BE IMPOSED ON OUR DRIVERS ALONG THE CORRIDOR.
WHAT'S THE REASON FOR THE PROJECT OTHER THAN OBVIOUSLY YOU'RE IN BUSINESS TO, TO MAKE A PROFIT FROM THIS PROJECT OVER THE MANAGER, YOU'LL BE MANAGING IT, BUT WHAT IT, IT, I GUESS THIS MIGHT BE A QUESTION FOR GDO, I DON'T KNOW, WHY ARE WE DOING THIS? 'CAUSE THIS IS A VERY SIGNIFICANT EXPANSE AS YOU SAID, THAT THE STATE'S BIGGEST PROJECT.
I'M TRYING TO UNDERSTAND LIKE WHY ARE WE DOING IT? LIKE WHAT'S, WHAT'S THE CAUSE FOR THIS BIGGEST PROJECT IN THE STATE TO INTERRUPT ALPHARETTA'S TRAFFIC AND OUR ABILITY TO HAVE A COMFORTABLE LIFE IN ALPHARETTA? SURE.
FOR FIVE YEARS OF CONSTRUCTION, PROBABLY NOT GONNA BE ABLE TO ANSWER YOUR QUESTION DIRECTLY, BUT WHAT I CAN SAY IS THAT THE DEPARTMENT SAW A NEED FOR, FOR THE PROJECT, PUT THE PROJECT OUT FOR PROCUREMENT AND THEN PROCURE THE DEVELOPER STANDARD 400 PEACH PARTNERS.
SO I THINK THAT MIGHT BE MORE A DISCUSSION TO TAKE MAYBE OFFLINE WITH G DDOT MANAGEMENT.
THE SECOND QUESTION I HAVE IS, YOU SHOWED SOME PICTURES RENDITIONS OF
I MEAN THE MASSIVE AMOUNT OF LANES YOU'RE GONNA PUT IN ALONG THE FAR THE CORRIDOR.
MY CONCERN IS, AND I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHAT THE PLAN IS TO PROTECT THEIR, THE NATURE OF THE CORRIDOR, THE TREES, WHEN MY BIGGEST COMPLAINT FROM MY CONSTITUENTS RIGHT NOW IS WHY YOU, THEY THINK THE CITY'S DOING IT.
WHY ARE YOU TEARING DOWN ALL THE TREES ALONG THE CORRIDOR? I SAY IT'S A GDO PROJECT, WHATEVER.
UM, WHAT IS THE PLAN TO REPLENISH SOME OF THE, UM, LANDSCAPING THAT'S LITERALLY BEING TORN DOWN ALONG BOTH SIDES OF 400 RIGHT NOW? UM, AND THEN WE'RE GONNA PUT UP PRIVACY WALLS AND BARRIERS AND I MEAN, WHO'S FOCUSED ON THE AESTHETICS OF MAINTAINING SOME SENSE OF ALPHARETTA BEING A, A WELCOMING COMMUNITY WITH TREES WITH, I MEAN, I DON'T WANNA SEE A BUNCH OF WALLS ALONG, UM, BETWEEN, YOU KNOW, UM, THE CITY OF ALPHARETTA, WE'VE WORKED REALLY HARD AS A CITY TO MAINTAIN, UH, A SENSE OF WELCOMING COMING INTO OUR CITY.
YOU COME INTO ALPHARETTA, WE HAVE A LOT OF GREEN SPACE ALONG THE CORRIDOR.
WE'VE BEEN VERY MANY COUNCILS EVEN BEFORE ME HAVE, HAVE WORKED REAL HARD ON THE PIN CORNERS ALONG THE INGRESS AND EGRESS POINTS ONTO 400 IN ALPHARETTA TO MAKE SURE WE DON'T PUT UP BOX STRUCTURES AND THINGS THAT, THAT, THAT VISUALLY IS NOT WELCOMING TO OUR CITY AND DOESN'T REPRESENT THE BRAND OR THE VALUE OF THE CITY THAT WE WANNA PRESENT TO THE PUBLIC.
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EITHER REPLENISH THOSE TREES OR CREATE SOME SENSE OF, YOU KNOW, MAINTAINING THE ENVIRONMENT IN ALFREDA THAT MANY COUNCILS AND, AND MANY VOLUNTEERS IN THE CITY HAVE WORKED SO HARD TO MAINTAIN? SURE.SO S 40 D TREE CLEARING, UM, CURRENTLY THE, THE DEPARTMENT ALONG WITH ITS DEVELOPER IS, IS DURING THE PROCESS WE PROCURED RIGHT AWAY FOR, FOR THE PROJECT, FOR THE NEED.
WE'RE CURRENTLY STILL PROCURING SOME, SOME RIGHT OF WAY ALONG THE CORRIDOR.
UM, BUT WE, WE BOUGHT PROPERTY OR, OR RIGHT OF WAY THAT WAS NEEDED FOR THE, FOR THE PROJECT, FOR THE FOOTPRINT OF THE PROJECT.
SO THE CLEARING YOU'RE SEEING GOING ON NOW IS THERE TO ACCOMMODATE WHAT'S BEING BUILT.
UM, AS FAR AS AESTHETICS THROUGHOUT THE CORRIDOR, WE DO HAVE, UH, INTERGOVERNMENTAL AGREEMENT IGA WITH THE CITY OF ALPHARETTA THAT DETAILS CERTAIN HARDSCAPES THAT WE HAVE TO, THEY HAVE TO THE DEVELOPER, UM, ADHERE TO WHEN IT COMES TO THE STRUCTURES ALONG BRIDGE STRUCTURES TO FINISHES ALONG THOSE BRIDGES LIKE YOU SEE THROUGHOUT, THROUGHOUT 400 ALREADY.
UM, SO AS FOR THE LANDSCAPING, I, I DON'T HAVE THAT PART FAMILIARIZED.
UM, IT'S A MASSIVE CON UH, CONTRACT.
SO I'M NOT SURE IF WE HAVE ANY SORT OF LANDSCAPING REQUIREMENTS, UH, IN THOSE INTERCHANGE AREAS.
BUT I WILL SAY FOR, LIKE I SAID, FOR THE BRIDGE AESTHETICS, WE DO HAVE THOSE REQUIREMENTS FOR THE NOISE WALLS THAT'S STILL ONGOING, THAT, THAT WILL BE HOPEFULLY COMPLETED BY THE END OF THIS YEAR.
WE HAVE TO GO THROUGH THAT ENVIRONMENTAL PROCESS.
UH, THERE'S, THERE'S OUTREACH ASSOCIATED WITH THAT.
THERE'S A VOTING PROCESS THAT GOES ALONG WITH IT.
BUT WE ALSO DO HAVE AESTHETICS, UH, REQUIREMENTS FOR THOSE WALLS AS WELL.
I MEAN, YOU DO KNOW THAT WHAT YOU JUST SAID IS BASICALLY TELLING THE CITY, WE HAVEN'T THOUGHT ABOUT THE LANDSCAPE PLAN, BUT WE DON'T, MY PERCEPTION WE DON'T CARE ABOUT THE LANDSCAPE PLAN OR THE AESTHETICS OF QUARTER THAT YOU'RE PUTTING IN PLACE.
YOU'RE FOCUSED ON MAKING SURE THAT YOU MAKE THE PROFIT BACK TO COVER THE, THE INVESTMENT THAT YOUR, YOUR EQUITY PARTNERS AND YOURSELF AND ORGANIZATION'S GONNA INVEST IN THE PROJECT ON TOP OF THREE POINT SOMETHING BILLION FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT LOAN AND, AND, AND, AND 120 MILLION FROM, FROM GDO, WHICH IS BASICALLY OUR TAX DOLLARS AS WELL.
SO I WOULD, I WOULD HIGHLY RECOMMEND BECAUSE WHEN THIS PROJECT REALLY GETS GOING, WE'RE GONNA GET ALL THE COMPLAINTS, UM, THAT YOU HAVE SOME SENSE OF PROTECTION PLAN FOR OUR LANDSCAPING THROUGH THE ALPHA CORRIDOR.
AND I WOULD SUSPECT OUR SISTER CITIES WOULD WANT THE SAME THING.
BUT, UM, BECAUSE WHEN I GO DOWN 400 TODAY AND I SEE THOSE TREE CUTTING, IT, IT, IT, IT MAKES ME ALMOST TEAR UP SEEING WHAT'S BEING DONE.
AND I'M THINKING, HOW DID THIS GET APPROVED? HOW DID THIS GET APPROVED? AND IT'S THE STATE, I GET IT.
WE DON'T HAVE AUTHORITY OVER THE STATE OR GDO T OR OR WHAT THEY'RE DOING ALONG THE COURT OF 400, BUT WE CERTAINLY HAVE VOICE AND I'M GONNA BE VERY LOUD AND ASK YOU TO PROTECT OUR GREEN SPACE IN ALPHARETTA AS YOU UNFOLD THIS PROJECT OVER THE NEXT FIVE OR SIX AND PROBABLY BE SEVEN, EIGHT YEARS BY THE TIME YOU'RE DONE.
WE IS GETTING OVER THE, THE, THE, THE ROUTE NINE PROJECT FOR HOW MANY YEARS, MAYOR, I DON'T KNOW HOW MANY YEARS THAT OUR CITIZENS PUT UP WITH IT AND NOW WE'RE GONNA HAVE IT ON GEORGIA 400, A MAJOR ORDER IN OUR CITY TO GET PEOPLE IN AND OUT OF OUR CITY.
UM, AND I, AND I JUST THINK, YOU KNOW, LITTLE CARE CAUTION, YOU KNOW, PROFIT SHOULD BE THE LAST THING ON THE END OF YOUR LIST.
IT SHOULD BE DOING IT RIGHT, MAKING SURE YOU PROTECT OUR INTEREST OF, BECAUSE WE HAVE TO LIVE HERE WITH, TO RAISE OUR FAMILIES HERE.
COUNCILMAN RAISE, THANK YOU FOR THE PRESENTATION.
UM, IT'S GONNA, IT IS GONNA TURN OUR LIVES UPSIDE DOWN UP HERE.
IT IS AND I'M NOT SURE EVERYBODY TOTALLY UNDERSTANDS THAT.
UM, DO YOU HAVE A TIMELINE ON WHEN SOME KEY THINGS LIKE THE BRIDGE ON WEB BRIDGE ARE GETTING ON, WHICH IS ALSO CONNECTED TO THAT TRADE WINDS PARKWAY? UM, I THINK THAT THAT IS GOING TO BE HUGELY IMPACTFUL FOR BOTH SIDES OF ALPHARETTA AND FOR OUR FIRE AND POLICE SERVICES.
AND, UM, I WAS WONDERING A, WHAT'S THE TIMELINE ON THAT? I WOULD REALLY LOVE TO BE ABLE TO TELL THE CONSTITUENTS WHEN THAT'S GONNA HAPPEN SO THEY'RE NOT COMPLETELY TAKEN BY SURPRISE AND WHAT THE COMMUNICATION PIECE IS GONNA BE AND UM, YEAH, AND WHAT THE, WHAT THE PLANS ARE.
'CAUSE THAT, HOW LONG IS THAT GONNA BE OUTTA COMMISSION? SURE.
SO I DON'T HAVE THAT ANSWER TODAY WHERE THEY ARE STILL THE DEVELOPER AND THEIR, THEIR CONSTRUCTION JOINT VENTURE IS STILL DEVELOPING THEIR FULL BLOWN CONSTRUCTION SCHEDULE ON THE CORRIDOR.
BUT ONCE WE DO HAVE THAT, THERE'LL BE CLOSE COORDINATION WITH THE CITY OF ALPHARETTA, FULTON COUNTY FOR
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ALL, ALL THE, ALL THE STAKEHOLDERS ALONG THE CORRIDOR FOR THAT COMMUNICATION EFFORT.SO THE EXPERIENCE WITH THE CITY, NOT YOU PERSONALLY, MAYBE A DIFFERENT PROJECT MANAGER, IS THAT THE, IS THAT THE PROJECT SOMETIMES GET REALLY HUNG UP BY, YOU KNOW, COORDINATION OF UTILITIES AND, AND SEQUENCING OF THIS PROJECT FOR THE CROSSROADS IN ALPHARETTA IS REALLY CRITICAL BECAUSE IT'S NOT ONLY NORTH AND SOUTH ON 400, IT'S THOSE CROSSROADS.
SO I MEAN EVERYTHING, A LOT OF PEOPLE'S LIVES ARE GOING TO BE TOUCHED BY THIS PROJECT.
SO, UM, I WOULD LOVE REASSURANCE THAT THERE'S THE KIND OF COORDINATION THAT WE HAVEN'T ALWAYS SEEN WITH THE UTILITY COMPANIES SO THAT SOMETHING A BRIDGE IS NOT DOWN FOR A LONG TIME AND SOMEBODY SAYS, WHY? WELL, WE'RE STILL WAITING ON UTILITIES.
SO, UM, I THINK A LOT OF COMMUNICATION'S GONNA BE NECESSARY WITH THAT.
AND WHEN YOU DESIGN IT, 'CAUSE YOUR DESIGN, UM, WHEN YOU DESIGN IT, PLEASE LOOK TO MINIMIZING THOSE COMPLETELY THOSE EFFORTS THAT ARE GONNA ACTUALLY DIVIDE OUR CITY IN HALF, YOU KNOW, SO THAT, THAT, THAT IS, THAT IS REALLY IMPORTANT FOR US TO KEEP SOME SEMBLANCE OF NORMALCY WITHIN THE CITY, EVEN THOUGH FOUR HUNDRED'S GONNA BE DISRUPTED.
ANY OTHER QUESTIONS FOR COUNCIL? COUNCILMAN BRADY, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR PRESENTATION.
SOUNDED GREAT TO GET THIS INFORMATION.
I'VE BEEN KIND OF TRACKING THE PROJECT 'CAUSE UH, WE HAVE A PIECE OF PROPERTY RIGHT ON THE HIGHWAY, SO IT'S UH, GONE THROUGH THIS FOR A FEW YEARS.
SO I REALLY HAVE TWO QUESTIONS MAYBE YOU CAN SHARE WITH EVERYONE.
ONE IS, I WAS KIND OF HAPPY WITH PEACH PARTNERS RECENTLY.
UM, IS COMMUNICATION, RIGHT? I MEAN WE, THIS HAS BEEN OUT THERE FOR A WHILE UNDERSTANDING WHAT THE DESIGN IS AND, AND YOU'RE ABSOLUTELY RIGHT, WE'RE A BENEFACTOR OF, OF FOUR EXITS ALONG 400 ABOUT TO BE FIVE.
SO IT DOES, YOU KNOW, HAVE A LOT OF SIGNIFICANCE TO US.
AND MY QUESTION REALLY IS WHAT IS THE COMMUNICATION GONNA BE LIKE KIND OF GOING FORWARD? AND I GIVE YOU AN EXAMPLE.
ONE WAS MINE RECENTLY UNDERSTANDING WITH THE TREES, THE CLEARING, THE GRUBBING THAT YOU'RE CURRENTLY SEEING NOW YOU'RE SEEING THOSE IN CERTAIN PARTS, UM, IN SOUND WALLS, RIGHT? WHEN, WHEN DOES SOMETHING GO UP THAT OBVIOUSLY IF YOU'RE RIGHT ON THERE AND TREES ARE TAKING DOWN THAT BUFFER OF NOISE AND LIGHT AND EVERYTHING BECOMES VERY MUCH NOTICEABLE.
SO BECAUSE OF THAT, I WAS DIGGING IN MORE AND MORE TO UNDERSTAND WHAT THOSE IMPACTS ARE.
SO FROM PEACH PARTNERS AND YOUR PARTNER DOT, YOU EXPLAIN TO PEOPLE LIKE WHAT KIND OF COMMUNICATION WE CAN KIND OF HAVE OR AS THE COMMUNITY HAS, AS THESE THINGS COME UP, WHERE DO YOU POST 'EM? WHERE DO WE GO, HOW DO WE GET COMMUNICATION? YOU'VE HAD PEOPLE NOW THAT YOU'VE ASSIGNED FOR THE AREA, SO YOU DON'T MIND SHARING THAT.
AND UH, AND NEXT NUMBER TWO QUESTION IS $11 BILLION FOR 25%.
TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE SCALE OF THIS PROJECT BECAUSE I THINK 1.2 IS WHAT YOU DID AT THE INTERCHANGE OF 400, 2 85 FOR A 12% IN IMPROVEMENT IN TRAFFIC.
THAT'S A, THAT'S AN AMAZING, WE'RE LUCKY TO HAVE IT.
I GUESS IT'S GONNA BE PAINFUL GOING THROUGH IT, BUT WE'RE LUCKY TO KIND OF HAVE AN IMPROVEMENT IN EFFICIENCY IN THE AREA, SO THANK YOU.
ALRIGHT, SO FOR THE COMMUNICATION, LOOKING AT YOUR SCREEN HERE, THIS IS, WE PUT ON ALL THE, ALL THE PROJECTS.
WE HAVE A PROJECT WEBSITE WHERE CITIZENS CAN GO OUT, THEY CAN SUBSCRIBE AND GET ALL THE ALERTS, ALL NOTIFICATIONS, UM, AS I SAID EARLIER, ONCE WE START GETTING A LITTLE CLOSER, WE KNOW THE SCHEDULES, WE KNOW WHERE WE'RE GONNA BE WORKING AT, WE'LL BE WORKING WITH ALL THE STAKEHOLDERS, CITIES, COUNTIES, FIRE, YOU KNOW, EMERGENCY, ALL, EVERYBODY, UH, TO SEND THOSE NOTIFICATIONS OUT TO LET 'EM KNOW WHAT WHAT OUR PLAN IS, RIGHT? SO WITH THAT TOO, WE SET UP MONTHLY MEETINGS WITH ALL THE STAKEHOLDERS AS WELL.
JUST KIND OF GO THROUGH WHAT'S HAPPENED THIS WEEK, WHAT ARE YOU, WHAT HAVE YOU HEARD FROM YOUR, FROM YOUR CITIZENS, ANY COMPLAINTS, WHAT CAN WE DO BETTER? AND GIVE YOU A FORECAST OF THAT NEXT MONTH TOO.
SO WE HAVE CONTINUOUS OUTREACH, UM, ALONG THE CORRIDOR FOR THE TREE CLEARING, FOR EXAMPLE, IF THERE'S A NEIGHBORHOOD ALONG THE CORRIDOR THAT'S GONNA HAVE SOME TREE CUTTING IN THEIR BACK, THEIR BACKYARD FRONT YARD OR WHATEVER, THEY'RE GONNA SEE THE NOISE.
WE GET FOLKS BOOTS FROM THE GROUND, GO OUT AND DO DOOR HANGERS.
WE SEND OUT POSTCARDS TO, UH, JUST TO AS MANY FOLKS AS WE POSSIBLY CAN JUST TO SAY, HEY, TRYING TO BE A GOOD NEIGHBOR, RIGHT? THAT WE WILL BE WORKING HERE IN THE AREA.
IT MAY BE DISRUPTIVE FOR A NIGHT OR TWO OR FOR A WEEK.
UM, JUST TRYING TO GIVE THEM THE HEADS UP.
UM, OVER COMMUNICATE IS, IS OUR GOAL.
SO IT'S, THAT'S ONE THING WE WILL, WE'LL PUSH A LOT OF INFORMATION OVER TO, TO THE CITY'S COMMUNICATION, UM, INDIVIDUAL AS WELL TO, FOR YOU GUYS CAN BLAST THAT OUT TO WHATEVER YOUR SOCIAL MEDIAS ON YOUR WEBSITES.
[01:00:01]
EVERYTHING AS WELL TOO, RIGHT? AND TRY TO ARM YOU ALL WITH THE MOST UPDATE INFORMATION THAT WE HAVE.UM, AND SO LIKE I SAID, WE'LL BE IN CONSTANT COORDINATION WITH THE CITY.
SO IF WE'RE DOING ANYTHING WRONG OR WE NEED TO DO ANYTHING BETTER, PLEASE LET US KNOW.
WE'RE GONNA MAKE MISTAKES ALONG THE WAY.
UM, BUT WE'RE GONNA LEARN FROM THOSE AND TRY TO ONCE AGAIN DELIVER THE BEST PROJECT YOU'VE HAD ALONG THE CORRIDOR IN YOUR AREA HERE.
ONE WAS A NOTICE, UH, COMING HOME FROM THE AIRPORT YESTERDAY AROUND FIVE 30.
TRAP WAS BACKED UP FARTHER THAN I'VE EVER SEEN IT.
AND THE DRIVER THAT WE USE ON A REGULAR BASIS SAID, WHEN YOU GET UP THERE, YOU'RE GONNA SEE FOUR LANES CLOSE, TWO ON EACH SIDE OF 75 GOING NORTH TO CHANGE LIGHT BULBS.
AND THE THOUGHT WAS THAT WE THINKING AHEAD AS TO IF THE ENTIRE LENGTH YOU TALK, YOU PUT IT IN THREE SECTIONS, ARE WE GOING TO SHUT DOWN LANES IN ALL THREE SECTIONS AT THE SAME TIME OR ARE WE GONNA OFFER SOME RELIEF BY CLOSING ONE SECTION FOR THAT CONSTRUCTION? YOU KNOW WHAT I'M SAYING? THERE'S, THERE'S, THERE'S GOTTA BE A BREAK SOMEWHERE IN THERE.
IF WE GO DOWN TO TWO LANES EACH WAY FOR THE WHOLE LIST, THE WHOLE LENGTH OF THAT CORRIDOR, UM, YOU MIGHT BE AFRAID TO COME IN HERE MONDAY NIGHT,
OUR, OUR PLAN IS TO KEEP THE, THE GENERAL PURPOSE LANES, THE, THE FOUR LANES THAT YOU HAVE TODAY THROUGHOUT CONSTRUCTION DURING THE DAY, DURING PEAK HOURS, ALMOST MOST, MOST OF THE TIME THERE IS A BIG INCENTIVE FOR OUR CONTRACTOR TO DO THAT.
SO WE HAVE GREEN RENTAL SEARCHES AND THEY ARE VERY HIGH.
MOST OF THE LANE CLOSURES THAT WILL BE IMPACTFUL WILL BE DONE DURING THE NIGHT.
SO I DON'T THINK YOU WILL SEE, UH, THE 400 IN TWO LANES DURING THE DAY AT ALL, OR AT LEAST VERY FEW TIMES THROUGHOUT THE FIVE YEARS.
SO NORMALLY WE'LL BE KEEPING THE SAME, THE SAME CAPACITY WITH SOME, UH, REDUCE WITH LANES INSTEAD OF THE 12 FOOT.
WE'LL BE GOING TO 11 REDUCING SOME OF THE SOLDIERS, BUT WE'LL BE KEEPING MOST OF IT AS IT IS TODAY IN TERMS OF NUMBER OF LANES, EH, AND MAINLY DURING THE PEAK TIMES FOR SURE.
AND THROUGHOUT THE DAY, BIG CLOSURE FOR, FOR BRIDGE, UH, BEAM, AION AND, AND PAVEMENT WILL BE DONE MOST DURING THE NIGHT.
TYPICALLY GONNA BE AROUND THE CLOCK 24? YEAH.
YEAH, WE'LL BE, WE'LL BE WORKING 24 7.
HES WELL GENTLEMEN, I APPRECIATE YOU.
UM, THE, UH, FOR THOSE OF US WHO'VE BEEN UP HERE FOR A WHILE AND DON'T HAVE SHORT MEMORIES, I STILL REMEMBER THE ORANGE BARRELS BEING ON 400 FOR AN INTERMINABLE AMOUNT OF TIME.
AND I REMEMBER WHEN THE PRESENTATIONS WERE BEING MADE LONG BEFORE I WAS ON COUNCIL, BUT BEING REPRESENTED THAT THAT WAS GOING TO SOLVE OUR TRAFFIC WOES.
I DUNNO IF THEY SAID FOR THE NEXT 50 YEARS, JAVIER, BUT THEY SAID FOR THE NEXT LONG TIME.
SO I, I DON'T THINK WE'RE MORE THAN WHAT 15 YEARS REMOVED FROM THE LAST ORANGE BARREL CYCLE.
SO, UH, I THINK 50 YEARS OF INDUCED DEMAND WHERE PEOPLE ARE GONNA BUILD UP IN HALL COUNTY AND FURTHER NORTH AND FILL UP THIS ROAD PROJECT.
I THINK 50 YEARS IS WAY OVERLY OPTIMISTIC.
BUT THIS IS A WORK SESSION AND I WANTED TO SHARE SOME THINGS.
UH, I I JUST WANNA ECHO MY, MY FELLOW COUNCIL MEMBERS.
I THINK WE'VE GOT A LITTLE BIT OF A CRISIS OF CONFIDENCE WITH THE STATE DOT AND I KNOW THAT'S A VAST ORGANIZATION AND JUST BECAUSE WE DID A STATE ROAD UP HERE THAT THE STATE DID, AND THIS IS A DIFFERENT ANIMAL ALTOGETHER, I THINK THE STATE ROAD HIGHWAY NINE HAS SHAKEN THE CONFIDENCE OF THE DOT UP HERE BECAUSE OF HOW LONG IT HAS TAKEN.
IT DOESN'T MATTER WHO'S WRONG OR WHO'S RESPONSIBLE, IT DOESN'T MATTER IF IT'S UTILITY COMPANIES OR RIGHT OF WAY.
UM, A PROJECT SHOULDN'T TAKE THAT LONG.
AND A PROJECT THAT STARTS SOMEWHERE IN A CITY SOUTH OF US AND GOES MID-COUNTY NORTH OF US AND IS UNDER CONSTRUCTION ALL AT THE SAME TIME AND NEVER ENDS.
I THINK IT'S A SOURCE OF FRUSTRATION FOR THE PEOPLE OF ALPHARETTA.
AND TO ECHO, UH, THE MAYOR PRO TEMS COMMENTS ABOUT ALL OF THIS BEING UNDER CONSTRUCTION AT ONE TIME, I DON'T HAVE ANY ALLUSION TO ANYTHING I SAY UP HERE IS GONNA CHANGE THE CONSTRUCTION SCHEDULE.
BUT YOU, YOU, WE WANT YOU TO UNDERSTAND THAT WHEN ALL THESE SEGMENTS ARE BEING WORKED ON SIMULTANEOUSLY AND BEING SHUT DOWN, UH, THERE MAY BE SOME PEOPLE UP HERE THIS SUMMER WANTING TO A WORLD CUP GAME.
THEY MAY NOT GET THERE ON TIME.
THERE'S A LOT OF PEOPLE WANT TO GET TO THE AIRPORT ON TIME AND THEY MAY NOT GET THERE ON TIME.
SO, UH, YOUR SENSITIVITY TO, UH,
[01:05:01]
THE RESIDENTS UP HERE THAT YOU'RE TRYING TO MAKE OUR LIVES BETTER, JUST, YOU KNOW, THAT SENSITIVITY IS IMPORTANT.ONE OF THE THINGS THAT'S, UH, FROM SOME OF THE EARLIEST MEETINGS I HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO SIT IN ON, ON THIS PROJECT A FEW YEARS AGO ARE THE SOUND BARRIERS.
I WOULD LOVE IT IF WE COULD HAVE LOCAL INPUT INTO THE SOUND BARRIERS.
UM, YOU KNOW, IF WE HAD ANY INPUT WHATSOEVER ON WHETHER OR NOT A SOUND BARRIER SHOULD GO UP OR NOT GO UP.
AND IF IT DOES GO UP, WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE, BECAUSE TO MY FELLOW COUNCIL MEMBERS' POINTS.
UM, THESE ARE FOUR OF THE FINEST LOOKING INTERSECTIONS IN THE STATE OF GEORGIA, IN PART BECAUSE A LOT OF MONEY HAS BEEN INVESTED BY LOCAL BUSINESSES THROUGH THE CID TO BEAUTIFY THAT THAT CORRIDOR, AND Y'ALL GONNA COME IN AND RIP UP THAT CORRIDOR THAT'S BEEN SO BEAUTIFIED AND IT, AND IT SIGNALED A PLACE OF ARRIVAL.
YOU HAVE ARRIVED SOMEWHERE WHEN YOU GOT NORTH OF MANSEL ROAD UP THROUGH WINDWARD, AND WE'RE PROUD OF THAT.
SO, UH, YOU KNOW, SOUND BARRIERS ARE GONNA MAKE IT UGLY, GONNA MAKE IT INDUSTRIAL UGLY.
WE GO FROM BEAUTIFUL TO UGLY, AND ANYTHING WE CAN DO TO HAVE INPUT, UH, AS THE, AS THE MOUTHPIECE FOR OUR RESIDENTS TO, TO FUNNEL INFORMATION TO YOU AND NEGOTIATE TO THE EXTENT POSSIBLE WOULD BE, WOULD BE DEEPLY APPRECIATED.
ESPECIALLY ON THE SOUND BARRIERS.
I MEAN, I'M ASKING FOR SOMETHING SPECIFIC AND TANGIBLE AND WHETHER YOU CAN ACCOMMODATE US OR NOT, I DON'T KNOW.
THAT IS A QUESTION THERE AT THE END, AFTER THAT SOAPBOX FEATURE, WE FOLLOW FEDERAL PROCESS FOR ALL THESE JOBS.
THAT'S ABOUT THE ONLY RESPONSE I CAN, I CAN REALLY GIVE YOU THERE IS, ONCE AGAIN, IT'S, IT'S A VOTING PROCESS TOO FOR, FOR THE NOISE WALL LOCATIONS, RIGHT? SO THAT GOES TO THOSE AFFECTED RESIDENTS WHERE THOSE BENEFIT OF RECEPTORS ARE.
UM, AND THEY HAVE THAT VOTE FOR YAY OR NAY OF A NOISE WALL, THE, THE BUSINESSES AS WELL.
IT'S GOTTA BE A 51% OF A YES IN ORDER TO INSTALL THAT NOISE WALL IN THOSE LOCATIONS.
AND THAT'S ALL FEDERAL STATE GUIDELINES.
WELL, I'VE SEEN, WE'VE ALL SEEN, UH, DIFFERENT FINISHES, THE, THE BIG METAL WALLS THAT ARE SORT OF A, JUST SORT OF A TOTE, TAN COLORS, SOME THAT HAVE THE, UH, ARCHITECTURAL BLOCK.
UM, YOU KNOW, IF, IF, IF YOU'RE COMING THROUGH AN AREA THAT'S ALREADY HAD A LOT OF INVESTMENT IN THE AREA TO BEAUTIFY IT, I, I THINK IT'S WORTH CONSIDERING WHETHER OR NOT WE SHOULD HAVE SOMETHING COMMENSURATE.
YES, I CAN, I CAN TAKE THAT BACK.
COUNCILWOMAN REEVES, JUST A QUICK FOLLOW UP.
I KNOW YOU'RE, YOUR HANDS ARE TIED BY FEDERAL GUIDELINES, BUT WE HAVE A PRIVATE PARTNER ON THIS, SO MAYBE DEAL SAME REQUIREMENTS.
UM, THIS EVENING, I WILL REITERATE WHERE, UH, COUNCILMAN HYPE SAID, I, I DON'T ENVY YOU IN THIS POSITION THAT YOU'RE IN.
I THINK THAT WHAT YOU'VE PROBABLY HEARD HERE TONIGHT IS MOST ARE CONCERNED WITH THE NEXT FIVE YEARS AND HOW TO NAVIGATE THROUGH IT.
KNOW THAT WE'RE ALL HERE TO HELP GET ANY INFORMATION THAT WE CAN OUT SO THAT WE CAN KEEP EVERYBODY, UH, UP TO DATE ON WHAT'S GOING ON AND JUST HELP IT MOVE AS SMOOTH AS POSSIBLE.
AND AS, UH, BO HAS SAID, WE HAVE A BIG COMMUNICATION TEAM.
HALF OF IT IS, IS HERE TODAY, AND OUR GOAL IS TO OVER COMMUNICATE AND TO BE UPFRONT AND, AND MAKE SURE THAT EVERYBODY'S AWARE WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN BEFORE IT HAPPENS.
AVOID AS MANY CONFLICTS AS POSSIBLE BY GIVING THE INFORMATION TO THE RELEVANT PEOPLE AND PROVIDING WITH INFORMATION TO THE PEOPLE THAT CAN DISTRIBUTE IT AS SOON AS WE ARE AWARE AND AHEAD OF TIME TO MAKE SURE THAT EVERYBODY'S AWARE WHAT'S COMING.
SO CONSTRUCTION IS CONSTRUCTION'S GOING TO BE IMPACTS, UH, BUT, UH, BUT OUR GOAL IS, IS TO MAKE SURE THAT WE COMMUNICATE THOSE IMPACTS, UH, AS SOON AS AS WE CAN FOR, FOR EVERYBODY TO BE READY.
WELL, I THINK WE'VE COMMUNICATED, YOU HAVE COMMUNICATED AND YOU'VE COMMUNICATED WELL.
I MEAN, YOU'VE RELAYED THE CONCERNS THAT YOU AND OUR CONSTITUENTS HAVE.
I, I WILL SAY, 'CAUSE I KNOW YOU DON'T MAKE THOSE DECISIONS, NEITHER ONE OF YOU DO.
[01:10:01]
TO FACILITATE WHAT THE STATE DOT AND THE PEOPLE WHO DIRECT THE STATE, GOI MEAN, DOT TOLD YOU ARE NECESSARY.AND, AND I DON'T KNOW HOW MANY OF YOU HAVE BEEN UP PAST CHESY AND UP IN NORTH GEORGIA LATELY, BUT THE REASON THEY'RE DOING THIS IS BECAUSE PEOPLE ARE MOVING FURTHER NORTH.
I I KNOW, BUT I, I JUST WANT TO SAY WHAT HE WASN'T ABLE TO SAY, BECAUSE THAT'S A POLICY QUESTION.
AND I KNOW WE'VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT THIS FOR A LONG TIME.
YOU GO UP NORTH AND I'VE SEEN THE MOST INCREDIBLE PUBLICS I'VE EVER SEEN IN THE WORLD IN A PLACE THAT I DIDN'T EVEN KNOW EXISTED.
I MEAN, DEMOGRAPHICALLY, THE CENTER OF GRAVITY OF METRO ATLANTA USED TO BE DOWNTOWN ATLANTA.
IT'S BEEN CREEPING UP GEORGIA 400 FOR DECADES ALREADY, SINCE ALPHARETTA WAS 3000 PEOPLE IN 1980.
THE REASON THEY'RE DOING ALL OF THIS IS BECAUSE IT'S NOT GOING TO STAY THIS WAY.
IT, THEY'RE TRYING TO BE AHEAD OF IT INSTEAD OF BEING BEHIND.
LIKE TYPICALLY THE STATE OF GEORGIA WAS, YOU KNOW, THAT LOOK AT WHAT'S GOING ON IN I 20 GOING EAST.
WOULDN'T THEY HAVE LOVED TO HAVE STARTED AT ABOUT 10 OR 20 YEARS AGO BEFORE IT BECAME A DISASTER AREA? AND THAT INTERCHANGE? SO I I I THINK THEY HAVE DEMOGRAPHICALLY AND THROUGH VERY CAREFUL LOGISTICS AND EVERYTHING DECIDED IF WE DON'T GET AHEAD OF THIS, WE'RE GONNA BE PLAYING CATCH UP FOR DECADES TO COME.
AND, AND SO I THINK WE DO HAVE VALID POINTS ABOUT THE THINGS WE CAN DO ABOUT IT, BUT IT IT ALL AT THE SAME TIME, WE'RE ALSO TRYING TO ATTRACT AN ARENA.
WE'D LOVE TO HAVE A HOCKEY TEAM HERE IN THE CITY OF ALPHARETTA.
AND A BIG CARROT TO DANGLE FOR SOMEONE WHO MIGHT WANNA BRING AN NHL TEAM TO THE CITY OF ALPHARETTA IS THE FACT THAT MARTA CAN GET TO NORTH POINT AND BUS RAPID TRANSIT.
BUT ONCE AGAIN, GOING TO THE CONCERNS ABOUT CONCRETE AND THINGS LIKE THAT, IF YOU DON'T STACK THOSE BRIDGES OVER THE EXISTING LANES, HOW ARE YOU GONNA DO IT? YOU'RE NOT, YOU'RE NOT GONNA TAKE OUT ALL OF THOSE OFFICE BUILDINGS AND ALL OF THOSE SCHOOLS ARE IN THE RIGHT OF WAY THAT IT WOULD TAKE TO AND WE WOULDN'T WANT TO ANYWAY.
SO, I MEAN, I I AM SYMPATHETIC TO CHALLENGES YOU FACE, AND I HOPE YOU WILL BE AS SENSITIVE AS YOU POSSIBLY CAN.
I TRUST PETE AND HIS TEAM TO NEGOTIATE AND HAVE THESE CONVERSATIONS.
I KNOW THAT JAVIER IS BUILDING A HOUSE IN ALPHARETTA, SO HE'S GONNA HAVE TO SUFFER THROUGH ANYTHING THAT WE'RE HAVING TO SUFFER THROUGH.
THAT GIVES ME A LITTLE COMFORT.
I DON'T WANNA GET TO THE
BUT ALSO LOOK AT WHAT HAPPENED TO THE CITY OF ROSWELL A FEW DECADES AGO WHEN G DDOT SAID, HEY, THEY'RE GONNA BE BUILDING GEORGIA 400.
WHEN NOBODY THOUGHT WE NEEDED GEORGIA 400.
THE LOCALS WOULD SIT OUT THERE ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD WHEN THEY WERE FILMING SMOKEY IN THE BANDIT BECAUSE NOBODY WAS ON GEORGIA 400 AT THE TIME.
AND ROSWELL'S LEADERSHIP AT THAT TIME, THEY WERE OFFERED THREE OR FOUR EXITS ON GEORGIA 400.
AND THE REASON THEY'RE NOT A COMMERCIAL CENTER LIKE ALPHARETTA IS NOW IS BECAUSE THEY DECLINED.
THEY DIDN'T WANT TO TAKE ANY, AND JUDO FORCED THEM TO TAKE HOLCOMB BRIDGE AS AN INTERCHANGE THERE.
SO, UH, I'M NOT SAYING IT'S A GREAT PROJECT, IT'S NOT GOING TO CHANGE US IN SOME WAYS, BUT IF WE DON'T, IF WE DON'T GET AHEAD OF IT, WE'RE GONNA BE BEHIND IT.
AND SO WE'RE GONNA TRY TO DO THE BEST WE CAN TO PARTNER WITH YOU AND MAKE IT AS SUCCESSFUL AND AS PAINLESS AS POSSIBLE.
[5. CONSENT AGENDA]
UP ON OUR AGENDA THIS EVENING IS THE CONSENT AGENDA.CONSENT AGENDA CONSISTS OF THE CITY COUNCIL PLANNING RETREAT, DAY NUMBER ONE MINUTES FROM THE MEETING OF JANUARY 16TH, 2026, THE CITY COUNCIL PLANNING RETREAT, DAY NUMBER TWO MINUTES MEETING OF JANUARY 17TH, 2026, THE CITY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES FROM THE MEETING OF JANUARY 28TH, 2026, AND THE CITY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES FROM THE MEETING OF FEBRUARY 2ND, 2026,
[01:15:07]
ALSO INCLUDES THE WARRANTY DEED AND TRAIL EASEMENT DEDICATION FOR 3 0 6 THOMPSON STREET, THE RIGHT OF WAY IN STORMWATER EASEMENTS AND AGREEMENT AND PRIVATE DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENT FOR CHARLOTTE DRIVE VERDICT DEVELOPMENT.IS THERE ANYONE WHO WOULD LIKE TO REMOVE ANYTHING FROM THE CONSENT AGENDA THIS EVENING? SEEING NONE, MS. SHAPIRO, DO WE HAVE ANY PUBLIC COMMENT CARDS? NOT FOR THIS ITEM, SIR.
HOWEVER, IF ANYONE WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK ABOUT THE CONSENT AGENDA, NOW'S YOUR CHANCE.
I DON'T SEE ANYONE COMING FORWARD.
SO WE'LL CLOSE PUBLIC COMMENT.
DO I HAVE A MOTION FROM COUNSEL? YES, SIR.
MR. MAYOR, I OFFER A MOTION TO APPROVE THE CONSENT AGENDA AS PRESENTED THIS EVENING.
SECOND, WE HAVE A MOTION BY MAYOR PRO CHEMICAL.
I THINK THE SECOND WAS COUNCIL MEMBER 80 BY HARE
ANY DISCUSSION? ALL THOSE IN FAVOR OF APPROVING THE MINUTES OR THE, UH, CONSENT AGENDA? PLEASE VOTE YES.
DO WE HAVE TWO ABSTENTIONS? OH, I HIT THE WRONG BUTTON, YOUR HONOR.
DID WE LOSE COUNCILMAN DRISCOLL? YES, WE DID.
YOU WANNA VOTE ON THIS CONSENT AGENDA? TAP SCREEN? NO, WE'RE GOOD CAPTURED.
SO NOW WE'LL MOVE ON TO THE PUBLIC
[A. Announcement of Public Hearing Procedures]
HEARING PORTION OF TONIGHT'S MEETING, AND I WILL TURN THE FLOOR OVER TO MS. MOLLY S WEIN, OUR CITY ATTORNEY SO SHE CAN ANNOUNCE THE PUBLIC PROCEDURE HEARINGS.AN INDIVIDUAL REQUESTING TO BE HEARD ON A MATTER RELATED TO THE PURPOSE OF THE HEARING MUST BE RECOGNIZED BY THE MAYOR.
BEFORE ADDRESSING THE CITY COUNCIL, UPON RISING TO SPEAK, THE SPEAKER MUST IDENTIFY HIMSELF OR HERSELF AND FURNISH A HOME OR BUSINESS ADDRESS.
BEFORE PROCEEDING WITH ANY COMMENTS OR REMARKS, THE COUNCIL WILL ALLOW PROPONENTS A TOTAL OF 10 MINUTES TO SPEAK IN SUPPORT OF AN APPLICATION.
PROPONENTS WILL BE ALLOWED 10 MINUTES TO SPEAK IN OPPOSITION.
COMMENTS ARE ACCEPTED FIRST FROM THE APPLICANT, FOLLOWED BY PERSON SPEAKING FAVOR, AND THEN FROM THOSE IN OPPOSITION, UPON CONCLUSION OF ANY OPPOSING COMMENTS OR PRESENTATIONS, THE MAYOR WILL ALLOW THE APPLICANT TO OFFER REBUTTAL IF ANY TIME IS REMAINING IN THE ORIGINALLY ALLOTTED 10 MINUTES.
[B. MP-26-02 Lakeview Park MP/Traton Homes
Consideration of a master plan amendment to exchange 200,000 square feet of office for 25 ‘For-Sale’ single-family detached homes and 27 ‘For-Sale’ townhomes in the Lakeview Park Master Plan. A master plan amendment is requested to the Lakeview Park Master Plan to allow for the change in development mix. The property is located at 0 Lakeview Parkway and is legally described as being located in Land Lots 744, 745, 752 & 753, 1st District, 2nd Section, Fulton County, Georgia.]
MR. WOODMAN, I BELIEVE YOU'VE GOT THE FLOOR ON THIS ITEM.
THE ITEM BEFORE YOU THIS EVENING IS A REQUEST FROM TPA GROUP.
THEY'RE REQUESTING A MA MASTER PLAN AMENDMENT IN ORDER TO EXCHANGE 200,000 SQUARE FEET OF OFFICE, OR 52 4 SALE DWELLING UNITS THAT WOULD CONSIST OF 25 4 SALE, SINGLE FAMILY DETACHED HOMES AND 27 4 SALE TOWN HOMES.
THAT'S ON A SIX AND A HALF ACRE SITE IN THE LAKEVIEW PARK MA, UH, MIXED USE DEVELOPMENT, WHICH IS ALSO A MASTER PLAN.
THE MASTER PLAN AMENDMENT IS, UM, REQUESTED TO ALLOW THE PROPOSED CHANGE IN DEVELOPMENT MIX.
AND I HAVE THE, UM, LOCATION MAP ON THE OVERHEAD.
THIS PROPERTY IS ZERO LAKEVIEW PARKWAY, LOCATED AT THE SOUTHEAST CORNER OF LAKEVIEW PARKWAY AND LAKE STREET.
SO THIS PROPERTY HERE, THIS IS THE COLONIAL, UM, PIPELINE OFFICE DEVELOPMENT TO THE WEST.
THIS PROPERTY IS OWNED MU IT'S MIXED USE.
IT'S ALSO LOCATED IN THE NORTH POINT OVERLAY.
COMPREHENSIVE LAND USE PLAN DESIGNATION OF THE PROPERTY IS ALSO MIXED USE, WHICH DOES SUPPORT, UM, THE PROPOSED CHANGE TO DEVELOPMENT MIX BRING YOU BACK TO THE CURRENT ENTITLEMENT ON THE PROPERTY.
SO THIS CURRENT, THIS IS THE PLAN THAT WAS APPROVED ON THE PROPERTY IN 2019.
THERE WERE PREVIOUS PLANS THAT WERE APPROVED ON THIS PROPERTY TO GO ALL THE WAY BACK TO 1988.
UH, THE ORIGINAL, I BELIEVE MAY HAVE BEEN REFERRED TO AS PARADO.
AFTER THAT METLIFE OWNED THE PROPERTY AND THERE WAS A PLAN, UH, UNDER METLIFE.
BELIEVE TPA CAME INTO THE FOLD, UM, IN 2019.
AND THIS IS THE CURRENT PLAN APPROVED FOR THE PROPERTY.
THERE'S JUST UNDER 32,000 SQUARE FEET OF RETAIL RESTAURANT USES APPROVED WITHIN THIS DEVELOPMENT.
THAT RETAIL ENVIRONMENT IS HERE AT THE CORNER OF HAYNES BRIDGE AND LAKEVIEW PARKWAY.
[01:20:02]
RENTAL UNITS IN THE APARTMENT, UH, STRUCTURE IS HERE.THERE IS ALSO FIRST FLOOR, UM, RETAIL RESTAURANT AND OFFICE USES WITHIN THAT BUILDING.
IN THIS PLAN, THERE WERE A TOTAL OF 315, UM, RESIDENTIAL UNITS APPROVED, 255 APARTMENT UNITS AND 64 SALE TOWN HOMES.
THE DENSITY ON THAT RESIDENTIAL WAS 5.04 DWELLING UNITS PER ACRE, AND THAT'S OVER THE FULL 62 AND A HALF ACRE, UH, PROPERTY THAT REPRESENTS, UH, THE LAKEVIEW PARK MIXED USE DEVELOPMENT.
THERE WAS ALSO 630,000 SQUARE FEET OF OFFICE THAT WAS APPROVED WITHIN THIS DEVELOPMENT.
THAT INCLUDES THE SUBJECT PROPERTY, THE SIX AND A HALF ACRE PARCEL HERE.
THERE WAS A ABOUT 200,000 SQUARE FOOT OFFICE BUILDING PROPOSED ON THAT PROPERTY.
THE CLONING PIPELINE OFFICE THAT WAS, UM, DEVELOPED IN THIS, UH, MASTER PLAN THAT'S EXISTING AS WELL AS THE ADJACENT OFFICE BUILDING.
THIS PROPERTY IS OWNED BY THIRD AND URBAN, BUT IS PART OF THE MIXED USE DEVELOPMENT.
THERE'S ABOUT 275,000 SQUARE FEET OF OFFICE THAT'S BEEN CONSTRUCTED WITHIN THE MIXED USE DEVELOPMENT EXISTING TODAY.
AND THERE'S AN ADDITIONAL 150,000 SQUARE FOOT OFFICE BUILDING, UH, THAT WAS PROPOSED UP AT LAKEVIEW AND MORRISON PARKWAY WITHIN THE MIXED USE DEVELOPMENT OF COURSES ZONED MU.
SO WE DO HAVE MINIMUM PERCENTAGES, UH, FOR RESIDENTIAL, THAT'S 25% MINIMUM PERCENT OF OFFICES ALSO 25%, AND THERE'S A MINIMUM 10% OF COMMERCIAL.
WITH THE APPLICANT'S PROPOSED CHANGE, REDUCE OFFICE AND INCREASE RESIDENTIAL, THEY STILL DO COMPLY WITH THE MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS IN OUR ZONING DISTRICT.
THIS IS THE APPLICANT'S PROPOSED SITE PLAN, ALL UTILIZED THE COLOR SITE PLAN.
IT'S JUST A LITTLE BIT VISUALLY EASIER TO SEE.
SITE PLAN DEPICTS 25 DETACHED HOMES ALONG LAKE STREET.
HOMES ARE PROPOSED INTERIOR TO THE SITE AS WELL AS TWO BUILDINGS ALONG A SMALL SEGMENT OF LAKE STREET THAT GOES BACK TO LAKEVIEW PARKWAY.
THE HOMES ARE ORIENTED TO LAKE STREET, SO ALL THE UNITS, TOWN HOMES AND HOMES ARE REAR LOADED, SO THEY HAVE REAR LOADED GARAGES.
THE HOMES AND THE TOWN HOMES APPROXIMATELY 22 FOOT WIDE.
THE UNITS HAVE ACCESS FROM A SERIES OF STREETS AND ALLEYS WITHIN THE DEVELOPMENT.
THERE'S A 35 FOOT SETBACK ALONG LAKE STREET AND A 65 FOOT SETBACK FROM THE DEVELOPMENT FROM LAKEVIEW PARKWAY, UDC PARKING, RE, UH, REGULATIONS AND THE NORTH POINT OVERLAY REQUIRE 105 PARKING SPACES FOOT FOR DEVELOPMENT.
EACH OF THE HOMES AND TOWN HOMES WILL HAVE TWO SIDE BY SIDE PARKING SPACES IN A GARAGE, AS WELL AS TWO SPACES ON A EIGHT CODE COMPLIANT DRIVEWAY FOR A TOTAL OF 208 PARKING SPACES.
THERE ARE ADDITIONAL 24 GUEST SPACES WITHIN THE DEVELOPMENT.
THERE'S, UM, THAT'S IN, IN ADDITION TO THE 208 PARKING SPACES PROVIDED AT EACH OF THE UNITS AND THEN THE APPLICANT AS PART OF, UH, CONDITIONS OF ZONING.
UM, THERE'S A CONDITION OF ZONING RECOMMENDED BY STAFF THAT ON STREET PARKING BE ADDED TO THIS SECTION OF LAKEVIEW PARKWAY.
THERE'S ALREADY ON STREET PARKING HERE, BUT ADDITIONAL ON STREETT PARKING CAN BE ADDED HERE.
AND THE APPLICANT DID PROVIDE A SITE PLAN, WHICH WAS EMAILED TO YOU OR RECEIVE THAT OVER THE WEEKEND.
AND JUST DEMONSTRATING THAT THEY'RE ABLE TO ADD ON STREET PARKING HERE, THEY ADDED A TOTAL OF 17 ADDITIONAL ON STREET PARKING SPACES, UH, BETWEEN THIS DEVELOPMENT AND COLONIAL PARK, UM, PIPELINE.
THE OVERALL MASTER PLAN INCLUDES ABOUT 32 ACRES OF OPEN SPACE.
THIS RESIDENTIAL DEVELOPMENT, THIS PROPOSED RESIDENTIAL SUBDIVISION WOULD ADD AN ADDITIONAL 1.3 ACRES OF AMENITY SPACE FOR THESE FUTURE RESIDENTS.
UH, THE AMENITY SPACE, UH, DEPICTED HERE.
THERE'S LINEAR OPEN SPACE ALONG, UH, LAKEVIEW PARKWAY AND LAKE STREET.
THERE'S A CENTRAL COMMUNITY AMENITY AREA, UH, LOCATED AT THE CENTER OF THE DEVELOPMENT AS WELL.
OF COURSE, THIS PROPERTY HAD ALREADY BEEN CLEARED, UM, AND GRADED WITH THE INSTALLATION OF THE INFRASTRUCTURE OF THE STREETS WITHIN THIS MIXED USE DEVELOPMENT.
SO THERE ARE NO, UH, TREES TO BE SAVED ON THE PROPERTY EXCEPT FOR EXISTING TREES ALONG LAKEVIEW PARKWAY, WHICH WILL BE SAVED.
THEN THERE'S A MASTER STORM WATER SYSTEM THAT SUPPORTS THE ENTIRE MIXED USE DEVELOPMENT.
[01:25:03]
I WON'T GO INTO A LOT OF DETAIL ABOUT THE RENDERING.I DON'T WANT TO TAKE AWAY FROM THE APPLICANT'S PRESENTATION, BUT THESE ARE SOME OF THE, UM, RENDERINGS, UM, AND VISUALS THAT THE APPLICANT PROVIDED TO DEPICT THE TOWN HOMES AND DETACHED HOMES.
THE BUILDER, AGAIN, TRAYTON HOMES.
SO THIS IS A TOWN HOME BUILDING, OF COURSE, YOUR DETACHED HOMES AND THEY WOULD GIVE YOU SOME, THERE'S A QUITE A FEW SIDE ELEVATIONS, WHICH WE DO HAVE A CONDITION TO DEAL WITH THE SIDE EL ELEVATIONS THAT FACE THE STREET.
BUT THEY SHOULD PROVIDE A SIDE ELEVATION TO, UH, DEMONSTRATE THAT THEY CAN ADD ADDITIONAL DETAILING ON THE SIDES.
AND THIS, THIS IS THE DEVELOPMENT IN A DIFFERENT TYPE OF SOFTWARE VIEW OF THE DEVELOPMENT FROM LAKE STREET.
I BELIEVE THIS IS LOOKING DOWN INTO THE DEVELOPMENT FROM LAKEVIEW PARKWAY.
AND THIS IS MORE OF A BIRD'S EYE VIEW OF THE DEVELOPMENT FROM LAKEVIEW PARKWAY.
THE APPLICANT DID PROVIDE A TRIP GENERATION REPORT FOR THE 52, UH, FOUR SALE UNITS, ESTIMATED THAT IT WOULD GENERATE APPROXIMATELY 30 5:00 AM PEAK HOUR TRIPS AND 40 1:00 PM PEAK HOUR TRIPS WHEN THAT'S COMPARED TO THE 200,000 SQUARE FOOT OFFICE BUILDING.
THE RESIDENTIAL DEVELOPMENT WOULD RESULT IN A REDUCTION OF 200 9:00 AM PEAK HOUR TRIPS IN 180 8:00 PM PEAK HOUR TRIPS.
AND THEN LOOKING AT THE REVIEW CRITERIA FOR THE MASTER PLAN AMENDMENT, WE BELIEVE THE PROPOSAL IS COMPATIBLE WITH THE USE AND DEVELOPMENT OF ADJACENT PROPERTIES, WHICH ARE DE DEVELOPED AS A MIXED USE DEVELOPMENT FOR SALE.
RESIDENTIAL USE IS ALREADY ALLOWED WITHIN THE LAKEVIEW PARK, UH, MASTER PLAN.
THE FOUR SALE TOWN HOMES WERE ALREADY APPROVED AND THE PROPOSED DENSITY IS BELOW THE MAXIMUM DENSITY PERMITTED IN THE MU UH, DISTRICT.
IN LESS THAN A DENSITY APPROVED IN THE 2017.
AS WELL AS THE 2015 MASTER PLAN AMENDMENTS ON THIS PROPERTY PROPOSAL WOULD BRING ADDITIONAL HOUSING BRING, BRINGING PEOPLE CLOSER TO GOODS AND SERVICES AND WHERE THEY WORK WITHOUT SIGNIFICANT IMPACTS ON PUBLIC FACILITIES AND SERVICES.
THE APPLICANT DID PROVIDE A CITIZEN PARTICIPATION REPORT INDICATING THAT THEY HAD NOT RECEIVED ANY FEEDBACK EXCEPT FOR AT THE CZIM MEETING.
UM, SOME OF THE QUESTIONS THEY RECEIVED AT CZIM INCLUDED WHAT HAPPENS TO THE OFFICE BUILDING, WILL SIDEWALKS REMAIN.
THEY WANTED TO KNOW IF THIS WAS A FOR SALE OR FOUR END PRODUCT SQUARE FOOTAGE AND PRICE POINTS, WHAT THE AMENITIES WOULD BE, TIMING OF THE DEVELOPMENT AND, UH, STORM WATER QUESTIONS.
AND AT THE CZIM ON JANUARY 14TH, THERE WERE NO PUBLIC COMMENTS LEFT ON THE SIGN-IN SHEETS.
AND THEN WE DID PRESENT THIS, UH, REQUEST TO PLANNING COMMISSION AT THEIR FEBRUARY 5TH MEETING.
THERE WERE NO PUBLIC COMMENTS AT THAT MEETING AND THE COMMISSION RECOMMENDED UNANIMOUS APPROVAL SUBJECT TO 17 CONDITIONS.
AND THEY DID ADD A, UM, A SENTENCE ONTO CONDITION NUMBER 11, UH, REQUIRING 15 ON STREET PARA, UH, PARALLEL PARKING SPACES TO BE RESERVED FOR USE BY ALPHA LOOP USERS.
THERE'S A SIGNIFICANT APPLE LOOP TRAIL THAT RUNS THROUGH THIS DEVELOPMENT.
AND THAT CONCLUDES THE PRESENTATION.
IF YOU HAVE QUESTIONS, I'LL BE HAPPY TO ANSWER THOSE.
DO WE HAVE ANY QUESTIONS FOR MR. WOODIN? COUNCILMAN? HES MR. WOODMAN.
THANK YOU FOR THE, UH, UH, THE PRESENTATION.
I WANTED TO GET A A FEW FACTS, UH, UH, FROM THE STAFF SIDE BEFORE THE APPLICANT COMES UP.
UM, I WENT BACK AND REVISITED THE, UM, VIDEO OF THIS ORIGINAL HEARING ON DECEMBER 16TH, 2019, AND THE MAYOR ASKED A QUESTION ABOUT IS IT FOUR SEVEN ACRES OR IS IT 62 ACRES? AND, UH, IN WATCHING THE RESPONSE, UM, YOU KNOW, SEVEN YEARS AGO WAS, OR SIX YEARS AGO, WAS LITTLE LESS AND CLEAR COULD PUT UP THE, THE PROPERTY AND, AND EXPLAIN APPLES TO APPLES, ORANGES TO ORANGES, YOU KNOW, HOW MANY ACRES THERE ARE AND WHY IT'S 630,000 SQUARE FEET OF OFFICE BUILDING BEING REDUCED DOWN BY 200,000.
COULD YOU EXPLAIN THAT? YEAH, SO THIS, THIS IS THE 62 AND A HALF ACRE MIXED USE
[01:30:01]
DEVELOPMENT, THE LAKEVIEW PARKWAY MISUSE DEVELOPMENT.UM, THERE WERE IN PREVIOUS PLANS THAT GO BACK TO 2000, UH, BETWEEN 1988 AND 2015, THE MASTER PLAN WAS ONLY ABOUT 47 ACRES.
I BELIEVE IT WAS THIS SIDE OF THE PROPERTY THAT WAS ADDED ON.
THERE WAS ABOUT 15 ACRES THAT WAS ADDED TO THE MIXED USE DEVELOPMENT.
UM, THE, THE 2017 PLAN NEVER WAS CONSTRUCTED.
AND SO THAT REVERTED BACK TO 2015 PLAN.
UM, BUT WHEN IT TPA CAME IN, IN 2019, IT DID INCLUDE THE FULL 62 AND A HALF ACRES.
SO, AND TO BE CLEAR, UM, THIS IS PART OF THE MASTER PLAN 62 ACRES, BUT THE APPLICANT DOES NOT OWN THAT PROPERTY.
IT IS OWNED BY SOMEONE ELSE WHO IS NOT BEFORE COUNCIL.
TPA DOES NOT OWN THIS PROPERTY HERE.
THIS IS OWNED BY THIRD AND URBAN, I BELIEVE COLONIAL OWNS THEIR PROPERTY SEPARATELY AS WELL.
AND WHEN WE TALK ABOUT 630,000 SQUARE FEET OF OFFICE BUILDING AND BEING REDUCED DOWN BY 200,000, UH, THE 200,000 IS RIGHT THERE IN THE MIDDLE.
THAT, THAT REPRESENTS, THIS IS THE PARCEL.
AND THIS WAS, THIS WAS A 200,000 SQUARE FOOT OFFICE BUILDING.
AND WHEN WE LOOK AT THE SQUARE FOOTAGE OF THE OFFICE BUILDINGS, IT INCLUDES THE EXISTING BUILDING THAT'S OWNED BY SOMEBODY ELSE.
AND HAS, IT'S NOT PART OF THIS PROPERTY, IT'S PART OF A MASTER PLAN? CORRECT.
THE, THE 275,000 SQUARE FOOT OF OFFICE THAT EXISTS TODAY, IS THIS, THIS OFFICE BUILDING HERE MM-HMM
THAT'S OWNED BY THIRD AND URBAN AS WELL AS THE COLONIAL PIPELINE PROPERTY AND THE BLUE BUILDING AT THE VERY TOP FOR 150,000 SQUARE FEET.
HAS ANYBODY EVEN APPLIED TO CONSTRUCT A BUILDING THERE? WE HAVE NOT BEEN CONTACTED ABOUT, UM, A A OFFICE BUILDING AT THAT LOCATION, BUT THAT'S WHAT'S APPROVED FOR THAT PROPERTY WITHIN THIS MASTER PLAN.
AND THEN WHEN WE TALK ABOUT ANY TYPES OF DENSITY NUMBERS WITH RESPECT TO RESIDENTIAL, IT INCLUDES THE THIRD AND URBAN PROPERTY, AND I LOOKED ON THE PROPERTY TAX MAP.
IT INCLUDES THE 27 ACRES THAT PRIZES THE LAKE AREA.
IT INCLUDES, YES, IT INCLUDES THIS ENTIRE MIXED USE DEVELOPMENT, INCLUDING PROPERTIES THAT AREN'T OWNED BY THE APPLICANT, TPA.
WITH REGARD TO THE INTERNAL STREETS, UH, THOSE ARE PRIVATE, IS THAT CORRECT? YES.
UH, WILL THE CITY HAVE ANY RESPONSIBILITIES FOR MAINTENANCE OF THE PRIVATE STREETS? NO, THEY'RE PRIVATELY MAINTAINED.
AND, UH, I WON'T ASK YOU THE POLICE QUESTION ABOUT, UH, PARKING AND ENFORCEMENT AND THAT TYPE OF THING, BUT, UH, THOSE, THOSE ARE PRIVATE STREETS.
UM, THE PARKING THAT'S DIRECTLY IN FRONT OF THE SURFACE PARKING COLONIAL, IS THAT, UH, PROPRIETARY TO COLONIAL OR IS THAT PUBLIC PARKING? WELL, THE, THE COLONIAL PROPERTY DOES HAVE SOME FENCING AND GATING THAT WAS APPROVED AROUND THEIR PROPERTY.
SO, UM, THAT SURFACE PARKING AS WELL AS THEIR DECK IS, UM, NOT OPEN TO THE PUBLIC.
CURRENTLY, THERE IS A CONDITION OF ZONING ON THE PROPERTY, UM, I BELIEVE IT WAS CONDITION NUMBER 15, CORRECT.
IN THE 2019 ZONING CONDITIONS, UM, THAT REFER TO, UH, PROVIDING, ALLOWING FOR PUBLIC PARKING FOR THE ALPHA LOOP ON OFFICE PARKING LOTS.
AND ARE WE, AS A CITY, AS CITY STAFF INTERPRETING AND UNDERSTANDING THAT CONDITION, MEANING ANY AND ALL PARKING, SURFACE PARKING AND PARKING DECKS, OR JUST SELECTED PARKING DECKS? I BELIEVE IT, IT'S VERY GENERAL.
THE, THE SENTENCE, THE WAY IT READS IS IT'S, IT'S ANY OFFICE PARKING WITHIN THIS MIXED USE DEVELOPMENT.
UH, ALSO JUST TO PUT IT OUT THERE WITH REGARD TO, UH, IMPACT FEE CREDITS, WHAT, IF ANYTHING, UH, HAS BEEN AGREED TO THAT, UH, THE APPLICANT IS CONSTRUCTING THAT'S RECEIVING IMPACT FEES? I THINK KATHY WAS READY TO, WAS GONNA RESPOND TO THIS ONE.
SHE HAD PULLED THE INFORMATION.
COUNCILMAN, YOU CAN COUNCILMAN YOU CAN SEE THE AREA.
I THINK YOU CAN SEE THE AREA IN RED.
THAT IS THE AREA THAT WAS GIVEN, UM, IMPACT FEE CREDITS FOR THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE TRAIL.
ORIGINALLY IT WAS GOING TO TO BE, UH, THE ALPHA LOOP WAS GONNA RUN DOWN THE MIDDLE OF THE PRIVATE ROADWAY,
[01:35:01]
HOWEVER, THAT WAS MOVED TO ALONG 400.AND THAT'S SOMETHING OF COURSE, THAT THE CITY IS DESIGNING AND WILL PAY FOR THAT CONSTRUCTION VERSUS GIVING IMPACT FEE CREDITS.
SO THAT AREA IN RED, THAT'S THE LOOP, THAT AREA THAT WAS HIGHLIGHTED, THAT'S PART OF THE LOOP AROUND THE LAKE, CORRECT? YEAH, THAT, THAT IS, THAT'S THE ALPHA LOOP.
BUT OF COURSE, YOU KNOW, NOBODY'S PROHIBITED FROM COMING DOWN THE PRIVATE DRIVE THAT WAS BUILT AND CONSTRUCTED AND PAID FOR, OF COURSE BY THE, UH, PRIVATE DEVELOPMENT, UM, TO THE, THE AREA RIGHT AT THE FRONT OF THE LAKE, WHICH IS THE AMPHITHEATER, WHICH WAS NOT PAID FOR BY IMPACT FEE CREDITS.
HOWEVER, THAT'S ALSO OPEN FOR, UH, PUBLIC ACCESS HERE.
BUT THERE WEREN'T ANY IMPACT FEE CREDITS GIVEN FOR THAT.
THE PART SHOWN IN RED WAS THE AREA THAT WAS GIVEN THE IMPACT CREDITS FOR CONSTRUCTION.
SO, UM, WHEN A MASTER PLAN IS APPROVED, SO UP MASTER PLAN, WHATEVER WE WANNA CALL IT, IT'S LOOKED AT IN TOTAL.
THE WHOLE, THE WHOLE PROJECT IS LOOKED AT AS THESE VARIOUS PIECES OF THIS, OF THIS PUZZLE WORK TOGETHER AND CREATE SYNERGY FOR EACH OTHER.
AND THESE DIFFERENT PIECES COME TOGETHER TO MAKE IT SUCCESSFUL BECAUSE JUST BECAUSE YOU PUT, YOU SAY YOU CHECK THIS BOX OR CHECK THAT BOX DOESN'T MEAN YOU'RE GONNA GET AN AVALON OR A CITY CENTER.
THAT THERE SEEMS TO BE SOME, SOME MAGIC DUST THAT COMES WITH A GOOD MIXED USE PLAN THAT HAS ALL OF THESE THINGS WORKING TOGETHER.
CERTAINLY WE HAVE THOSE MINIMUM PERCENTAGES OF USES, UM, IN THAT MU ZONE CATEGORY.
AND THIS IS, THIS IS A CHANGE FROM THAT ORIGINAL MASTER PLAN, THAT'S WHAT'S BEING REQUESTED, CORRECT? YES.
THERE'S, THERE'S BEEN SEVERAL CHANGES AT THIS PARTICULAR MASTER PLAN MIXED USE DEVELOPMENT OVER THE YEARS.
UM, AND OUTSIDE OF THE 17 PARKING SPOTS, UM, LET'S SAY IT'S A WEEKEND AND PEOPLE HAVE BIG TRUCKS,
HOW ARE THE REST OF THE RESIDENTS IN ALPHARETTA TO UTILIZE THIS REALLY COOL AMENITY? I MEAN, THE LAKE IS A VERY COOL AMENITY AND I THINK ALL THE PARTS OF THE ALPHA LOOP ARE AMAZING.
AND, UM, I CAN'T WALK MY DOG AROUND LAKE WINDWARD BECAUSE IT'S PRIVATE, PRIVATE LAKE, BUT I CAN WALK MY DOG AROUND THAT ONE.
SO HOW WERE LIKE, SOMEBODY WANTS TO UTILIZE THAT AND THOSE PARKING SPOTS ARE ALL FULL, LIKE YEAH, I MEAN, PER THAT CONDITION, NUMBER 15, IN THE 2019 APPROVAL ON THE PROPERTY, THE OFFICE PROPERTIES ARE SUPPOSED TO BE OPEN FOR SOMEBODY CONCEPTUALIZE THE ABILITY TO PUBLIC PARKING.
I DO BELIEVE THE APPLICANT DOES HAVE SOME ADDITIONAL INFORMATION, UH, FOR YOU, UM, GUARDING SOME OTHER GUEST PARKING THAT'S AVAILABLE, OPEN TO THE PUBLIC ON THE SITE.
UM, BUT CERTAINLY THAT THEY WOULD NEED TO COMPLY WITH THAT CONCERN.
COUNCILMAN DODO, THEN BRADY, MR. WOODMAN, CAN YOU CLARIFY? 'CAUSE I I WAS NOT ON THE COUNCIL WHEN IT WAS HEARD BACK IN DECEMBER OF 2019, THE MASTER PLAN, UH, BACK THEN, UM, WHAT WAS THE CONDITIONS OR THE, THE PARKING REQUIREMENTS FOR PUBLIC PARKING FOR THE ALPHA LOOP THERE? WHAT WAS DISCUSSED? WHAT WAS REQUIRED OF THAT APPROVAL? YEAH, SO THERE WERE TWO, IN THE 2019 APPROVAL ON THE PROPERTY, THERE WERE TWO CONDITIONS OF ZONING THAT RELATE TO PARKING FOR THE ALPHA LOOP.
THERE WAS CONDITION NUMBER 15, WHICH IS A CONDITION THAT IS, THAT DEALT WITH A MARTA BUS, UH, BUS SHELTER ON THE PROPERTY.
AND BURIED WITHIN THAT CONDITION WAS A SENTENCE THAT STATED THE PUBLIC SHALL BE PERMITTED TO PARK IN THE OFFICE PARKING LOTS ON EVENINGS AND WEEKENDS.
THERE'S ALSO A CONDITION OF ZONING RELATED TO THE DEVELOPER IMPROVING THE ALPHA LOOP THROUGH THIS MIXED USE DEVELOPMENT.
AND THAT WAS CONDITION NUMBER 37.
AND THAT CONDITION DISCUSSES THAT THE DEVELOPER WILL PROMOTE THE ALPHA LOOP TO THE PUBLIC BY PROVIDING PARKING ACCESS AND
[01:40:01]
TRAILS FOR PUBLIC ENJOYMENT.SO THE PARKING WAS, UM, CONTEMPLATED IN THOSE TWO CONDITIONS.
UM, SO TONIGHT'S APPLICATION, AND I KNOW THE PLANNING COMMISSION SPOKE, ADDRESSED THE PARKING FOR THE ALPHA LOOP AND ABOUT PUTTING SOME STREET PARKING WITH SIGNS ON IT MM-HMM.
AND WHATEVER, UM, AND, AND READ THE CONDITION IN TONIGHT'S REPORT.
DOESN'T REALLY GUARANTEE IT DOESN'T REALLY, YOU KNOW, IT DOESN'T STRIKE ME AS A REQUIREMENT.
IT JUST, YOU KNOW, JUST PUTS IT AS A CONDITION.
BUT I DON'T KNOW HOW WE EVEN ADMINISTRATE THAT OR MAKE SURE THAT IT'S DONE.
UM, I GUESS MY QUESTION IS, IF BACK IN 2019, THE OFFICES WERE REQUIRED TO PROVIDE PUBLIC PARKING ON WEEKNIGHTS AND WEEKENDS, WHY IS THERE A NEED NOW TO PUT, AND I KNOW THIS IS CURRENTLY ZONED FOR OFFICE, THE 200,000 SQUARE FEET OF OFFICE, THE PROPERTY YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT THIS EVENING, IS IT BECAUSE THEY WERE REQUIRED TO PROVIDE PARKING IF THAT OFFICE BUILDING GOT CONSTRUCTED OR, I'M TRYING TO, I'M TRYING TO SETTLE IN MY MIND, WHAT, WHAT'S THE ISSUE WITH THE PARKING FOR THE GREENWAY OR THE ALPHA LOOP? YEAH.
CONDITION 15 AND 37 APPLY TO THE PROPERTY TODAY.
SO THE, THE PROPERTY WOULD NEED TO COMPLY WITH THOSE CONDITIONS.
I THINK THE ISSUE WAS THAT THIS, THIS PROPERTY, THIS SIX AND A HALF ACRE PROPERTY WAS NO LONGER GOING TO BE AN OFFICE BUILDING WITH A PARKING DECK THAT COULD PROVIDE PARKING FOR RES, UM, FOR FOLKS THAT WOULD WANT TO UTILIZE THE AFA LOOP.
SO IT'S JUST ONE LESS LOCATION WITHIN THE MIXED USE DEVELOPMENT THAT WOULD BE AVAILABLE FOR PUBLIC PARKING PER CONDITION 15.
THIS PROPERTY, UM, THE THIRD URBAN PROPERTY AS WELL AS THE COLONIAL PIPELINE PROPERTY SHOULD BE AVAILABLE FOR PUBLIC USE FOR THE ALPHA, WHICH IS MY NEXT QUESTION.
UH, YOU SENT US AN EMAIL, UH, THIS AFTERNOON REGARDING TPA REACHING OUT TO THIRD URBAN ON POSSIBLY UTILIZING THEIR OFFICE PROPERTY THERE FOR ALPHA LOOP PARKING TO MEET THAT REQUIREMENT, UM, THAT THE PLANNING COMMISSION BROUGHT UP.
UM, BUT IT'S NOT AN AGREEMENT YET.
SO WE'RE GONNA VOTE ON SOMETHING TONIGHT THAT WE DON'T HAVE AN AGREEMENT WITH THAT IS CRITICAL TO CONSIDERING WHETHER WE, AT LEAST AT SOME POINT OF CRITICAL CONSIDERATION FOR ME ANYWAY, OF, OF HAVING THAT AGREEMENT IN PLACE BEFORE WE VOTE ON SOMETHING LIKE THIS.
I DON'T KNOW WHAT YOUR THOUGHTS ARE, BUT IT, THE LETTER'S VERY, YOU KNOW, WE'LL, WE'LL TALK TO YOU.
WE'LL, WE'LL SEE WHAT, YES, THAT'S WHAT THE LETTER STATES IS THAT THEY'LL, YOU KNOW, THEY, THEY WOULD CONSIDER THIS, YOU KNOW, HOWEVER CONDITION NUMBER 15 REALLY REQUIRES THAT WOULD BE ALLOWED.
THE OTHER QUESTION I HAVE, THE LAKE ITSELF, IT'S CITY PROPERTY, RIGHT? THE, THE LAKE.
IT'S, IT'S NOT BEEN DEDICATED TO THE CITY, BUT WASN'T IT, IT'S PRIVATE PROPERTY GOING BACK TO 2019, WASN'T IT WHEN IT WAS APPROVED, WASN'T IT IN EFFECT WITH THE RIGHT, LEGAL TERM IS DEDICATED TO THE CITY.
FOR THE CITY, IT, IT, IT'S, IT'S AVAILABLE, IT'S CONTROLLED BY THE CITY OR IT'S AVAILABLE FOR PUBLIC USE? IT'S JUST PUBLIC ACCESS USE.
SO WE DON'T MAINTAIN IT OR REQUIRED TO MAINTAIN IT, OR WE WILL BE REQUIRED TO REPLACE THE HARDSCAPE, BUT NOTHING WITH THE LAKE, WHICH IS THE ALPHA, WHICH IS THE, THE RED THAT WE OKAY, I GOTCHA.
AND, AND THERE'S JUST ONE MORE QUESTION JUST FROM A A PLANNING PERSPECTIVE, UM, MR. WOODMAN, AND WHEN YOU WENT THROUGH THE APPLICATION, UM, AND, AND I KNOW MASTER PLANS, THIS WAS DONE A WHILE BACK RIGHT BEFORE THE PANDEMIC AND THE PANDEMIC SEEMINGLY HAS CHANGED A LOT AS FAR AS, YOU KNOW, AT LEAST DEVELOPERS COMING BEFORE THE CITY TO MAKE CHANGES, TO MASTER PLANS AROUND THE CITY, UM, TENDS TO BE HOUSING COMPONENTS, PARTICULARLY TOWN HOMES.
UM, AND I'M TRYING TO UNDERSTAND THE CITY'S PERSPECTIVE ON WHAT WOULD BE THE REASON WHY WE WOULD MAKE A CHANGE IN THE MASTER PLAN TO ALLOW HOUSING HERE VERSUS WHAT WAS, YOU KNOW, ENVISIONED IN THE MASTER PLAN FOR THIS 60 ACRE BELOW 60 ACRE.
YEAH, I THINK WE, BECAUSE, AND I SAY THIS BECAUSE AS I WENT THROUGH THIS THINKING ABOUT THIS, THIS
[01:45:01]
IS VERY CLOSE TO, YOU KNOW, GEORGIA 400 EGRESS.UM, WE DON'T KNOW WHAT THE FUTURE'S GONNA BRING FROM A ECONOMIC STANDPOINT AS FAR AS OFFICE SPACE.
YOU KNOW, RIGHT NOW ALFRED HAS 20 MILLION SQUARE FEET OF OFFICE SPACE, UH, IF I GET MY NUMBERS RIGHT, SIX AND A HALF MILLION IN ROSWELL AND TWO AND A HALF OR 6 MILLION ROSWELL AND TWO AND A HALF MILLION IN JOHNS CREEK.
AND THERE'S A REASON WHY WE BECOME A BUSINESS HUB, RIGHT? BECAUSE OF THE OFFICE CONSTRUCTION.
AND, AND, AND I'VE EXPRESSED THIS BEFORE, MY CONCERN IS AT WHAT POINT DO WE STOP REPLACING OFFICE SPACE WITH TOWN HOMES? UM, AND, AND PARTICULARLY AT THIS CRITICAL LOCATION IN THE CITY, IS THIS THE RIGHT PLACE TO DO THAT? WE HAVE HOUSING COMPONENTS IN THERE IN THE MASTER PLAN.
I'M JUST CHALLENGING, I'M PLAYING DEVIL'S ADVOCATE YEAH.
SO THIS PROPERTY IS SITUATED IN THE NORTH WINDS AREA.
SO, AND THERE'S A TON, THERE'S A LOT OF OVER A MILLION SQUARE FEET OF OFFICE IN THAT NORTH WINDS AREA.
SO THIS IS RIGHT ADJACENT, JUST OTHER SIDE OF, OF HAYNES BRIDGE, UH, FROM THAT NORTH WINDS, UM, OFFICE PARK.
AND SO BY ADDING ADDITIONAL, YOU KNOW, UM, RESIDENTIAL USE, WE DO SEE THAT THIS IS CREATING A MIXED USE ENVIRONMENT, WHICH SHOULD BRING DOWN VEHICULAR TRIPS, ADDING THOSE.
SO WE'RE ADDING, UM, THE RESIDENTIAL USE AND TAKING, TAKING AWAY THE OFFICE AND THE MU OWNING ON THIS PROPERTY DOES REQUIRE A MINIMUM PERCENTAGE AND STILL MEET THAT, EVEN WITH THE EXCHANGE, THE LOSS OF 200,000 SQUARE FOOT OF OFFICE, THEY STILL HAVE 40%, UM, OFFICE WITHIN THIS MIXED USE DEVELOPMENT.
ALL THEY RE ARE REQUIRED TO HAVE IS A MINIMUM 25%.
SO THAT WE'RE STILL IN COMPLIANCE WITH THAT.
AND THE FACT THAT ADDING ADDITIONAL RESIDENTIAL TO AN AREA THAT IS HEAVY, HEAVILY DEVELOPED WITH OFFICE TODAY, WE BELIEVE WILL HELP WITH THE TRAFFIC.
CORRECT ME IF I'M WRONG, THIS PARTICULAR BUSINESS AREA OF THE CITY HAS THE HIGHEST VACANCY RATE IN OUR OFFICES.
IS THAT TRUE? I, I DON'T KNOW OFFHAND.
UM, I DON'T KNOW TO OTHER AREAS KATHY KNOW OR CHARLIE.
I THOUGHT I WOULD SEND HER DOWN.
KATHY, ARE YOU GOING TO ADDRESS THAT? YEAH, I, I DON'T KNOW IF, UM, SO FOR, FOR THIS AREA, DID YOU, YOU ASKED IF IT HAD THE HIGHEST VACANCY? I I THINK THIS AREA OF THE CITY HAS THE MOST, SO ACROSS THE STREET AT NORTH WINDS IT HAS, IT'S ABOUT 85% OCCUPIED.
SO THAT'S A, IT HAS VERY HIGH OCCUPANCY ACROSS THE STREET.
UH, BUT AT THIS PARTICULAR, THE GEORGIA 400 CENTER, IT DID HAVE ONE OF THE LOWEST OCCUPANCIES, WHICH IS THE TWO OFFICE BUILDINGS THAT ARE DIRECTLY ADJACENT AS WELL.
WHAT'S THAT AS THE ONE THAT'S THE PERCENTAGE OF THIS ONE HERE? DO YOU KNOW THE PERCENTAGE? JOHAN? UM, IT WAS AROUND IN ACTUALLY, UM, TYLER WAKEFIELD MAY KNOW 'CAUSE IT WAS JUST SOLD BECAUSE OF THE HIGH, UM, VACANCIES, BUT I BELIEVE IT WAS AROUND 50, 55%.
AND I MEAN, EVEN AT ONE TIME, UH, BEFORE IT WAS SOLD, WE HAD A, UM, CODE ENFORCEMENT ISSUE BECAUSE OF, UM, THE, THE BUILDING HERE, IT WAS ACTUALLY BEING USED TO PARK CARS THAT WERE FOR SALE.
SO, UM, WE HAD A LITTLE BIT OF A STRUGGLE, BUT NOW WITH THE NEW OWNERSHIP, THEY HAVE, UM, YOU KNOW, REALLY GOOD REPUTATION IZING PUTTING UPGRADES INTO OFFICE BUILDINGS.
SO WE DO THINK THAT THOSE WILL GET BETTER, BETTER OCCUPANCY.
COUNCILMAN BRADY? I THINK THE APPLICANT IS THE BENEFACTOR OF, UH, HEARING A LOT OF QUESTIONS PROBABLY TONIGHT FROM US, JUST BECAUSE I THINK THIS PROPERTY WON AN AWARD FOR HOW MANY TIMES IT CAME IN FOR DIFFERENT ITERATIONS.
I KNOW, I MEAN, I SWEAR IT MUST BE 12, 15, 16 OVER 14, 15 YEARS.
METLIFE MUST HAVE COME EIGHT TIMES.
SO APOLOGIES BECAUSE WHEN YOU GO THROUGH THOSE ITERATIONS YOU SEE DIFFERENT THINGS AND HOW THIS LAKE WAS ACTIVATED AND ALL THESE DIFFERENT THINGS.
I, I THINK THE APPLICANT'S DONE A GOOD JOB KIND OF, OF WHAT HAS BEEN BUILT, YOU KNOW, FOR THE MULTIFAMILY HAS KIND OF, I THINK IT LOOKS REALLY GOOD.
I THINK THE AESTHETICS OF IT'S KIND OF REALLY GOOD.
SO I'M, THERE'S A LOT OF, I DON'T WANNA BE REDUNDANT WITH THE OTHER COUNCIL MEMBERS OF WHAT THEY BROUGHT UP.
MY CONCERN IS TO KIND OF GO RIGHT INTO THE HOMEOWNER SIZE IF I BOUGHT ONE OF THOSE PIECES FROM TO BROTHERS, RIGHT.
I'M TRYING TO UNDERSTAND HOW IT ALL KIND OF COMES TOGETHER BECAUSE I THINK THE STYLE THERE, THE AESTHETICS OF THOSE, THE STYLE BETWEEN MULTIFAMILY AND THE TOLL BROTHERS WORKS REALLY KIND OF, WELL.
I MEAN, YOU'RE STARTING TO SEE IT.
IT'S GOT, UH, GREAT CHARACTERS I PULLED UP TO BROS.
THE, THE, THE LAKEVIEW TOWN HOMES OR THE CITY HOMES, YOU KNOW, FOUR LEVELS, REALLY HIGH, HIGH QUALITY MATERIALS.
AND I'M KIND OF CONCERNED OF A NEW BUILDER GOING IN AND PLOPPING IN.
[01:50:01]
I'M, IF YOU DON'T MIND PULLING UP THE, UH, RENDERING THE, YOU JUST DID REAL QUICK.I JUST WANNA MAKE SURE THERE'S CONFORMITY, RIGHT? THAT THESE THINGS, ALL IT LOOKS TOGETHER.
'CAUSE TO ME THIS LOOKS COMPLETELY OUT OF PLACE FROM WHAT YOU SEE BETWEEN THE EDEN AND BETWEEN WHAT TOLL BROTHERS HAS.
AND I'M NOT THE DESIGN GUY THAT CAN DO THIS, BUT I CERTAINLY DON'T WANT TO BE THE GUY THAT JUST LOOKS AT SOMETHING COMPLETELY OUT OF PLACE THAT'S PUMPED IN THERE.
AND THAT IS PURELY AESTHETICS.
I'M JUST GOING TO DESIGN THIS, THIS COMPLETELY OUT OF, UM, WHAT YOU WOULD NORMALLY EXPECT TO BE THERE ON A CONFORMITY.
AND THAT'S, I DON'T KNOW HOW STAFF OR CITY'S KIND OF LOOKING AT THAT.
HOW DO YOU MANAGE THAT BETWEEN TWO DIFFERENT BUILDERS AND TWO DIFFERENT KIND OF STYLES? HOW DO YOU BRING THAT ALL TOGETHER? YEAH, I THINK USUALLY THAT'S DONE WITH, UM, MATERIALS OR STYLE.
UM, SOME, YOU KNOW, USUALLY YOU'LL, YOU'RE NOT GOING TO MIX, YOU KNOW, A MODERN OR CONTEMPORARY LOOK WITH A MORE TRADITIONAL LOOK.
UM, BUT USUALLY THE THE EXTERIOR MATERIALS MATERIALS, UH, CAN HELP WITH THAT.
UM, THE APPLICANT IS ALSO HERE THIS EVENING AND, UM, I, THEIR, THEIR HOME BUILDER TRAYTON CAN MAYBE, UH, SPEAK MORE TO THAT AS WELL.
SO, AND, AND JUST, I'LL BE MY LAST COMMENT.
I'M NOT TRYING TO BE, UH, TONGUE IN CHEEK OF IT IT ALL, BUT WHEN I, WHEN I, I'M, I'M FOCUSED ON QUALITY, THAT'S REALLY WHAT I'M TRYING TO GET.
YOU HAVE SOME LIKE BLACK AND WHITE CONTRAST, YOU HAVE REAL KIND OF QUALITY WOOD AND BOARD AND BATTEN GRAY KIND OF DESIGN ELEMENTS I PUT IN THERE.
WHEN I LOOK AT THIS, LOOKS LIKE OATMEALS THROWN THROUGH A BLENDER AND JUST TEST OUT THERE.
I'M NOT WOWED ABOUT IT AND ALL AND I'M CONCERNED ABOUT QUALITY, SO I'LL JUST LEAVE IT WITH THAT.
BUT THANK YOU MAYOR PRO TIM, UH, COUNCILMAN BRADY TOOK MY FIRST QUESTION SLASH COMMENT 'CAUSE I'VE BEEN OVER THERE MYSELF AS WELL AND I'VE ALSO SEEN SOME COMMUNITIES WHERE THERE'S BEEN MORE THAN ONE BUILDER INVOLVED.
AND UH, YEAH, YOU, YOU CAN, YOU CAN REALLY SCREW THIS WHOLE THING UP WITH A A, A PRODUCT THAT DOESN'T MAINTAIN SOME KIND OF FLOW.
IT DOESN'T HAVE TO BE IDENTICAL.
IT DOESN'T NEED TO LOOK LIKE ARMY BARRACKS 'CAUSE EVERYTHING'S IDENTICAL, BUT THAT'S A KEY FACTOR.
UM, I WANNA GO BACK TO THIS PARKING ISSUE FOR ONE LAST TIME.
AND, AND I, I'VE HEARD PEOPLE UP HERE TALK TONIGHT THAT I DON'T THINK UNDERSTAND WHAT WE'VE BEEN SAYING BECAUSE IN THE CONDITION NUMBER 15, AS MICHAEL PRESENTED IT, THE OFFICE BUILDINGS ARE REQUIRED TO PROVIDE PARKING FOR THE ALPHA LOOP PER THAT CONDITION.
SO TO SAY THAT WE HAVE TO GET AN WRITTEN AGREEMENT FROM THIRD AND URBAN THAT THEY AGREED TO IT, WE'VE ALREADY GOT ONE, WE'VE GOT ONE, THE AGREEMENT'S HERE, IT'S, IT'S NUMBER 15, YOUR HONOR.
WE'LL PRESENT THAT IN COURT IF, IF SO NEED BE.
AND, AND SO WHAT THAT LOOKS LIKE, WE'RE GONNA NEED TO HAVE A FRIENDLY CONVERSATION AND NOT BE, UH, YOU KNOW, PUNCH 'EM IN THE NOSE WITH A PIECE OF PAPER.
UM, BUT IT'S THERE AND I THINK PEOPLE ARE LOOKING PAST THAT.
AND I THINK THAT THAT, YES, 17 PARKING SPACES ADDITIONAL ON THE STREETS, YES, IN CERTAIN PARTS OF THE CITY, SOMEBODY WOULD BE COMPELLED TO PARK THERE AND RUN IN THEIR HOUSE.
THEY'RE GONNA HAVE TO CLIMB THE FENCE OR CUT THROUGH A FENCE INTO THEIR BACKYARD BECAUSE IT'S QUITE A BIT AWAY FROM, UH, WHERE THEY'RE GONNA BE GOING TO.
SO, UM, IT'S NOT A AS MUCH DESTINATION PARK.
UH, THE AMPHITHEATER COULD PRESENT THAT OPPORTUNITY AT TIMES.
UM, BUT IT IS A TRAIL SYSTEM THAT HAS TO COME IN THERE.
AND WE'VE GOT SEVERAL OF THESE AROUND TOWN THAT DON'T HAVE PARKING LOTS.
YOU KNOW, IT'S, IT'S FIND YOUR SPOT PARK IN THE OFFICE ACROSS THE STREET.
WE HAVE SOME THAT HAVE DESIGNATED.
SO I'M, I'M COMFORTABLE WITH WHERE WE'RE GOING WITH THIS.
UH, IF, IF YOU'RE TELLING ME THERE'S GONNA BE ADDING 17 MORE, RIGHT? THE, THE CONDITION CURRENTLY SAYS 15.
DO YOU WANNA UPDATE CONDITION NUMBER 11 TO READ 17? THE APPLICANT DID PROVIDE A SITE PLAN SHOWING THAT THEY, THEY COULD ADD UP TO 17 AT SNO SPACES PLANNING COMMISSION DID NOT HAVE THE SITE PLAN WITH THE ON STREET PARKING ADDED.
SO IT WAS UNKNOWN HOW MANY SPACES COULD FIT THERE.
ANY OTHER QUESTIONS FOR STAFF ON THIS? THANK YOU, MR. WOODMAN.
WOULD THE APPLICANT LIGHT COME FORWARD? THANK YOU.
LEMME PUT IT IN, UH, THE PRESENTATION THAT,
[01:55:01]
ARE YOU GUYS ABLE TO SEE THAT AS WELL? YEAH.KENNETH WOOD THREE 50 RESEARCH COURT, PEACHTREE CORNERS, GEORGIA, THANK YOU FOR LETTING US PRESENT TONIGHT.
I'LL KIND OF ADDRESS A LOT OF THE DIFFERENT ITEMS THAT WE HAD HEARD, UM, AS WELL AS TALK ABOUT WHERE WE'VE BEEN, UH, DIFFERENT COMMUNICATIONS, THE SITE WE'RE LOOKING AT THE 62 ACRES.
WE FEEL LIKE, AS I WAS LOOKING AT IT FROM A PLANNING STANDPOINT, THE WAY WE'RE LOOKING AT IT NOW WAS ALMOST BE THE WAY I WOULD APPROACH IT.
I'LL TALK ABOUT KIND OF LAKE STREET, UM, THE WAY MORE DRIVE KIND OF SETS UP THE TRAFFIC.
A LOT OF CONVERSATIONS WE HAD WITH NEIGHBORS ABOUT, THEY COULDN'T IMAGINE IF A, AN OFFICE BUILDING LIKE THIS ACTUALLY CAME IN WITH, YOU KNOW, THE LITTLE SIDE ROADS THEY'RE EXPERIENCING, UM, AND THE DIFFERENT FLOW.
YOU KNOW, THE REASON WE WANT TO MODIFY THE MIXED USE IS REALLY WHERE IT IS.
AND YOU CAN KIND OF SEE IT FROM THE SLIDE HERE.
IT IS GREAT ACCESS IF YOU WORK IN TOWN, IF YOU WORK OUTTA TOWN, WHEREVER YOU KIND OF ARE, IT'S VERY EASY TO GET AROUND.
IT'S ALSO WITHIN THE HUB OF SO MANY OF THE CITIES, UM, REALLY INITIATIVES, AMENITIES, OUTSIDE VENUES AND EVERYTHING THAT WE HAVE.
THIS IS A LOOK AT WHERE YOU CAN SEE IT TODAY.
UM, I'VE GOT A LOT OF PHOTOS THAT WE WENT OUT.
WE'VE DONE A LOT OF SITE VISITS TO THINK ABOUT THE WAY WE DE, YOU KNOW, DEMONSTRATE AND LOOK AT THIS SITE, UH, THE WAY IT SETS UP THE ARCHITECTURE.
WE CAN TALK THROUGH THAT IN EVERY WAY.
THIS IS THE EXISTING PLAN AS WE OVERLAY IT.
AND YOU CAN KIND OF SEE THAT OFFICE BUILDING IF YOU'RE IN THE TOWN HOMES ACROSS.
AND THOSE ARE THE REVISED TOWN HOMES.
YOU HAD TOLL THAT DID ONE SECTION OF TOWN HOMES THAT WERE FOUR STORY.
AND THEN NEW ONES ARE A SMALLER PRODUCT THAT ARE THE THREE STORY PRODUCT THAT ARE OUT THERE.
UH, THEN YOU HAVE THE MULTIFAMILY, UH, YOU HAVE THE PARK DECK.
SO RIGHT ACROSS WOULD'VE BEEN THAT OFFICE BUILDING COMING OUT ONTO LAKE DRIVE, UH, WHICH IS THIS INTERNAL STREET, UH, THAT RUNS HERE ON, ON THIS.
AND HAS, UH, THE PARKING THAT WAS ALONG THE, BASICALLY PUT IN HERE AND THROUGH THIS AREA.
A COUPLE OF THINGS JUST TO POINT OUT IS, YOU KNOW, THE, THERE IS AN ADDITIONAL 150 SPACES IN THE MULTIFAMILY DECK.
UH, THOSE ARE AVAILABLE FOR THE RETAIL, THE FUTURE RETAIL.
THEY ARE AVAILABLE TO THE SIDE.
50% OF THOSE I CAN LET, UH, TYLER'S WITH ME TODAY TALK ABOUT THAT.
THERE'S ANOTHER OVER 40, UH, PARKING HERE ON THE FUTURE RETAIL THEN I BELIEVE THEY'RE AROUND 40 TOTAL AS YOU GO UP AND DOWN THE STREET.
UH, WHAT WE WERE LOOKING AT IS PUTTING IN ADDITIONAL ONES THAT ARE HERE AND I'LL TALK ABOUT SOME NEIGHBOR CONVERSATIONS I'VE HAD, UH, AT CZIM.
THEN AN ADDITION THAT REALLY HELPS SCULPT OUR PLAN FOR THIS WAS A COMMENTS FROM THE NEIGHBORS AND KIND OF GETTING TO WHERE WE ARE TODAY.
AND THIS IS KIND OF A LOOK AT WHERE THAT WOULD BE KIND OF WHERE THAT OFFICE WAS FACING THE TOWN HOMES.
AND LIKE I SAID, WHEN I, WHEN I LOOK AT THIS, THE WAY WE HAVE THE, THE MOST CURRENT PLAN FEELS LIKE THE RIGHT PLAN FOR ME IN TERMS OF THE WAY WE SET IT UP, HAVING THE, THE, THE MULTIFAMILY AND THEN AS YOU GO DOWN, HAVING THE RETAIL AND THEN THE TOWN HOMES.
AND THEN AS WE'RE KIND OF KEEP GOING TOWARD THAT LEG, THAT'S WHY WE ALSO HAVE THE DETACH.
SO WE'RE BRINGING IN A DIFFERENT PRODUCT TYPE.
IT IS AN URBAN DETACH AS YOU'VE SEEN A LOT OF TIMES, UH, IN THE CITY THAT WE'VE PRESENTED ON DIFFERENT PROJECTS.
UH, AND THIS IS KIND OF THAT SIDE BY SIDE COMPARISON.
AS WE, AS WE MENTIONED, WE'RE STILL WELL ABOVE, WE'RE STILL 40% OFFICE ON THIS.
UH, WE STILL HAVE ANOTHER 150,000 SQUARE FEET OF OFFICE TO CONSTRUCT AS PART OF THE DEVELOPMENT.
UM, THAT WOULD BE ON THE THIRD AND URBAN PIECE.
AND THAT ACTUALLY EXITS UP TOWARD LAKEVIEW.
UH, THAT, THAT PART YOU ALSO HAVE THE COLONIAL THAT'S HERE AND THE OTHER EXISTING OFFICE THAT'S HERE.
BUT THIS IS THAT OTHER PROPOSED SECTION THAT'S HERE.
SO IF YOU TOOK AWAY THE 200, YOU STILL HAVE ALL THE OFFICE THAT'S KIND OF ON THAT WESTERN SIDE, THE PROPOSED WHAT'S UP THERE ON THE TOP, AS WELL AS COMING DOWN TO COLONIAL AND THE ADDITIONAL BUILDING THAT'S HERE, UM, ON THE SITE.
AS YOU KEEP GOING FURTHER LOOKING, LOOKING AT THE PLAN, WHAT WE TRIED TO DO WAS REALLY THINK ABOUT THE FRONTAGE.
UH, THE PLAN WAS MODIFIED OVER TIME.
WE, WE WANTED TO PRESERVE THE LANDSCAPING THAT'S HERE.
IT'S VERY NICE OF WHAT WAS INSTALLED.
UH, THE TOWN HOMES WE MET, UH, THE RESIDENTS GAVE US COMMENTS THAT THE, THE STREET PARKING'S USED A LOT, WHETHER IT'S PILATES OR DIFFERENT TYPE OF THE RETAIL USERS THAT ARE THERE.
UH, AND SO TO LOOK INTERNALLY AT HOW MUCH PARKING, UH, ON OUR CURRENT PLAN, WE HAVE ALMOST 50% GUEST PARKING, WHICH IS HIGHER THAN MOST, UH, SINGLE FAMILY DETACHED OR TOWN HOME DEVELOPMENTS I'VE DONE, UM, IN THE CITY.
SO WE DID INCREASE THAT BASED ON THAT.
WE PROBABLY COULD GET THAT UP EVEN ABOUT FOUR MORE INTERNALLY HERE.
UH, WE ARE LOOKING TO HAVE AN ACTIVE AMENITY, A NICE LITTLE HIGH-END BULL, UH, CABANA, UM, OR OTHER TYPE OF LITTLE PAVILION.
WE PUSHED EVERYTHING BACK FURTHER FROM THE ROAD.
SO YOU HAVE KIND OF THIS LONG STREET SCAPE.
AND THAT'S REALLY WHAT SOME OF THOSE RENDERINGS ARE KIND OF TRYING TO DO, IS TRYING TO TALK ABOUT WHERE WE'RE, WHERE WE'RE PRESERVING THAT FRONTED GREEN AND SET THINGS BACK A LITTLE BIT.
SO THERE'LL BE SET BACK A LITTLE BIT MORE SINCE THEY'RE DEEPER IN THE DEVELOPMENT.
THESE ARE SOME OF THE PICTURES.
AND THE REASON WHY WE FEEL LIKE THE ADDITIONAL RESIDENTIAL WOULD BE SUCH AN AMENITY HERE IS IT'S, IT'S REALLY AMAZING TO WALK OUT THERE.
UH, WHEN YOU WALK AROUND THIS AREA, THESE
[02:00:01]
ARE SOME OF THE DIFFERENT ONES.THE RENDERINGS THAT YOU SEE HERE, WHICH ARE THE, THE 3D ONES.
THEY'RE REALLY JUST SHOW THE GREEN SPACE.
THE COLORED ONES ARE THE ONES OF THE ACTUAL ARCHITECTURE.
THIS IS ACTUALLY HOW MUCH SPACE WE'RE PRESERVING.
THE ALPHA, BASICALLY THAT ADDITIONAL TRAIL.
WE'RE ALSO ADDING IT AS YOU GO UP TO THE SIDE.
UH, THIS WOULD BE OUR AMENITY AREA KIND OF SUNK BACK INTO THE SIDE OF WHAT WE'RE PROPOSING.
THIS IS A FEEL OF HOW LARGE THAT SPACE WOULD BE, UH, IN THAT AREA.
AND THEN THIS IS KIND OF AN OVERHEAD VIEW WHERE WE'RE LOOKING AT AND WHETHER WE'RE HAVING THE SPORT COURTS.
WE'RE DOING KIND OF A, A NICE LITTLE POOL AREA RIGHT HERE, BUT WE HAD THOSE SINGLE FAMILY DETAX WHERE WE'RE BRINGING A DIFFERENT TYPE OF PRODUCT TO THIS, A DIFFERENT SQUARE FOOTAGE TRYING TO HIT THAT ATTAINABLE PRICE POINTS.
WE'RE STARTING IN THE SIXES AND GOING UP AND HAVE A DIFFERENT TYPE OF, STARTING WITH A LITTLE LESS SQUARE FOOTAGE, BUT THE ARCHITECTURE TO BE COMPLIMENTARY.
UM, AND I'LL TALK ABOUT THAT AS WE GO FORWARD.
SO THESE IMAGES THAT ARE HERE, THESE ARE THE, THE ARCHITECTURAL IMAGES.
UM, AND I'VE WORKED WITH TRADE AND KIND OF AROUND A LOT OF DIFFERENT PLACES.
THEY BUILD A VERY, VERY HIGH END PRODUCT FRONT OF PER SQUARE FOOT BASIS.
THE PRICE WILL BE THE SAME IF NOT MORE.
SO IF THERE'S, YOU KNOW, 3,500 SQUARE FOOT TOLL PRODUCT AND THESE ARE 22 TO 2,600, IT WOULD BE THE SAME PRICE PER SQUARE FOOT.
IT'S JUST THAT THEY'RE A MORE OF AN ATTAINABLE SIZE OF WHAT WE SEE, WHICH IS MORE CONSTANT THAT YOU SEE IN THE CITY IS MORE THIS SIZE.
THAT TOLL JUST HAD TO BE A LITTLE LARGER.
AND SO WE HAVE DRB FOR THE ARCHITECTURE.
WE CAN DEFINITELY BE COMPLIMENTARY.
THAT'S WHAT WE WANT TO DO, UH, FOR THE PROJECT AS WE GO THROUGH.
AND JUST A COUPLE OTHER THINGS I WANNA SHOW.
AS WE, AS WE MENTIONED, THESE ARE SOME OF THE DIFFERENT ONES THAT, THAT, THAT REON DOES ALL OVER, WHETHER IT'S DOWNTOWN AREAS OR SOME OF THOSE MAJOR REDUCTION IN THE TRAFFIC.
UM, WHEN WE TALKED TO THE NEIGHBORS, THEY TALKED ABOUT REALLY NOT WANTING TO SEE ANOTHER 200,000 SQUARE FOOT ON THAT LAKE ROAD, WHICH IS THAT INTERNAL ROAD, HOW IT WOULD POUR OUT TO THERE THAT WOULD BE THERE.
AND SO RESIDENTIAL IS A MUCH LARGER REDUCTION FOR THE TRAFFIC IN THAT AREA.
UM, WE DID TALK TO THIRD AND URBAN, UM, TYLER CAN DISCUSS THAT.
AND LIKE YOU SAID, I MEAN IT IS IN THERE FOR THE CONDITION.
UH, THEY NEED TO PROVIDE IT, BUT WE WANNA MAKE SURE WE ARE PROVIDING OUR RESIDENCE.
THIS WAS THAT LATEST PLAN I WAS ASKED TO DO BY THE PLANNING COMMISSION.
I CAN GET 17 SPACES ALONG HERE.
UH, WE CAN DEDICATE THAT FOR THE ALPHA LOOP.
UH, THEY WOULD BE CONSTRUCTED.
THEY WOULD BE CONDITIONED TO BE CONSTRUCTED.
UM, WE ALSO HAVE ANOTHER 24, WHICH I CAN TAKE UP WITH EITHER A FEW MORE HERE, UH, SO THAT I'M MORE 50% OR MORE ON THE GUEST PARKING, WHICH IS MORE THAN MOST DEVELOPMENTS.
SO WE'RE MAKING SURE WE'RE TAKING INTO CONSIDERATION WHAT HAS BEEN SAID ABOUT THE PARKING, UM, FROM THE RESIDENTS.
WE LISTENED, WE ALSO ADD A LOT MORE INTERNAL PARKING, UM, AND REALLY TRYING TO REALLY MAKE A CREATIVE PLAN THAT FITS INTO THIS AND KIND OF THIS SURROUNDING AREAS FOR THIS.
AND WE REALLY TRIED TO TAKE, YOU KNOW, THIS 2045, WE'RE LOOKING AT THE COMP PLAN AND IT TALKS ABOUT THE HOUSING AND THAT'S KIND OF EXACTLY WHAT WE'RE DOING WHEN YOU READ IT.
AND THEN THE OFFICE VACANCIES AND REALLY NOT TRY AND TAKE AWAY SOMETHING WE'RE TEARING DOWN, BUT REALLY LOOKING AT IT, UM, FOR WHAT THIS AREA HAS AND THE, AND, AND, AND WHAT IT NEEDS.
BUT LET ME HAVE, UH, TYLER COME UP AND TALK ABOUT A COUPLE OF THOSE SUBS.
IF I CAN PAUSE THE TIME SECOND TO GIVE YOU A SECOND, GIVE A WARNING.
GOT LESS THAN TWO MINUTES LEFT TO PRESENT.
UH, GOOD EVENING LADIES AND GENTLEMEN.
THANK YOU ALL FOR HAVING US FOR HAPPY TO BE HERE.
UH, I JUST WANNA GIVE A LITTLE BIT OF HISTORY ON THE SITE AND KIND OF TELL YOU HOW WE ARRIVED AT THIS APPLICATION IN THIS MOMENT.
UM, 10 YEARS, UH, SINCE WE ACQUIRED THE INITIAL PROPERTY TO INCLUDE THE, THE FULL 62 ACRES AND WE REALLY HAVE BEEN VERY PATIENT.
UM, WE HAD NO IDEA WHAT COVID WOULD'VE DONE.
UM, WE, WE'VE TAKEN SIGNIFICANT SWINGS AND MISSES AT WONDERFUL TENANTS TO THE LIKES OF, UM, MORGAN STANLEY, OTA MARSH, PEO, UH, BHM CORRUGATED BOX MANUFACTURING.
UH, WE WORKED WITH, WITH CHARLIE AND KATHY AND MICHAEL AT CHASING THESE TENANTS.
WE PUT OUR VERY, VERY, VERY BEST FOOT FORWARD.
AND IN THE END, IT JUST ENDED UP BEING COST.
WE HAD HUGE COMPETITION AT CONTINUUM AND KDC, THOSE ARE WONDERFUL SITES.
BUT JUST A COUPLE OF STATS RIGHT NOW.
OUR SITE IS JUST VERY UNFORTUNATELY, UNIQUELY POSITIONED IN THE MIDDLE OF ABOUT 2.1 MILLION SQUARE FEET OF OFFICE.
THOSE RENT RATES ARE RIGHT AROUND, UH, $24 NET, $32 GROSS.
WHEN WE WERE UNDERWRITING THESE, THESE OFFERINGS FOR BUILD TO SUITS FOR THESE GREAT TENANTS, OUR, OUR RENTS WERE APPROACHING THE SIXTIES NET.
WE KNOW THAT WHEN GEORGIA 400 CENTER SOLD THOSE, THOSE THREE BUILDINGS, UM, UH, THE CAMPUS SOLD FOR $91 MILLION, UM, RIGHT BEFORE COVID AND, UH, RECENTLY TRANSACTED FOR $39 MILLION.
OFFICE IS DRAMATICALLY DISTRESSED.
THERE'S 20 MILLION SQUARE FEET OF OFFICE HERE IN THE CITY.
I'M NOT TELLING YOU ALL ANYTHING YOU DON'T KNOW, BUT THIS IS A PUBLIC FORUM EXCEPT FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE PUBLIC.
I JUST WANNA GIVE THAT INFORMATION.
[02:05:02]
UM, AND ALFRED HAS THREE JOBS, UH, FOR EVERY ONE HOUSING UNIT IN THE CITY.SO AS WE LOOK AT THE MEDIAN HOME PRICE, INTA $730,000 WHEN WE'RE COMING WITH OUR PRICE POINTS IN THIS USE, UM, THAT THIS IS HOW WE ARRIVED AT THE PRODUCT THAT WE'RE DELIVERING, UH, WE SEE IT AS VERY, I'M SORRY, I'M GONNA HAVE TO INTERRUPT FOR A SECOND.
SO IF Y'ALL WANT TO EXTEND FOR BOTH SIDES TO ALLOW HIM TO FINISH, THAT WOULD BE, UM, SOMETHING TO TAKE UP WITH A MOTION AND A A VOTE.
DO WE HAVE A MOTION? MAKE A MOTION TO EXTEND THE TIME EQUALLY ON BOTH SIDES FOR SECOND, ANOTHER FIVE MINUTES.
SECOND, HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND.
ANY DISCUSSION? DO I NEED TO CALL FOR PUBLIC COMMENT? ALL THOSE.
AND MR. MAYOR, IF I COULD JUST HAVE ONE SECOND TO ADD THIS VOTE INTO THE SYSTEM OR YOU COULD ELECT TO VOTE BY HAND.
ALL THOSE IN FAVOR OF EXTENDING BY FIVE MINUTES.
UH, I WOULDN'T HAVE GONE SO FAST IF I WAS GONNA GET A COUPLE MORE MINUTES.
UM, CAN I START OVER? UH, FIVE'S BETTER THAN TWO
UM, AGAIN, I THINK MY POINT IN, IN SAYING ALL THAT IS, AND, AND MOST OF Y'ALL KNOW ALL THIS THINGS WITH YOUR WORK WITH THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN.
UM, I, I JUST, I I THINK MY POINT THERE IS, YOU KNOW, DATING BACK TO, TO 2019 WHEN WE, AND 2020 WHEN WE DID OUR COLONIAL PIPELINE, UH, OFFICE DEVELOPMENT, IT WAS FLEE OUR INTENTION TO DO THIS OFFICE BUILDING AND WE'D LOVE NOTHING MORE, QUITE FRANKLY.
UM, IT, IT WOULD BE OUR PLEASURE AND SOMETHING WE, WE MEANT WHEN, WHEN WE CAME FORWARD IN 2019, UM, WE, WE DO NOT SEE THE OFFICE MARKET COMING BACK.
THIS IS JUST ONE PERSON'S OPINION.
IT'S IN A MARKET WE'RE IN EVERY DAY.
THE CITY OF ALFRED IS A MARKET WE'VE BEEN INVESTED IN AND WE BELIEVE WE'VE BEEN GOOD STEWARDS OF WITH WHAT YOU ALL HAVE DOUBT US WITH TO GO DEVELOP AND MOVE FORWARD.
UM, WE, WE DO NOT SEE A VIABLE OP UH, OFFICE SOLUTION HERE FOR MANY, MANY, MANY YEARS.
UM, UH, AGAIN, AND, AND WE WOULD LOVE THAT.
UM, BUT RIGHT NOW THERE'S LITTLE OVER 4 MILLION SQUARE FEET OF VACANCY IN THE CITY.
AND AGAIN, TO, TO KEN'S POINT, WE JUST SEE THIS AS A VERY, UM, UH, COHESIVE, COMPLIMENTARY USE.
UH, THIS COULD HAVE BEEN MUCH, MUCH MORE DENSIFIED, BUT WE, WE HAD LOTS OF COMMUNITY MEETINGS.
WE, WE, WE'VE TALKED TO LOTS OF FOLKS.
MY FIRST MEETING WITH STAFF ON THIS WAS BACK IN APRIL, SO THIS JUST REALLY WAS NOT A HURRY DECISION.
THAT IS, UM, AND AGAIN, THE WAY WE'RE LOOKING AT PRICE PER SQUARE FOOT COMPARABLE TO THE, THE OTHER RESIDENTIAL USE IN THIS PARK.
UM, AND ALSO THE, THE PRICE POINT DIFFERENCE BETWEEN, UH, ATTACHED AND DETACHED SADDLES, THAT $730,000 MEDIUM PRICE.
AND SO WE FEEL REALLY GOOD ABOUT A SMALLER SQUARE FOOTAGE.
UM, BUT, BUT A VERY HIGH END, VERY, UH, COMPLIMENTARY VALUE OFFERING.
I, I DO, UH, AND, AND, AND KEN MENTIONED THIS, BUT I JUST WANNA BE CLEAR ABOUT THE MODEL IMAGES THAT, THAT'S FOR SCALING.
AND I, I, UH, COUNCILMAN BRADY, UH, AND, AND MERKEL, I DID HEAR THOSE COMMENTS AND, AND WE REC RESPECT THAT THAT'S NOT WHAT WE'RE BUILDING.
AND, AND WE'LL COMMIT TO YOU TONIGHT.
THAT'S NOT WHAT WE'RE BUILDING.
UM, AND, AND IT, IT DOESN'T LOOK VERY GOOD BECAUSE THAT, YOU KNOW, WE, WE WOULD NOT GET BEHIND THAT.
THOSE, UM, RENDERINGS ARE WHAT WE INTEND TO BUILD.
UM, BUT OF COURSE, WITH THE ERB IN FRONT OF US, UH, WE'RE GONNA BE REALLY GOOD LISTENERS THERE.
UM, AND, AND, AND LOOK FORWARD TO THAT DISCUSSION.
UM, UH, THAT IS ALL, AND I SURE APPRECIATE THE TIME AND CONSIDERATION.
QUESTIONS FOR THE APPLICANT? COUNCILMAN DORITO? REDO.
I DON'T KNOW IF I SHOULD QUESTION TYLER OR, OR BOTH OF YOU.
THANKS FOR BEING HERE THIS EVENING, AND, UH, YES, SIR.
APPRECIATE YOU MEETING WITH ME IN ADVANCE.
JUST KIND OF GOING OVER THE, UH, INITIAL THOUGHTS OF WHAT YOU MIGHT PROPOSE FOR THE CITY.
UM, I JUST WANNA ASK YOU A QUESTION BECAUSE I'M, I'M KIND OF, UM, MY BIGGEST CONCERN, AND I'D SAY THIS IN MY QUESTIONS TO MR. WOODMAN, BUT I'M TO HOLD IT FOR YOU AND COUNCILMAN BRADY ALREADY BROUGHT IT UP, IS, IS THE QUALITY OF THESE HOMES.
UM, AND BEFORE I GET TO THAT, I WANT TO ASK YOU JUST YOUR PERSPECTIVE, UM, IN A MASTER PLAN COMMUNITY, PARTICULARLY WHERE YOU HAVE VARIOUS COMPONENTS, AND WE HAVE, YOU KNOW, THE TOLL BROTHERS DEVELOPMENT AND THE RESIDENTIAL E EDEN AND ALL THAT STUFF, WHICH IS BEAUTIFUL
[02:10:01]
DEVELOPMENT, AS POINTED OUT ALREADY.IF I, AS I WAS GOING THROUGH THIS APPLICATION, PREPARING FOR TONIGHT, I PUT MYSELF IN THE SHOES OF PEOPLE WHO ALREADY INVESTED MONEY IN THAT AREA, IN THAT DEVELOPMENT, IN THAT MASTER PLAN.
USUALLY WHEN YOU GO, YOU PURCHASE A HOME, YOU LOOK AT THE MASTER PLAN, YOU KIND OF EYES WIDE OPEN, YOU KNOW WHAT YOU'RE INVESTING IN, YOU KNOW, WHAT'S GONNA HAPPEN IN THE FUTURE.
UM, WHAT DO YOU SAY TO THOSE HOMEOWNERS IF THERE ARE ONES OUT THERE THAT ARE CONCERNED ABOUT, YOU KNOW, THEY BROUGHT IN WITH, WITH THE SENSE OF THE MASTER PLAN THAT WAS PRESENTED TO THEM, AND THEY WERE MAKING A PRETTY SIGNIFICANT INVESTMENT.
'CAUSE THEY'RE VERY EXPENSIVE HOMES, UM, ABOUT NOW COMING IN WITH THIS HOUSING PROJECT.
AND TYLER, YOU, YOU OUTLINED IT WELL, AS FAR AS THE EFFORTS OF, OF TPA AND EVERYTHING, I, I, I, I HEAR YOU, I HEAR YOU ON THAT, AND I'LL TAKE THAT INTO CONSIDERATION.
BUT WHAT DO YOU SAY THE PEOPLE WHO INVEST IN THEIR, WHO NOW SEE THIS POTENTIAL CHANGE AND FEEL LIKE THEIR VALUE OF THEIR HOMES MIGHT BE POTENTIALLY REDUCED AS A RESULT OF THE QUALITY OF THE HOMES THAT YOU ARE SUGGESTING YOU PUT IN THERE? YES, SIR.
THANK, THANK YOU FOR THAT QUESTION.
AND WHAT I, WHAT I'D LIKE TO START BY RESPONDING TO IS YOUR, YOUR CONCERN ABOUT THE QUALITY AND JUST LET YOU KNOW THAT WE'VE, WE'VE VERY CAREFULLY EVALUATED THE MARKET AND, AND FEEL LIKE THE QUALITY IS, IS LACKING IN NO WAY AND VERY, VERY SUITABLE FOR THE CITY.
UH, EARLY INVESTORS CAME IN WITH AN IDEA OF WHAT THIS MASTER PLAN WAS.
I'VE SPOKEN TO MANY OF THE NEIGHBORS IN THIS NEIGHBORHOOD AS RECENTLY AS EVEN THIS AFTERNOON ABOUT OUR INTENT HERE.
UM, I UNDERSTAND THAT THE NEIGHBORS DON'T CARE ABOUT MARKET CONDITIONS.
UM, BUT AGAIN, JUST TO, TO HELP EVALUATE AND HELP JUSTIFY OUR DECISION TO DO THIS IS, THIS WAS NOT AN OVERNIGHT DECISION.
COVID WAS, YOU KNOW, SIX YEARS AGO.
WE'VE, WE'VE, WE'VE MADE VERY, VERY, VERY, UH, RIGOROUS EFFORTS.
AND AGAIN, I, I THINK THE CITY STAFF WOULD, WOULD AGREE AND HAS SEEN THOSE EFFORTS TAKE PLACE.
AND AFTER MANY YEARS OF THOUGHTFUL CONSIDERATION, WE DO FEEL LIKE THIS IS A COMMENSURATE PRODUCT.
WE DO, IT, IT, I WOULD TELL YOU THAT THE SQUARE FOOT PRICE IS NOT, NOT ONLY COMPARABLE, IT'S A LITTLE HIGHER ACTUALLY ON, ON THE PRODUCT THAT WE'RE OFFERING HERE.
UM, THE AESTHETICS WE'RE PROUD OF.
WE, LIKE, IT'S NOT EVERYONE'S GONNA PICK THE SAME COLORS AND PICK THE SAME FINISHES, BUT WE ARE GONNA BE REALLY GOOD LISTENERS.
WE WANT TO BE COHESIVE WITH THE NEIGHBORHOOD.
WITH THE CCIM, THE MULTIPLE PHONE CALLS AND MEETINGS AND EMAILS AND OTHER THINGS THAT WE'VE HAD WITH NEIGHBORS, WE'VE REALLY TRIED TO SOFTLY MOVE THIS INITIATIVE FORWARD.
WE'RE, WE'RE NOT TRYING TO SLAM IT DOWN ANYONE'S THROAT.
UM, THIS, THIS SITE COULD BE MORE DENSE.
I THINK WE LOOKED AT A 75 TOWN HOME UNIT.
WE WE'RE NOT, WE'RE NOT GONNA SHOVEL THIS STUFF IN HERE.
THAT WOULD'VE BEEN MORE PROFITABLE FOR US.
THE CITY OF ALFREDO WOULD'VE HATED IT AND WOULDN'T HAVE GOTTEN IT THROUGH.
BUT WE, WE REALLY TRIED TO BE THOUGHTFUL ABOUT HOW WE LAID OUT THE, THE SMALL, UH, LOT DETACHED TO BE STREET FACING, JUST TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE GIVING SOMETHING VERY INVITING, VERY SOFT, UH, A LITTLE MORE ATTAINABLE, UM, STILL QUITE EXPENSIVE, QUITE NICE, BUT A LITTLE MORE ATTAINABLE, UH, TOWN HOME, UH, IN THE CENTER OF THE, IN THE SITE SORT OF NESTED IN THERE, JUST TO ALLOW THE, THE, THE SMALL LOT DETACH JUST TO AESTHETICALLY PLEASE BE VERY SOFT.
SO THERE, THERE WAS A LOT OF THOUGHT GIVEN TO THIS.
UM, AND AGAIN, I I I, I HATE TO JUST HANG MY HAT ON PRICE SQUARE FOOT ANALYSES, BUT THAT, THAT, THAT'S, THAT'S THE PRIMARY DIFFERENCE WE'RE SEEING IN THE GROSS TOW.
IS THAT TYPE OF DENSITY REQUIRED IN THAT SIX AND WHATEVER IT IS, ACRE BLOCK, UH, IS THAT REQUIRED TO BE ABLE TO MAKE THIS HAPPEN? UH, YES.
I, I THINK I, I WOULD TELL YOU THAT IT WASN'T A MAGIC NUMBER THAT WE WERE SEEKING.
IT WAS REALLY MORE ABOUT MAKING SURE THAT THERE WAS A NUMBER THAT WE COULD PENCIL ON THE BACK.
I, I, I, I KIND OF ASSUME THAT WAS THE ANSWER, BUT I JUST WANTED TO GET ON THE RECORD.
THERE'S A DEVELOPMENT, I MENTIONED THE NAMES THAT, UM, OVER NORTH POINT KIMBALL BRIDGE ROAD THAT'S UNDER CONSTRUCTION THAT LOOKS VERY SIMILAR TO YOUR RENDITIONS.
AND I, I, I HEARD YOU EARLIER, THAT'S JUST INITIAL, I GET IT.
YOU MAKE CHANGES AND ALL THAT STUFF.
BUT I SAT IN THE AUDIENCE OF THAT HEARING, AND I REMEMBER THIS, I WENT ON COUNCIL YET, BUT I WAS IN THE AUDIENCE, AND I REMEMBER SEEING THE RENDITIONS OF THOSE PICTURES AND THINKING, WOW, THIS THING LOOKS INSTITUTIONAL,
[02:15:01]
TOO SYMMETRICAL.THEY LOOK LIKE PENCIL BUILDINGS.
AND I KIND OF GET THAT SENSE FROM LOOKING AT YOUR RENDITIONS, THAT THAT'S WHAT THIS MIGHT LOOK LIKE.
I PERSONALLY DON'T LIKE THAT LOOK FOR THE, FOR CITY OF ALPHARETTA.
AND SO I THROW OUT TO YOU, AND YOU'VE ALREADY HEARD THIS, SO YOU DON'T NEED TO RESPOND, BUT I THINK THE DESIGN, IF THE COUNCIL DECIDES TO APPROVE THIS THIS EVENING, THE DESIGN OF THESE BUILDINGS HAVE TO PUT A LOT OF THOUGHT INTO IT.
THEY HAVE TO BE TO THE QUALITY OF, TO BROTHERS OF WHAT THEY'RE DOING AND, AND, AND, AND FIT INTO THE ENVIRONMENT OF, OF WHAT TPA HAS DONE SO FAR AS A TREMENDOUS COMMUNITY OVER THERE.
UM, AND, UH, THAT AMENITY IS, IS BEAUTIFUL.
UM, A LOT OF PEOPLE DON'T EVEN KNOW IT'S THERE.
THEY, THAT AS COUNCIL, AND WE MENTIONED EARLIER, WE CAN GO BACK AND WALK OUR DOGS IF WE FEEL LIKE IT, RIGHT? SO IF I HAD JUST ONE CONCERN, BECAUSE I, I ASKED ABOUT THE PARKING EARLIER BECAUSE I WAS TRYING TO UNDERSTAND THE HISTORY OF IT, AND MAYOR PRO TEM, UM, YOU KNOW, OUTLINED IT WELL.
UM, THE PARKING REQUIREMENT IS THERE, AND IF YOU WANT TO ADD 17 SPACES ON THE STREET, THAT'S GREAT, YOU KNOW? UM, BUT THE DEVELOPMENT ITSELF IS, IS IF IT WAS TO BE APPROVED BY THIS COUNCIL, I WOULD HOPE WE WOULD WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THE DESIGN OF THOSE HOMES ARE CONSIDERING THE INVESTMENT THAT PEOPLE HAVE MADE THERE ALREADY IN THOSE VERY EXPENSIVE HOMES, AND THAT IT DOESN'T DIMINISH THE VALUE OF HOMES.
IF ANYTHING, IT WILL ENHANCE THEM.
AND NOT ONLY THAT, IT'LL HAVE A RIPPLING EFFECT TO THE OTHER SIDE OF HAYES BRIDGE HOME, UH, HOMES.
UM, UH, SO, SO I WOULD ASK YOU TO, YOU KNOW, AND I, AND, AND, AND TYLER, I KNOW TALKING TO YOU VERY SINCERE ABOUT THIS STUFF, AND YOU GUYS HAVE BEEN GREAT TO TALK TO BECAUSE YOU'RE VERY TRANSPARENT AND STUFF.
SO I JUST THROW THAT OUT AS KIND OF A, AN ASK, UM, AS COUNCILMAN BRADY ALREADY BROUGHT UP, IT'S, IT'S GONNA BE VERY IMPORTANT THAT THEY'VE BUILT THE QUALITY AND LEVEL THAT IS COMMENSURATE TO WHAT'S ALREADY THERE TODAY AND WHAT THE CITY WOULD EXPECT.
AND WE CAN COMMIT TO THAT TONIGHT.
HES, DID YOU HAVE A QUESTION? YEAH.
UH, GENTLEMEN, WHAT'S THE, UH, STATUS OF THE UNBUILT RETAIL WHEN YOU ENTER INTO THE PROPERTY OFF OF PAYNES BRIDGE? WHAT, UM, THE QUESTION? YEAH, WHAT IS THE STATUS? THE STATUS, YES, SIR.
OF THE UNBUILT RETAIL, THAT'S PART OF THE MIXED USE PROJECT THAT IS NOW RESIDENTIAL AND ONE PRE-SOLD OFFICE BUILDING.
UH, IT WASN'T PRE-SOLD, UM,
UM, THE, THE DENSITY OF THE APARTMENT ITSELF AND THE ABILITY TO OFFER VERY COMPETITIVE RENTS DAY ONE IN AN INLINE SETTING IS, IS, IS, IS, IS HARD TO BE SO MATCHING THAT UP TO A SPECULATIVE RETAIL DEVELOPMENT.
IT'S, IT'S, IT'S APPLES AND WRENCHES AS I TELL MY DAUGHTERS.
YOU KNOW, IT'S JUST, THEY'RE JUST, IT'S TWO UNCOMFORTABLE THINGS.
SO WE'VE, WE'VE ANALYZED FOR MANY YEARS, UH, THE SPECULATIVE, UH, SPECULATIVE DEVELOPMENT THERE AND JUST FELT TIME AND TIME AGAIN, WE WEREN'T ABLE TO COM TO OFFER COMPETITIVE RENTS, TO BRING IN THE, THE TYPES OF USES THAT WE THINK ARE ACCRETIVE THERE, THERE ARE LOTS OF USES THAT WE DON'T THINK BELONG THERE THAT WOULD HAVE COME, UH, TO, TO BE HONEST, I DON'T WANNA DISPARATE ANYONE TONIGHT, BUT WE JUST THINK IT NEEDS TO, TO BE A CERTAIN LEVEL.
UH, INLINE'S BEEN VERY SUCCESSFUL.
WE'VE HAD, WELL, A MED SPA, ANOTHER, UH, PRIVATE TRAINING GYM, UM, HIGH-END ATHLETES FROM ALL OVER THE STATE COME THERE.
UM, THERE'S A PILATES GYM, AND THEN PARIS BAG ED IS UNDER CONSTRUCTION ON THEIR, UH, N PIECE THERE.
SO THE INLINE'S BEEN VERY SUCCESSFUL.
UM, WE GOT VERY, VERY CLOSE RECENTLY, UM, WITH A, A, A NICE, UH, MEXICAN RESTAURANT USER THAT WAS GONNA FRONT THE PARK THERE.
WE WERE REALLY EXCITED ABOUT THAT.
AND IT FELL APART AT THE 11TH HOUR THAT REALLY DERAILED OUR PLANS.
UH, YOU MAY REMEMBER, WE CAME FORWARD, WE GOT APPROVED AT DRB.
WE WERE VERY, VERY, VERY CLOSE.
UM, WE TOOK A HUGE, UH, SWING MISS AT EDDIE V'S.
UM, I CAN GET INTO THE DETAILS OF THIS, BUT THEY WENT RIGHT ACROSS THE STREET.
SO WE, WE, WE WEREN'T UNSUCCESSFUL IN THAT VENTURE.
UM, BUT WE'RE NOT, WE'RE NOT STOPPING.
UM, CAPITAL MARKETS HAVE NOT BEEN KIND TO US IN THE SPECULATIVE OFFERING.
AND I, I WILL SAY THAT I, I, I DON'T WANT TO PRETEND LIKE WE'VE JUST BEEN HARD AT IT SINCE 19.
WE FELT LIKE WE NEEDED THE BODY HEAT TO SUBSTANTIATE THAT SPEC DEVELOPMENT, BUT BY THE TIME IT CAME ONLINE AND WE HAD THE, THE BODY HEAT THERE TO VISIT AND, AND GET THE TRAFFIC THAT WE NEEDED, WE JUST HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO MAKE IT WORK MATHEMATICALLY.
IT'S A MATH PROBLEM FOR US RIGHT NOW, BUT IT'S NOT SOMETHING WE'RE GIVING UP ON.
[02:20:01]
TO HEAR THAT YOU'RE NOT GIVING UP ON IT.THIS WAS, UH, SOLD TO COUNCIL AND THE CITY IS A MIXED USE PROJECT, COMPLETE, COMPLETE WITH ALL THE REQUIREMENTS OF MIXED USE GROCERY STORES, ET CETERA.
AND, UM, RIGHT NOW IT'S A RESIDENTIAL PROJECT THAT HAD A, THAT, THAT HAS A, UH, AN APARTMENT COMPLEX COMPONENT, UH, THAT SOLD TO THE COUNCIL BASED OFF OF THE NEED FOR, UH, UH, THOSE, THOSE HOUSING UNITS FOR EMPLOYEES, FOR OFFICE BUILDINGS THAT WERE GOING TO BE BUILT.
SO, YOU KNOW, WE, WE'VE ABANDONED THE OFFICE BUILDINGS.
WE'RE GOING TO MORE RESIDENTIAL.
SO, UH, YOU KNOW, ARE, ARE YOU OPEN TO ANY TYPE OF CONCURRENCY BETWEEN BUILDING THE RETAIL THAT WAS PROMISED AND IS PART OF THE MIXED USE WITH THIS REQUEST TO CHANGE FROM OFFICE BUILDING TO RESIDENTIAL? OR ARE YOU WANTING TO BUILD THE RESIDENTIAL AND THEN HOPING WE'LL BUILD THE RETAIL, BUT IF THE MARKET CONDITIONS DON'T PREVAIL, WALK AWAY FROM IT IN GREENFIELD, THE FRONT OF THE, THE DEVELOPMENT? YES, SIR.
IN WHICH CASE, IT'S NOT A MIXED USE, IN MY OPINION.
YEAH, WE, WE UNDERSTAND, AND I, I RESPECT THOSE COMMENTS.
NOT HAVING, UH, THERE'S NOT HAVING TIME TO FULLY DIGEST THAT QUESTION AROUND CONCURRENCY AND TWO SEPARATE USERS AND TIMING.
I'M VERY GENUINE IN MY RESPONSE TO YOU ABOUT THE MATHEMATICS, AND FOR THAT REASON, I CANNOT COMMIT TO CONCURRENCY ON THAT TONIGHT.
BUT I WOULD CONSIDER IT ABSOLUTELY.
UM, GIVEN, UM, SOME FURTHER DIALOGUE AND CONVERSATION.
I, I THINK THAT THERE'S A LOT TO GO INTO THAT DISCUSSION AS TO WHAT CONCURRENCY REALLY MEANS, USE SQUARE FOOTAGE, ET CETERA.
SO UNFORTUNATELY I CAN'T COMMIT TO THAT TONIGHT.
UM, AT, AT THE ORIGINAL HEARING, THERE WAS A REFERENCE TO, UH, THERE WAS AN ANTICIPATED 3,150 EMPLOYEES AND 10% OF THAT NET OUT, UH, THE NEED FOR HOUSING UNITS, WHICH WAS THE 315 HOUSING UNITS THAT WERE ORIGINALLY APPROVED.
IS THAT SOMETHING THAT, THAT YOU ALL STILL EMPLOY THAT SORT OF FORMULA? I'M SORRY, WAS THIS, ARE YOU FAMILIAR WITH THAT SOMETHING CRAWFORD HAD 2019? WHAT WAS THE, THE METRIC? I'M SORRY.
WELL, THE JUSTIFICATION FOR TWO, UH, 315 UNITS WAS THAT THERE WOULD BE 3,150 EMPLOYEES, AND FOR EVERY EMPLOYEE, 10% WOULD REQUIRE, BASED ACCORDING TO, ACCORDING TO CRAWFORD, YOUR INVESTORS NEEDED A HOUSING UNIT FOR, UH, ONE OUT OF 10 EMPLOYEES ON THE SITE.
AND I FIGURED YOU GOT TO 3,150 EMPLOYEES.
'CAUSE 200 SQUARE FEET PER EMPLOYEE WORKS OUT TO EXACTLY 630,000 SQUARE FEET, WHICH IS THE PHANTOM NUMBER OF, UH, SQUARE FEET, NOT THE ACTUAL NUMBER THAT WAS GONNA GET BUILT.
SO, UH, IS THAT STILL, I JUST KNOW IS THAT A FORMULA THAT THAT, THAT YOUR DEVELOPER, TPA 360 TECH VILLAGE, UH, EMPLOY THAT FORMULA? UH, HONESTLY, SIR, I THINK THAT PERCENTAGE IS HIGHER BASED ON THE WAY PEOPLE WANT TO LIVE CLOSER WHERE THEY WORK.
SO I WOULD, I WOULD TELL YOU THAT TO REALLY MAKE A MIXED USE DEVELOPMENT WORK LIKE THIS, YOU WOULD, YOU WOULD LIKE TO SEE THAT PERCENTAGE INCREASE.
UM, AND I APOLOGIZE, I'M BAD WITH NAMES.
UH, THE, THE, THE OTHER PERSON UP THERE, OR MAYBE IT WAS YOURSELF, DID SAY, UH, USE THE TERM DEDICATE THE PARKING SPOTS, UH, THE 17, UH, DO YOU MEAN, UH, DEDICATE IN THE, THE, THE LEGAL SENSE OF DEDICATING THEM TO THE CITY? YES, SIR.
AND THIS IS, UM, SOME DISCUSSIONS WE'VE HAD LATER ON WITH STAFF, WE PRESUME, WITH CONVERSATIONS WITH YOU ALL, UM, THAT WE'VE CERTAINLY ENTERTAINED AND ARE WILLING TO PURSUE TOGETHER.
AND, AND IN TERMS OF MY FELLOW COUNCIL MEMBERS EVALUATING HOW WE WOULD MONITOR, UH, COLLECTIVELY THOSE 17 ADDITIONAL PARKING SPOTS, UM, THAT'S, WE'VE ESTABLISHED, THAT'S A PRIVATE ROAD, CORRECT? YES, SIR.
THE, UH, BELIEVE THAT THE CITY HAS A NON-EXCLUSIVE EASEMENT OVER THE ROAD, BUT YES.
AND THE EXISTING HOUSING HAS ITS OWN, THE TOLL BROTHERS HAVE THEIR OWN HOA, CORRECT? THEY DO, YES, SIR.
AND TRAYTON WILL HAVE ITS OWN SEPARATE HOA, CORRECT? THAT'S CORRECT, YES.
AND THE, UH, EDEN HAS ITS OWN PROPERTY MANAGEMENT, CORRECT? YES, SIR.
SO IF SOMEBODY'S VIOLATING RULES, UH, AT LAKEVIEW AND PARKING IN A PLACE THAT'S DESIGNATED FOR PUBLIC ACCESS TO THE PUBLIC AMENITIES, THERE'S REALLY NO WAY INTERNALLY TO ENFORCE THAT BECAUSE IT'S, IT'S OUT ON THE ROAD AND YOU GOT THROUGH COMPETING ORGANIZATIONS.
[02:25:01]
I THINK IT WOULD BE A CHALLENGE.BUT WE DO HAVE SECURITY THERE THAT ROAMS, AND A LOT OF OUR POLICIES REVOLVE AROUND WHETHER OR NOT THE VEHICLE'S BEEN THERE FOR AN EXTENDED PERIOD OF TIME, SUCH LIKE OVER 24 HOURS THEN, THEN, OKAY.
AND WOULD THE ONSITE SECURITY BE SHARED EQUALLY AMONGST THE, UH, HOMEOWNERS ASSOCIATIONS AND PROPERTY MANAGEMENT, OR HOW WOULD THAT BE PROVIDED IF THAT IS THE WAY TO ENSURE PARKING IS AVAILABLE FOR PUBLIC ACCESS TO THE PUBLIC AMENITIES? UM, THAT'S A VERY GOOD QUESTION.
YOU KNOW, TO SAY THAT THEY WOULD, SOMEBODY HAS TO PAY FOR COMMON AMENITIES SUCH AS SECURITY.
AND HOW WOULD THAT BE HANDLED FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE ALPHARETTA RESIDENCE? WHO WOULD WANT TO PARK FOR THOSE AMENITIES? YES, SIR.
THIS IS A NEW CONCEPT FOR ME, SO I'M THINKING THROUGH IT.
THE WAY, IF WE WERE TO DEDICATE THOSE PARKING SPACES, I'M JUST THINKING ABOUT THAT SLIVER AND HOW THAT WOULD, THAT WOULD BE MANAGED IF IT WAS OWNED BY THE CITY, THEN AT, I THINK JUST ON PAPER, IT WOULD BE OWNED, OPERATED, MAINTAINED, AND SECURED BY THE CITY.
WE'RE, WE'RE OPEN TO FOR, TO, TO, TO SECURING.
AND BECAUSE WE, WE ARE, WE'RE ALREADY CLOSE IN PROXIMITY ON BOTH SIDES OVER THE WHOLE 47 ACRES.
SO, UH, I'M NOT TRYING TO AVOID THE QUESTION.
I'M JUST, AND, AND IF, AND, AND I DON'T WANT TO BELABOR THIS, BUT IF THE SPOTS REMAINED UNDER THE, UH, RESPONSIBILITY OF LAKEVIEW, AND YOU HAVE SECURITY WHO GOES ABOUT PAYING FOR LAKEVIEW SECURITY TO ENSURE PARKING IS PROPERLY ENFORCED YES.
THAT, THAT'S A FUNCTION OF THE ASSOCIATION AND THE OPERATING EXPENSE.
I KNOW THIS WON'T SURPRISE YOU.
I, I, I MET WITH YOU BRIEFLY BEFORE THE MEETING, BUT, UM, YOU KNOW, DRIVING THROUGH THERE AT 10:00 AM ON THE NOSE THIS MORNING, THERE'S 14 PARALLEL PARKING SPOTS IN FRONT OF THE BUILT TOLL BROTHERS AT THE GREENFIELD THAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT ON EACH SIDE OF THE STREET.
AND OUT OF THE 28 PARKING SPOTS, THREE WERE EMPTY, THREE PARALLEL SPOTS WERE EMPTY.
I, I TOOK THE PHOTOS WHEN I DROVE THROUGH THERE.
IS, IS THAT GONNA BE PRETTY MUCH CONSISTENT WITH HOW PARALLEL PARKING IS USED OUT THERE? IF IT'S NOT RESTRICTED? I HOPE THAT THE CONSTRUCTION USERS WERE NOT, UH, USING THOSE AS CONVENIENT, UH, PLACES TO PARK FOR THE WORK FOR THE DAY.
UM, BUT THEY, THEY ARE USED AND, AND I, I, I WENT OUT AT FIVE O'CLOCK THIS AFTERNOON, IT WAS NOWHERE NEAR THAT CROWDED, BUT CERTAINLY SAW 10 OR 12 DIFFERENT PEOPLE WITH PETS WALKING THE ALPHA LOOP AND USING IT FOR THAT PURPOSE.
WELL, I APPRECIATE YOUR RESPONSES.
THANK Y'ALL FOR, UH, BEING HERE.
I JUST, I WANTED TO CIRCLE BACK ON ONE THING.
THE, THE ARTIST RENDERINGS THAT Y'ALL PRESENTED, THAT'S IN THE INTENTION OF WHAT THE DESIGN FEATURES WILL LOOK LIKE.
THE 3D IMAGES WERE MORE FOR JUST LANDSCAPE AND SHOW THE AREA GREEN SPACE.
THOSE ARE NOT REFLECTIVE OF ANYTHING THAT THEY'RE GONNA LOOK LIKE.
IS THAT, DO I UNDERSTAND THAT CORRECTLY? YES, SIR.
THE, THE, THE 3D IMAGES ARE, THEY ARE MODEL IMAGES INTENDED FOR SCALING PURPOSES ONLY, AS, AS KEN MENTIONED, IT'S INTENDED TO SHOW THE, THE GREEN SPACE AND THE SETBACKS AND SORT OF THE LESS DENSE CROWDED NATURE OF IT.
THE, THE RENDERINGS, THE, THE, THE 2D IS INTENDED TO BE THE ARCHITECTURAL RENDERING.
DO WE HAVE ANY OTHER QUESTION, COUNCILMAN, DO WE GO TO, I DON'T KNOW IF YOU'RE FAMILIAR WITH THIS, BUT BACK IN 2019 WHEN THE MASTER PLAN WAS APPROVED, THERE WAS A, A DISCUSSION BY THE, THE COUNCIL BACK THEN REGARDING THE, THE EDEN AND THE RENTAL UNITS.
AND THAT 15% WOULD BE PUT ASIDE FOR, I FORGET WHAT THEY REFERRED TO IT AS, BUT LESSER RENTAL VALUE FOR, I FORGET WHAT IT'S CALLED.
SOMEBODY THAT WAS ON THE COUNCIL MIGHT REMEMBER WHAT THAT WAS.
BUT IS THAT BEING DONE TODAY? YES, IT IS.
KATHY, COULD YOU CLARIFY THAT, PLEASE? YES.
THEY DO HAVE RECORDED COVENANTS THAT THEY HAVE TO OFFER 15 PER, IS IT 15%? SORRY, I DON'T HAVE THE CONDITION IN FRONT OF ME.
AND THEY ACTUALLY JUST SOLD THE MULTIFAMILY, SO WE HAD TO GO BACK THROUGH AND MAKE SURE THE DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY WAS OKAY WITH
[02:30:01]
THAT AND SIGNED OFF TO AND MADE SURE THAT THAT CONDITION CARRIED FORWARD.ANY OTHER QUESTIONS FOR THE APPLICANT? THANK YOU, SIR.
DO WE HAVE ANY PUBLIC COMMENT CARDS? WE DO NOT HAVE ANY PUBLIC COMMENT, UM, CARDS ON THIS ITEM TONIGHT.
MR. MAYOR, HOWEVER, IF ANYONE WOULD LIKE TO COME AND SPEAK IN FAVOR OF THIS ITEM NOW, IS YOUR OPPORTUNITY TO DO SO FAVOR, OR, YES.
THE PROCEDURES ARE THAT WE GO FIRST TO THAT IN FAVOR, AND THEN WE'LL GIVE AN OPPORTUNITY FOR OPPOSITION.
SO IF THERE'S NO ONE TO COME FORWARD IN FAVOR OF THIS PROJECT, I'LL OPEN PUBLIC COMMENT FOR SOMEONE WHO IS IN OPPOSITION OF THE APPLICANT.
AND SIR, AS A FRIENDLY REMINDER, PLEASE STATE YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS FOR THE RECORD.
I LIVE AT 2030 JULIET AVENUE IN ALPHARETTA.
UM, I AM REPRESENTING THE, UH, CURRENT HOMEOWNERS IN LAKEVIEW.
I FIRST MOVED TO ALPHARETTA IN 2001.
I RECENTLY RETIRED AND MOVED FROM SOUTH FLORIDA BACK TO ALPHARETTA.
NOT A LOT OF PEOPLE RETIRE AND MOVE NORTH, BUT I LOVE ALPHARETTA AND I'M BACK.
UM, MY NEIGHBORS AND I DID NOT JUST BUY A HOME.
WE BOUGHT INTO A MASTER PLAN COMMUNITY.
WE'RE VERY CONCERNED THAT LESS THAN ONE YEAR AFTER THE FIRST HOMES IN THE DEVELOPMENT WERE SOLD, THAT A SIGNIFICANT CHANGE TO THE MASTER PLAN IS BEING CONSIDERED.
THE REZONING SEEMS ABRUPT, THOUGH WE ADMITTEDLY DO NOT FULLY UNDERSTAND THE DEMAND FOR OFFICE SPACE IN THE AREA IN THE EVENT REZONING IS INEVITABLE.
WE HAVE TWO SIGNIFICANT CONCERNS WITH THE APPLICANT'S PROPOSAL.
FIRST, THE REZONING WOULD NOT ALLOW FOR ENOUGH PARKING TO SUPPORT THE INTENDED USE OF THIS AREA.
IN THE PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING ON FEBRUARY 5TH, COUNCIL MEMBER KAREN RICHARD STATED THAT THE MIX U WHEN THE THIS MIXED USE DEVELOPMENT WAS APPROVED, ONE OF THE FOCAL POINTS WAS THE ACTIVATION OF THE 10 ACRE LAKE TO TAKE THIS PRIVATE LAKE AND MAKE IT PUBLIC.
THAT PLAN INCLUDED AN OFF BUILDING WITH A PARKING DECK THAT WOULD BE USED BY THE PUBLIC.
THIS DECK IS ELIMINATED WITH THE CHANGE TO RESIDENTIAL SPACE.
THE NUMBER OF INCLUDED SPACES IN THE APPLICANT'S PROPOSAL INCLUDES THE CLAIM OF A TWO CAR GARAGE AND TWO SPACES IN THE DRIVEWAY.
TOLL BROTHERS MAKES THE SAME CLAIM WITH THEIR EXISTING TOWN HOMES, BUT I CAN TELL YOU FIRSTHAND AS AN OWNER OF ONE OF THESE NARROW TOWN HOMES, THAT FOUR VEHICLES IN THIS SPACE MAY BE MATHEMATICALLY POSSIBLE, BUT IT IS NOT REALITY.
RESIDENTS PARK SECOND VEHICLES ON THE STREET IN FRONT OF THEIR HOMES.
STREET PARKING IS FREQUENTLY MAXED OUT.
CURRENTLY WITH OVER, WITH ONLY 11 OCCUPIED HOMES IN A PILATE STUDIO, TALL BROTHERS WILL EVENTUALLY HAVE 60 COMPLETED UNITS.
AND THERE ARE AN ADDITIONAL 52 UNITS BEING PROPOSED BY THE APPLICANT.
SO IN TOTAL, 101 MORE HOMES THAN WHAT ARE OCCUPIED.
CURRENTLY, THE PROPOSED PARKING IS NOT ENOUGH TO SUPPORT RESIDENTS AND RETAIL, MUCH LESS PROVIDE PUBLIC PARKING FOR USE OF THE LAKE IN THE ALPHA LOOP, WHICH AGAIN, WAS A FOCAL POINT WHEN THIS DEVELOPMENT WAS APPROVED.
OUR SECOND CONCERN IS WITH THE PROPOSED NEW HOMES, CURRENT HOMEOWNERS ALL PAID BETWEEN 1.1 AND 1.3 MILLION FOR THEIR HOMES.
THE APPLICANT'S PROPOSAL IS 2200 SQUARE FOOT HOMES STARTING AT $600,000 IN VIEWING TRAY'S WEBSITE.
THEY CURRENTLY BUILT HOMES AROUND ATLANTA AT PRICE POINTS BETWEEN 300,000 AND $700,000.
THE PROPOSED NEW HOMES ARE NOT CONSISTENT WITH CURRENT HOMES.
I'M NOT CRYSTAL CLEAR AFTER THAT PRESENTATION, WHICH WERE RENDERINGS AND WHICH ARE ACTUALLY GONNA BE BUILT.
BUT THEY ALL DATED TOLL BROTHERS IS VERY MODERN.
IT IS A VERY MODERN COMMUNITY, AND THESE HOMES DO NOT FIT WITHIN THE COMMUNITY.
UM, THE DOLLARS PER SQUARE FOOT, I I HEARD WORDS.
UM, TOLL BROTHERS ARE AROUND $350 PER SQUARE FOOT.
UM, EXISTING RESIDENTS ARE VERY CONCERNED ABOUT THE VALUE OF THEIR PROPERTY, AND BELIEVE A MORE PREMIUM BUILDER SHOULD CONSTRUCT THESE HOMES.
IF REZONING IS APPROVED, RESIDENTS OF LAKEVIEW WOULD ASK THE CITY COUNCIL TO REJECT THE APPLICANT'S PROPOSAL.
AT MINIMUM, WE SHOULD PAUSE AND CONSIDER OTHER MARKETING AND BUILDER OPTIONS.
LET'S BE CERTAIN WHEN THIS MIXED UNIT DEVELOPMENT IS COMPLETED,
[02:35:01]
IT DELIVERS ON THE VISION, DELIVERS ON THE VISION THE COUNCIL PREVIOUSLY APPROVED AND THE RESIDENTS BOUGHT INTO.IS THERE ANYONE ELSE THAT WANTED TO COME AND SPEAK IN OPPOSITION? I DON'T SEE ANYONE ELSE COMING FORWARD.
SO WE'LL CLOSE PUBLIC COMMENT.
MR. MAYOR, JUST AS A MATTER OF PROCEDURE, IF I COULD, THERE IS STILL TWO MINUTES AND 17 SECONDS LEFT IN SUPPORT IF ANYBODY IN SUPPORT WANTED TO COME AND, AND MAKE ANY TYPE OF A REBUTTAL, SO THERE'S STILL TIME AVAILABLE.
SO I THINK THE QUESTION WOULD BE, DOES ANYONE WANT TO COME SPEAK IN FAVOR OF IT AS A REBUTTAL TO WHAT WAS JUST, UH, PRESENTED? I'LL BE GLAD TO PER, WOULD ANYONE LIKE TO COME SPEAK IN FAVOR OF THE OPPOSITION? GOOD EVENING.
I'M ONE OF THE PRINCIPLES OF TRADE AND HOMES.
WE'RE A PRIVATELY OWNED HOMEOWNER FOUNDED OVER IN COBB COUNTY IN 1971.
UH, WE'VE BUILT ALMOST 20,000 HOMES THROUGHOUT THE SOUTHEAST.
UH, MAYBE OUR WEBSITE RIGHT NOW SHOWS MID THREE EAST TO PROBABLY MORE LIKE NINES 'CAUSE THAT'S WHERE WE ARE NOW.
BUT WE HAVE BUILT PROBABLY HUNDREDS IS AN EXAGGERATION, BUT I WOULD SAY MORE THAN A HUNDRED TO 200 HOUSES OVER A MILLION.
WE'VE BUILT HOMES AS HIGH AS TWO AND A HALF MILLION DOLLARS.
WE JUST KIND OF GO WHERE THE MARKET GOES RIGHT NOW.
AND AS WE TALKED ABOUT, I THINK THE GUYS GAVE THE NUMBERS EARLIER, IF YOU TAKE A ONE MILE RADIUS AROUND THIS PIECE OF PROPERTY, AND YOU LOOK AT THE MEDIAN SALES PRICE WITH $730,000 OVER THE LAST SIX MONTHS, THE MEDIAN SIZE OF THOSE HOUSES WAS 2,100 OR 52 SQUARE FEET.
SO WHAT WE TRY TO DO IS GO INTO A MARKET.
PEOPLE ARE GONNA CHOOSE TO GO TO THE HIGH END OF MARKETS SOMETIMES.
SOMETIMES THEY'RE NOT THIS ARCHITECTURE THAT WE CHOSE.
WE TRIED TO COME IN AND TAKE SOMETHING.
IT SEEMS LIKE THERE'S SUCH A TREND.
UH, I THINK THERE'S STILL PEOPLE, WHEN I LOOK AROUND ALPHA, EVERYTHING'S NOT MODERN.
THERE'S SOME MORE TRADITIONAL STUFF.
UM, WE WOULD LOVE TO WORK WITH THE DRB AND TRYING TO TAKE OUR VISION OF SOMETHING THAT'S A LITTLE BIT MORE TRADITIONAL, MAKE SURE IT BLENDS WITH THE COLORS AND EVERYTHING THAT TOLL BROTHERS HAS DONE.
UM, SO WE ARE MORE THAN HAPPY TO DO THAT COURSE QUALITY MATERIALS.
WE'LL USE THE VERY SIMILAR MATERIALS TO WHAT TOLL BROTHERS IS USING.
I MEAN, IT'S, IT'S, IT'S GONNA, WE'RE GONNA USE MASONRY AGAIN.
WE'RE GONNA WORK WITH THE D B'S GONNA DIRECT US.
UH, WE'RE GONNA WORK WITH YOUR STAFF TO PUT US IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION.
WE WERE TRYING TO DO SOMETHING THAT WAS NOT EXACTLY THE SAME OLD, SAME OLD WITH THE MODERN TOLL BROTHERS.
WE COMPETE WITH THEM IN A NUMBER OF DIFFERENT SUB-MARKETS.
AND, UH, I JUST WANTED TO, THE, THE QUALITY QUESTION, THE QUALITY OF OUR HOMES, JUST BECAUSE THE PRICE POINTS RIGHT NOW, WE FOLLOW THE MARKET.
IF THE MARKET TRENDS UP, AND IF THESE HOUSES ALL GO TO $1.2 MILLION, I PROMISE YOU NOBODY IN THIS ROOM'S GONNA BE ANY MORE HAPPY ABOUT IT THAN I AM.
SO WE CAN TRACK 'EM UP, WE CAN GO LARGER.
UH, MAYBE THE, MAYBE THE OPPOSITE WILL BE, UH, BUT, UH, WE CERTAINLY WILL TAKE IT AS HIGH AS IT CAN POSSIBLY GO.
WE JUST WANTED TO START AT A POINT WHERE IT LOOKED LIKE WHERE THE MARKET IS TO US THAT'S QUANTIFIABLE TODAY WITH THE SIZE HOME AND THE PRICE POINT, AND WORK WITH A MIX OF MATERIALS AND COLOR SCHEMES THAT IS AGREEABLE TO THE STAFF AND TO THE DRB.
SO THANK Y'ALL VERY MUCH FOR YOUR TIME.
SO LAST THING I'LL SAY, JUST TO GO OFF IS THE, WE DO HAVE 50% GUEST PARTY THREE INSIDE OUR COMMUNITY.
DO I HAVE A MOTION FROM GOVERNOR? YES, SIR.
MR. MAYOR, BASED ON THE MANY LOOSE ENDS THAT I'M SEEING AND HEARING TONIGHT, I'M GONNA MAKE A MOTION TO TABLE THIS FOR 30 DAYS TO THE NEXT, FOR THE FIRST OPEN MEETING POSSIBLE.
UH, STAFF CAN ASSUME IT, UH, IN UP TO 60 DAYS IS WHAT I'M GONNA SAY FOR STAFF TO ARRANGE FOR MEETINGS.
SECOND, DO WE WANT TO TABLE IT OR DO WE WANNA TABLE IT OR VOTE ON IT? NO, THERE ARE OTHER OPTIONS.
I MEAN, IF YOU'RE REALLY GOING PER ROBERT'S RULES, WHAT HE'S REALLY SUGGESTING IS POSTPONING TO A DATE CERTAIN, WHICH DOESN'T ACTUALLY HAVE TO BE A DATE CERTAIN.
IT'D BE BASED ON A TRIGGERING THING.
SO I'M, I'M NOT GONNA GET NITPICKY ON HOW HE WORDS IT.
I I THINK HE'S SAYING ONE OF 'EM HAS ADVERTISING.
WELL, AND I GUESS I'LL, I'LL CLARIFY THIS.
UM, COUNCILMAN MERKEL, ARE YOU SUGGESTING FOR A VOTE ONLY WHEN IT COMES BACK OR FOR AN ADDITIONAL PUBLIC HEARING? WHEN IT COMES BACK FOR A VOTE? ONLY WHEN IT COMES BACK.
THAT THE, THAT THE LOOSE ENDS THAT I'M HEARING GET ADDRESSED.
UH, SO THAT COUNCIL'S PREPARED TO MAKE A MORE EDUCATED VOTE AT THAT POINT, I THINK.
AND ALSO GIVE THE APPLICANT A, A TIME TO ANSWER SOME OF THE QUESTIONS THAT WERE PRESENTED TONIGHT THAT HE WASN'T PREPARED FOR.
IF THAT'S HOW YOU INTEND ON MOVING FORWARD, WOULD YOU HUMOR ME AND JUST DEFER TO THE APRIL 13TH MEETING? YES, SIR.
I WILL DEFER TO THE APRIL 13TH MEETING FOR A VOTE THAT, IS THAT A MOTION? IT IS A MOTION, BUT IS IT A TABLE? IS IT DEFER MOTION OR A TABLE MOTION? I WOULD JUST ASK THAT YOU DEFER IT UNTIL THE DATE IN APRIL.
SO THERE'S NO MORE DISCUSSION TONIGHT ONCE WE VOTE
[02:40:01]
ON THAT, A TABLE, A TABLED MOTION, NO DISCUSSION.IS DEFERRED MOTION THE SAME? YOU CAN DISCUSS THE DEFERRAL.
THAT'S THE DIRECTION I WOULD LIKE TO GO IN.
I DON'T THINK WE NEED TO DISCUSS THIS ANYMORE TONIGHT.
DO WE HAVE A SECOND? I HAVE A SECOND, BUT I WANT TO SEE IF I CAN MAKE A FRIENDLY AMENDMENT.
BUT I, I JUST WANNA UNDERSTAND WHY WOULD YOU CAN'T FRIENDLY ADMIT.
I KNOW, BUT, WELL, LET ME ASK THE QUESTION AND MAYBE BEFORE I SECOND IT.
WHY WOULDN'T WE ALLOW PUBLIC INPUT AT THE MEETING? BECAUSE WE'VE HAD THE PUBLIC INPUT.
WE'RE GONNA TAKE THAT AND THE NEW INFORMATION AND, AND PRESENT A VOTE.
I DON'T WANT, WE'RE NOT GONNA START OVER.
IT'S NOT, WE'RE NOT CHANGING THE NUMBER OF UNITS.
WE'RE NOT CHANGING THE QUALITY.
WE'RE NOT CHANGING, YOU KNOW, WE'RE GETTING ANSWERS TO THE QUESTIONS THAT ARE PRESENTED HERE THIS EVENING.
DO YOU HAVE A QUESTION, COUNCILMAN REESE? WELL, REGARDING SPEAKING, LIKE ALLOWING PUBLIC COMMENT AT OUR PUBLIC MEETING, I DON'T KNOW THAT WE CAN SAY NO TO THAT EVEN, I MEAN, EVEN IF THERE'S NOT A PRESENTATION, I THINK, LET ME, LET ME GET THAT CLARIFIED FOR YOU.
YOU WOULD STILL HAVE PUBLIC COMMENT, BUT IT WOULDN'T BE ADVERTISED FOR A PUBLIC HEARING IN THE ORDINARY COURSE WHERE YOU WOULD BE ASKING FOR THE APPLICANT TO MAKE A PRESENTATION FOR THE PROPONENTS AND THEN THE OPPOSITION.
IT WOULD JUST BE THE NORMAL PUBLIC COMMENT AS THE MAYOR DOES FOR EVERY ITEM THAT THAT'S ON THE AGENDA.
COUNCILMAN, HE, I ASSUME YOU HAVE A QUESTION.
I'LL TRY TO, UH, FINISH ON AN UPSWING
UM, BUT I, I, I WILL HOPE THAT WHEN WE RECONVENE, RATHER THAN JUST VOTING THAT WE HAVE A PUBLIC ANSWER TO OUR QUESTIONS SO THAT THE PUBLIC IS AWARE WHAT THE QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS ARE OTHERWISE, IF WE ARE JUST CONVENING TO, TO VOTE, WE'VE LEARNED THINGS BEHIND THE SCENES, BUT THE PUBLIC DOESN'T KNOW WHAT WE'VE LEARNED ABSENT ANY COLLOQUY WE HAVE UP HERE.
SO I, I, I, I, I THINK THERE NEEDS TO BE Q AND A THAT CLARIFIES, UH, OUR VOTES.
I THINK YOU COULD STILL DO THAT WITH DECISION ONLY, UM, WITHOUT HAVING ANOTHER PUBLIC HEARING.
AND THAT'S JUST A, A FUNCTION OF HAVING, I MEAN, ASSUMING YOU HAVE CONSIDERED WHAT CONDITIONS YOU WANT, YOU'VE GOTTEN THE VERIFICATION YOU NEED, YOU'VE BUTTONED IT UP AS YOU'RE SUGGESTING YOU'RE GOING TO DO.
THAT COULD SIMPLY BE A FUNCTION OF STAFF COMING UP, PRESENTING WHAT, WHAT THE RECOMMENDATION IS, WHAT THE, THE CONDITIONS ARE GOING TO BE.
THE PUBLIC WOULD STILL HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO COME UP AND MAKE COMMENTS AS THEY WOULD IN THE ORDINARY COURSE.
AND YOU WOULD STILL BE IN A POSITION TO, TO MAKE YOUR DECISION VIA MOTION AND VOTE.
UM, YOU CAN CERTAINLY MAKE MOTION TO, YOU KNOW, PUT THIS ON THE APRIL AGENDA WITH ADVERTISING AND ANOTHER PUBLIC HEARING IF YOU WANT, THAT'S NOT PROHIBITED.
BUT YOU CAN ADDRESS THE, THE Q AND A AS YOU SUGGESTED, UM, NOT Q AND A NECESSARILY, BUT BEING ABLE TO INFORM THE PUBLIC AS TO WHAT THAT BUTTONING UP IS GOING TO LOOK LIKE.
SO FOR THE RECORD, COMMENTS WILL BE PART OF MY MOTION.
I'LL RESTATE IT SO THAT IT'S EASIER FOR THE CLERK.
UM, I THINK THAT CHRIS, WHAT WAS THE DATE AGAIN? 13TH.
SO THAT THIS WOULD BE DEFERRED FOR DECISION ONLY TO APRIL 13TH WITH DIRECTION FOR STAFF TO AMEND THE STAFF REPORT UPON, YOU KNOW, CONSIDERATION OF THE AMENDMENTS TO THE RECOMMENDATIONS AND CONDITIONS.
I'LL ACCEPT THAT AS MY MOTION.
SO WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND WE HAVE ANY DISCUSSION ABOUT THE MOTION.
WE'VE HAD ENOUGH DISCUSSION ABOUT THE MOTION, SO I'LL CALL FOR A VOTE.
ALL THOSE IN FAVOR OF THE MOTION AS OUTLINED BY MS. ESWINE.
SO LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, I ASSUME WE'LL BE RECONVENING TO DISCUSS THIS AGAIN APRIL 13TH.
SO NEXT ITEM UP ON OUR AGENDA.
OH, WELL, WE'VE GOT A FEW THAT WERE DEFERRED.
[A. Resolution: Fleet Maintenance and Replacement Policy for the City of Alpharetta
Consideration of adoption of a resolution to approve the attached Fleet Maintenance and Replacement Policy that provides a comprehensive, citywide framework for managing Alpharetta’s vehicle and equipment fleet in a manner that promotes public safety, service reliability, and fiscal responsibility.]
FIRST ITEM IS RESOLUTION FOR THE FLEET MAINTENANCE AND REPLACEMENT POLICY FOR THE CITY OF ALPHARETTA.
MS. SWIN, DO YOU MIND READING THAT RESOLUTION ALOUD, PLEASE? A RESOLUTION BY THE MAYOR AND COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF ALPHARETTA, GEORGIA, ADOPTING A FLEET MAINTENANCE AND REPLACE POLICY FOR THE CITY OF ALPHARETTA, PROVIDING FOR IMPLEMENTATION AND ADMINISTRATION FOR OTHER PURPOSES.
[02:45:01]
I'VE LOST A COUNCIL MEMBER, DIRECTOR HARRIS, WOULD YOU LIKE TO BEGIN THIS ITEM? GOOD EVENING, MAYOR AND COUNCIL.AS WE UH, DISCUSSED AT THE RETREAT IN, IN JANUARY, UH, WE FORMALIZED A POLICY, UH, THIS POLICY THAT'S ATTACHED, UH, AFTER WORKING WITH ALL THE CITY DEPARTMENTS AND, UM, SOME, UH, DIRECTION FROM COUNCIL MEMBER HYPES AND, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER BRADY.
UM, PRIMARILY WE WERE PUT THIS POLICY TOGETHER.
UH, AGAIN, WE TALKED ABOUT IT AT THE RETREAT.
THERE'VE BEEN NO CHANGES TO IT SINCE THEN, UM, IN THE, IN THE SHORT.
UM, REALLY, UH, IN THE END, I GUESS THIS WILL BE A POLICY THAT WE THINK WILL BRING ABOUT SIGNIFICANT SAVINGS TO OUR BUDGETARY, UH, FOR FLEET MANAGEMENT GOING FORWARD.
SIGNIFICANT SAVINGS IS A GOOD THING.
DO WE HAVE ANY QUESTIONS FOR DIRECTOR HARRIS? THANKS, SIR.
MS.
HOWEVER, IF THERE'S ANYONE THAT WOULD LIKE TO COME FORWARD AND SPEAK ON THIS ITEM, NOW, IS YOUR CHANCE TO DO SO? I DON'T SEE ANYONE COMING FORWARD.
SO, WE'LL CLOSE PUBLIC COMMENT.
DO I HAVE A MOTION FROM COUNCIL? MR. MAYOR? I AM ABSOLUTELY HAPPY AND HONORED TO MAKE A RECOMMEND MOTION TONIGHT TO ADOPT A RESOLUTION APPROVING THE FLEET MAINTENANCE AND REPLACEMENT POLICY, WHICH PROVIDES A COMPREHENSIVE D WIDE FRAMEWORK FOR MANAGING ALFRED VEHICLE AND EQUIPMENT FLEET IN A MANNER THAT PROMOTES PUBLIC SAFETY, SERVICE RELIABILITY, AND FISCAL RESPONSIBILITY.
SECOND, WE HAVE A MOTION BY COUNCILMAN BRADY, A SECOND BY COUNCILMAN HYPES.
AND THAT WAS IN FAVOR OF THE RESOLUTION.
ANY DISCUSSION? COUNCILMAN BRADY, WHY NOT
UM, ADDING THESE PIECES DOES HELP OUR FISCAL RESPONSIBILITIES OF CITY, AND THERE WERE SAVINGS OVER $300,000 WE FOUND BY DOING THIS.
UM, THERE'S MORE ACCOUNTABILITY, THERE'S MORE TRANS, UM, TRANSPARENCY IN, IN WHAT WE'RE WORKING ON, AND I THINK IT'S A, A GREAT THING FOR THE CITY, AND I'M PROUD TO SEE THIS GO THROUGH TONIGHT.
AND I WANNA RETURN THE FAVOR TO COUNCILMAN BRADY.
HE PUT A LOT OF TIME IN THIS WITH, UH, DIRECTOR HARRIS AND OTHERS, UH, IN SOME MEETINGS, UH, TO WORK THROUGH COST OF OWNERSHIP AND, YOU KNOW, FOR THE PUBLIC LITTLE.
IN FACT, WHEN WE WERE GOING THROUGH THE BUDGET, YOU KNOW, WE, THE BIG TWO ITEMS ON THE CAPITAL SIDE ARE PRETTY EASY TO GUESS AND IT'S ROADS AND SECOND OF STORM WATER, BUT IT MAY HAVE CAUGHT A FEW PEOPLE BY SURPRISE THAT THE THIRD BIGGEST CAPITAL ITEM IN THE BUDGET WAS $1.3 MILLION A YEAR FOR FLEET REPLACEMENT.
AND WE NOW HAVE AN OBJECTIVE SET OF CRITERIA ON HOW TO ADDRESS THAT, WHEN, WHEN, AND WHAT TYPE OF VEHICLES ARE PURCHASED, HOW THEY'RE MAINTAINED, WHAT THE FUEL MILEAGE IS, UH, UH, THE, YOU KNOW, THEIR USE WILL BE WITH THE FUEL MILEAGES, WHY THEY'RE IDLING VERSUS RUNNING.
AND, UM, A A LOT OF WORK WAS PUT INTO IT BY A LOT OF FOLKS AND WE'RE IN A BETTER PLACE BECAUSE OF IT.
AND THANKS TO AGAIN, TO, UH, UH, DIRECTOR HARRISON, UH, COUNCILMAN BRADY.
ANY OTHER DISCUSSION? ALRIGHT, WE HAVE A MOTION A SECOND.
ALL THOSE IN FAVOR OF THE MOTION, PLEASE VOTE YES.
[B. Grant Agreement Amendment: Community Development Block Grant Program
Consideration of an Amendment to Community Development Block Grant Program Agreement between Fulton County and City of Alpharetta related to grant funding for ADA accessibility improvements to the Adult Activity Center Parking Lot and with authorization for the Mayor to execute all necessary documents.]
GOOD EVENING, MAYOR AND COUNCIL, I'LL COVER FOR MORGAN, UH, THIS ONE.
UH, BUT THIS IS A, AN ADMINISTRATIVE ITEM BASICALLY FOR YOU.
UM, BECAUSE THIS GRANT, UH, WAS PROVIDED IN THE PAST IN, UH, 2025, I THINK.
AND, UH, BECAUSE WE'RE TRYING TO MAKE SURE THE GRANT AGREEMENT IS, UH, COMPLIANT WITH NEW FEDERAL REGULATIONS AND, UH, NEW ADMINISTRATION AND, UM, EXECUTIVE ORDERS.
IT'S BEING, IT'S BEFORE YOU AGAIN.
DO WE HAVE ANY QUESTIONS FOR DIRECTOR HARRIS ON THIS ITEM? THANK YOU, SIR.
WE HAVE NO PUBLIC COMMENT CARD, SIR.
HOWEVER, IF ANYONE WOULD LIKE TO COME FORWARD AND SPEAK ON THIS ITEM, NOW'S YOUR CHANCE.
I DO NOT SEE ANYONE COMING FORWARD, SO I'LL CALL FOR A MOTION.
YES, MR. MAYOR, I'D LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE AMENDMENT TO COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BLOCK GRANT PROGRAM AGREEMENT BETWEEN
[02:50:01]
FULTON COUNTY AND THE CITY OF ALPHARETTA RELATED TO THE GRANT FUNDING OF A DA ACCESSIBILITY IMPROVEMENTS TO THE ADULT ACTIVITY CENTER PARKING LOT, AND WITH AUTHORIZATION FOR THE MAYOR TO EXECUTE ALL NECESSARY DOCUMENTS.SECOND, I HAVE A MOTION BY COUNCILMAN BRADY, A SECOND BY MAYOR PRO TIMM MARKLE.
ANY DISCUSSION? DON'T SEE ANY.
ALL THOSE IN FAVOR? I MADE A MISTAKE.
ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, PLEASE VOTE.
[C. iCan Shine & City of Alpharetta 2026 iCan Bike Host Agreement
Consideration and approval of the iCan Bike Host Agreement between the City of Alpharetta and iCan Shine for the June 22-26, 2026, iCan Bike Program.]
DIRECTOR ROGERS, YOU DO HAVE TO COVER THIS ONE YOURSELF.
WELL, UH, GOOD EVENING COUNSEL.
IT'S ALWAYS A PLEASURE TO BE WITH Y'ALL.
I, UH, APPRECIATE TOM WHAT HE DOES FOR ME.
I WAS JUST SURPRISED IT ONLY TOOK NINE YEARS FOR HIM TO ACTUALLY DO SOMETHING FOR HIM.
SERIOUSLY, I AM HERE TONIGHT, UH, TO ASK FOR APPROVAL OF THE I CAN SHINE, UH, AGREEMENT BETWEEN ROSWELL, UM, BETWEEN THE CITY OF RETA AND I CAN SHINE.
WE'RE SEEKING APPROVAL OF THIS ANNUAL AGREEMENT TO HOST THE I CAN BIKE PROGRAM AT UNION HILL PARK.
THIS INCLUSIVE PROGRAM EMPOWERS 40 CHILDREN AND ADULT WITH INTELLECTUAL AND DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES TO LEARN HOW TO RIDE BIKES INDEPENDENTLY.
THIS PROGRAM BEGAN AS AN OUTREACH PROGRAM THROUGH THE CITY OF APPARATUS PUBLIC SAFETY PROGRAM.
IN 2024, THE RECREATION SERVICES DIVISION TOOK OVER THE ADMINISTRATION OF THE PROGRAM.
A HUNDRED PLUS VOLUNTEERS ARE NEEDED TO CONDUCT THE PROGRAM AND POLICE AND FIRE DEPARTMENTS CONTINUE TO BE HEAVILY INVOLVED IN THE SUCCESS OF THIS PROGRAM.
THIS WEEK LONG PROGRAM HELD ANNUALLY IN JUNE AT THE COVERED ARENA IN UNION PARK IS CURRENTLY FUNDED THROUGH THE RECREATION AND PARTS CULTURAL SERVICES BUDGET.
I'LL BE GLAD TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS YOU MAY HAVE.
DO WE HAVE ANY QUESTIONS FOR DIRECTOR ROGERS? COUNCILMAN REEVES? AND HOW CAN OUR COMMUNITY SIGN UP TO VOLUNTEER? UH, THERE, THERE WILL BE, UM, ONTO A CITY'S WEBSITE.
THERE WILL BE A LINK FOR THE I CAN BIKE AND, WE'LL, WE CERTAINLY ARE RECRUITING VOLUNTEERS, UM, AS WELL AS PARTICIPANTS.
BUT THAT'LL BE ON THE, ON THE CITY'S WEBSITE, UH, PROBABLY THE MIDDLE OF NEXT MONTH.
ANY OTHER QUESTIONS FOR DIRECTOR ROGERS? THANK YOU, SIR.
AND WE HAVE NO PUBLIC COMMENT CARDS ON THIS ITEM, SIR.
HOWEVER, IF ANYONE WOULD LIKE TO COME FORWARD AND SPEAK, NOW IS YOUR CHANCE ONCE AGAIN, I DON'T SEE ANYONE COMING FORWARD, SO I'LL CLOSE PUBLIC COMMENT.
DO I HAVE A MOTION FROM COUNCIL? YES, MAYOR.
I MAKE A MOTION TO COUNCIL, UH, APPROVE AS PRESENTED.
THE AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE CITY OF ALPHARETTA AND I CAN SHINE, UH, PERMITTING THE CITY OF ALPHARETTA TO HOST THE IC AND BIKE PROGRAM AND AUTHORIZE THE MAYOR TO EXECUTE ALL NECESSARY DOCUMENTS, UH, INDICATES AN AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $11,400.
SECOND, I HAVE A MOTION BY COUNCILMAN HIES, SECOND BY COUNCILWOMAN REAPS.
ANY DISCUSSION? GLAD TO SEE IT COME FORWARD.
ALL THOSE IN FAVOR OF THE MOTION, PLEASE VOTE YES.
[D. Grant Agreement: Arts Alpharetta and Bi-Yearly Outdoor Sculpture Exhibit / Art On-Loan Project
Consideration of approval of a grant agreement between the City of Alpharetta and Arts Alpharetta for the creation and implementation of the Bi-Yearly Outdoor Sculpture Exhibit / Art On-Loan Project and with authorization for the Mayor to execute all necessary documents.]
THIS PROJECT BE WENT, BEGAN IN 2018 AS AN ANNUAL PROGRAM, BUT DUE TO THE LOGISTICS, IT WAS CHANGED TO AN EVERY OTHER YEAR INSTALL.
AND THIS WOULD BE THE FOURTH EXHIBIT OF THIS BI-YEARLY OUTDOOR SCULPTURE EXI EXHIBIT PROGRAM.
CURRENTLY, THERE ARE 10 SCULPTURES THAT ARE, UH, SCHEDULED TO BE SWITCHED OUT.
FOUR AT BROOK STREET PARK, ONE AT WILLS PARK, ONE AT THOMPSON STREET PARK, ONE AT NORTH MAIN STREET PARK, ONE ON HIGHWAY NINE AND TWO ON THE ALPHA LOOP.
FUNDING IS PROVIDED BY YEARLY THROUGH THE CITY OF ALPHARETTA BUDGET PROCESS.
THE NUMBER OF SCULPTURES IS DETERMINED BY THE BUDGET AND THE INDIVIDUAL COSTS OF THE PIECE.
ON ALONG THIS GRANT AGREEMENT WITH ARTS ALPHARETTA WILL PROVIDE A TURNKEY SERVICE FOR ALL ASPECTS OF THE PROJECT, FINAL LIST OF PROPOSED STRUCTURES AND THEIR LOCATIONS WILL COME BACK TO THE COUNCIL FOR FINAL APPROVAL.
UH, NANCY WITH ARTS ALPHARETTA AS WELL AS, UH, MYSELF, WILL BE GLAD TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS THAT YOU MAY HAVE ABOUT THIS PROGRAM.
DO WE HAVE ANY QUESTIONS ABOUT THIS PRO COUNCILWOMAN
[02:55:01]
REEVES? WHO, TO WHO SELECTS THE STR THE, UH, THE ARTWORK, UH, IT ARTS ALPHA DIS THE DISAGREEMENT GIVES THE, UM, THAT DUTY TO ARTS ALPHARETTA.SO THEY WILL DO A CALL OUT FOR ARTISTS.
THEY WILL SELECT, UH, THE SCULPTURES THAT WOULD BE MOVED FORWARD, BUT THIS BODY ACTUALLY APPROVES THE, UH, THE ACTUAL SCULPTURES AND THE LOCATIONS.
ANY OTHER QUESTIONS FOR DIRECTOR ROGERS? THANK YOU, SIR.
YOU SURE? WE HAVE NO PUBLIC COMMENT CARDS ON THIS ITEM, SIR.
HOWEVER, IF YOU WANNA COME SPEAK ABOUT STATUE PROGRAM, NOW'S YOUR CHANCE.
DON'T SEE ANYONE COMING FORWARD.
DO I HAVE A MOTION FROM COUNCIL? YES, MAYOR.
I MAKE A MOTION THAT COUNCIL APPROVED THE GRAND AGREEMENT BETWEEN CITY OF ALPHARETTA AND ARTS ALPHARETTA FOR THE CREATION AND IMPLEMENTATION OF THE BY YEARLY OUTDOOR SCULPTURE, SCULPTURE EXHIBIT, ART ON LOAN PROJECT, AND AUTHORIZE THE MAYOR TO EXECUTE ALL NECESSARY DOCUMENTS.
SECOND, I THINK THAT WAS A COUNCILMAN DORITO ON THE SECOND.
ANY DISCUSSION? COUNCILMAN HYPES? UH, THANK YOU MAYOR.
UH, IT, WHEN YOU WALK AROUND THIS TOWN AND START TO TAKE NOTE OF THE, WE'VE GOT THE PIECE OF ART HERE AND PIECE OF ART THERE, AND ALL OF A SUDDEN YOU SEE THE CUMULATIVE TOTAL OF THE AMOUNT OF ART THAT WE HAVE AROUND ALPHARETTA.
UH, YOU KNOW, THE, THE GROWTH OF ARTS IN ALPHARETTA HAS BEEN VERY SIGNIFICANT OVER THE LAST, UH, 10 YEARS.
AND, UH, IT'S, IT'S AN AREA OF GROWTH FOR CULTURAL, JUST ENHANCEMENT OF THE CITY THAT, UH, I THINK IS WORTH PURSUING.
I THINK THIS IS A KEY COMPONENT OF THAT.
UH, I JUST WANT TO GIVE A PLUG BECAUSE IT'S ON THIS POINT THAT, UH, THE CULTURAL ARTS DEPARTMENT HAS CREATED THE STORY MAP OF ALPHARETTA PUBLIC ART, WHICH SHOWS WHERE PUBLIC ART PIECES ARE LOCATED ON THE, IT'S ON THE INTERNET AND SHOWS WHERE THEY'RE LOCATED.
A LITTLE BIT OF HISTORY ABOUT EACH PIECE OF ART, UH, THAT, UH, IS HIGHLIGHTED AND IT'S, UH, LOCATED ON A MAP ON THAT LINK.
SO, UH, I THINK THIS IS A VERY, VERY WORTHWHILE ENDEAVOR THAT WE ARE INVOLVED IN TO MAKE OUR GREAT CITY EVEN GREATER.
I'M GLAD WE'RE, UM, PURSUING THIS.
SO WE HAVE A MOTION IN A SECOND.
ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, PLEASE VOTE.
[E. Ordinance: Fiscal Year 2026 Budget Amendment
SECOND READING
The first reading of this Ordinance occurred during the February 2, 2026 City Council meeting.
Consideration of an Ordinance to adopt a Fiscal Year 2026 Budget Amendment for certain funds of the City of Alpharetta, Georgia, appropriating the amounts shown in each budget as expenditures, adopting the items of revenue anticipation, prohibiting expenditures to exceed appropriations, and prohibiting expenditures to exceed actual funding available.]
MS. SWIN, DO YOU MIND READING THE ORDINANCE? AN ORDINANCE BY THE MAYOR AND COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF ALFREDA, GEORGIA TO ADOPT A FISCAL YEAR 2026 BUDGET AMENDMENT FOR CERTAIN FUNDS OF THE CITY OF ALFREDA, GEORGIA.
APPROPRIATING THE AMOUNTS SHOWN IN EACH BUS BUDGET AS EXPENDITURES, ADOPTING THE ITEMS OF REVENUE ANTICIPATION, PROHIBITING EXPENDITURES TO EXCEED APPROPRIATIONS AND PROHIBITING EXPENDITURES TO EXCEED ACTUAL FUNDING AVAILABLE.
DO WE NEED ANYONE TO DISCUSS THIS? I THINK WHAT TOM WAS GONNA SAY IS THAT THERE HAVE BEEN NO CHANGES SINCE THE FIRST, UH, READING.
SO, UH, IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, HE'S THERE TO ANSWER THEM OR HE CAN CALL MORGAN UP TO ANSWER THEM OR, OR WHATEVER.
BUT NO, THERE'S NO, THERE BEEN NO CHANGES.
DO WE HAVE ANY QUESTIONS ABOUT NO CHANGES? MR. DO WE HAVE ANY PUBLIC COMMENT CARDS? WE DO NOT.
MR. MAYOR, DO WE HAVE ANY PUBLIC COMMENTS ON THE BUDGET CHANGES? SEEING NONE, WE WILL MOVE FORWARD.
DO I HAVE A MOTION FROM COUNCIL? IT'S GREAT TO SEE TOM WALK UP HERE.
MR. MAYOR, I, I'D LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION TO ADOPT AN ORDINANCE OF THE MAYOR AND THE COUNCIL OF THE SEA OF ALFREDA, GEORGIA TO ADOPT A FISCAL YEAR 2026 MID-YEAR BUDGET AS PRESENTED.
SECOND, I HAVE A MOTION BY COUNCIL BRADY, A SECOND BY MAYOR PRO TIM MERKEL IN DISCUSSION.
ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, PLEASE VOTE.
[F. Contract Approval: Alpharetta Strategic Plan
Consideration of approval of a Memorandum of Agreement between the City of Alpharetta and The University of Georgia Research Foundation, Inc. for the purposes of the Carl Vinson Institute of Government to prepare a Strategic Plan for the City of Alpharetta and with authorization for the Mayor to execute all necessary documents.]
MR. LAGER BLOOM, YOU HAVE THIS ITEM.
UM, MAYOR COUNCIL, UM, THIS WAS BORN OUT OF A SEVERAL DISCUSSIONS THAT HAPPENED PRE RETREAT, BUT THAT ALSO DURING THE RETREAT WHERE, UM, I'VE ALWAYS TAKEN UNTIL WHAT I THOUGHT THAT THE ANNUAL ACTION PLAN WAS AND BROUGHT THAT BACK TO YOU AS A ONE YEAR WORK PLAN.
UM, THERE WAS A DESIRE, AT LEAST I READ, THE DESIRE TO BE MORE STRATEGIC IN OUR THINKING AND, AND START TO LOOK OUT OVER MULTIPLE YEARS.
UM, THIS IS A, A RATHER EASY AND RELATIVELY INEXPENSIVE WAY TO, UM,
[03:00:01]
MOVE INTO THAT WORLD BECAUSE IT WOULD BE A, UH, AGREEMENT WITH THE UNIVERSITY OF GEORGIA, ANOTHER GOVERNMENT, AND THE CARL VINCENT INSTITUTE OF GOVERNMENT.WE COULD GO FIND A CONSULTING FIRM THAT COULD CHARGE US A HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS TO DO THIS.
BUT I THINK THIS IS A GREAT FIRST STEP.
UM, THEY CONTEMPLATE A COUPLE OF DAYS.
UH, THEY DO CONTEMPLATE A DAY WITH THE CITY COUNCIL, UM, IDENTIFY MISSION, VISION, VALUES, GOALS, AND ALL OF THOSE BUZZWORDS THAT WE LIKE TO THROW OUT THERE.
UM, AS WELL AS IN A DAY WITH THE STAFF TEAM, UM, AND HOW THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE CITY COUNCIL'S POLICY HAPPENS AND HOW WE START TO GET MORE STRATEGIC AROUND THAT.
UM, I CAN TELL YOU THAT THE PRICE OF THIS AT A BASE PRICE IS $23,281.
I HAVE HAD SOME COMMENTS FROM MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL THAT ALONG THIS PROCESS THEY WOULD LIKE TO HAVE ENGAGEMENT WITH THE PUBLIC IN SOME CAPACITIES, SPECIFICALLY FOCUSED AROUND THIS.
AND I WOULD JUST SAY THAT IF YOU CHOSE TO DO THAT, WE COULD IN FACT ADD ONE OF THE OPTIONAL SERVICES THAT IS INCLUDED IN THE, IN THE CONTRACT, WHICH ARE FOCUS GROUPS.
UM, AND DOING TWO OF THOSE AT 2000 A DAY.
IF SOMEONE EVENTUALLY WERE TO MAKE A MOTION TO HAVE A A NOT TO EXCEED NUMBER OF 27 5 INSTEAD OF 23, WE COULD ADD ON SOME OF THOSE OPTIONAL SERVICES IF THAT'S SOMETHING THAT I'VE HEARD VERY DIRECTLY FROM A COUPLE OF THE MEMBERS OF COUNCIL.
SO, UM, THAT'S A PRESENTATION I HAVE FOR YOU TODAY.
WE'LL GET THIS DONE ON A TIMELINE THAT'LL BE, UH, COMPLETED BY SUMMER.
AND, UH, I THINK I SAW, EH, EARTH FALL, UM, EH, SUMMER AUGUST
THEY'RE, IT'S STILL GONNA FLORIDA IN AUGUST.
SO, WE'LL, WE'LL, WE'LL CALL THAT, WE'LL CALL THAT SUMMER.
UM, BUT I'D BE HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS, ANY QUESTIONS, COMMENT.
YOU MUST HAVE DONE A GREAT JOB.
MS. SHAPIRO, WE, WE HAVE NO PUBLIC COMMENT CARDS FOR THIS ITEM.
HOWEVER, IF ANYONE WOULD LIKE TO COME FORWARD, SPEAK ABOUT THIS STRATEGIC PLAN, NOW'S YOUR CHANCE.
DON'T SEE ANYONE COMING FORWARD.
DO I HAVE A MOTION FROM COUNCIL? I MAKE A MOTION THAT, UM, WE ENGAGE WITH THE CARL VINCENT, UM, INSTITUTE, UM, TO HELP GUIDE US THROUGH A STRATEGIC PLAN PROCESS TO INCLUDE A COUPLE OF, UH, PUBLIC SESSIONS, FORUMS AT THE NOT TO EXCEED $27,500.
SECOND, I HAVE A MOTION BY COUNCILWOMAN REEVES, SECOND BY COUNCILMAN BRADY.
ANY DISCUSSION? NOW'S YOUR CHANCE.
'CAUSE I WAS LIKE RUNNING FOR, UM, CITY COUNCIL.
THIS WAS ON MY BUCKET LIST AND, UM, I TALKED TO MR. LAGER BLOOM ABOUT IT OH MY GOSH, BACK IN THE SUMMER, RIGHT? AND, UM, I'M JUST REALLY GLAD AND THIS, I'VE BEEN THIS THROUGH THIS PROCESS A COUPLE OF TIMES WITH DIFFERENT ORGANIZATIONS AND I AM JUST REALLY LOOKING FORWARD TO THIS, THIS GREAT COUNCIL ROLLING UP OUR SLEEVES AND, AND LISTENING TO THE COMMUNITY AND PUTTING THIS TOGETHER.
I THINK IT WILL BE A GREAT PROCESS THAT WE CAN PUT VISION, MISSION, GOALS, AND STRATEGIC PLAN ALL OUT THERE.
AND IT SHOULD MARRY REALLY WELL WITH YOUR PLAN, THE ANNUAL WORK PLAN.
AND I'M JUST VERY EXCITED TO WORK WITH ALL OF YOU AND TO HEAR FROM OUR COMMUNITY.
ANY OTHER DISCUSSION? ALL THOSE IN FAVOR OF THE MOTION, PLEASE VOTE YES.
[G. Resolution: Appointment of Hearing Examiner for Alcohol License Hearings
Consideration of adoption of a resolution appointing a hearing examiner for the purpose of alcoholic beverage license hearings.]
NEW BUSINESS IS RESOLUTION, APPOINTMENT OF HEARING EXAMINER FOR ALCOHOL LICENSE HEARINGS.
AND IF WE WANT, UH, MS. S ONE TO READ THE RESOLUTION TITLE, A RESOLUTION BY THE MAYOR AND COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF ALPHARETTA, GEORGIA, APPOINTING A HEARING EXAMINER FOR THE PURPOSE OF ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGE LICENSE HEARINGS.
WHY THANK YOU FOR READING THAT RESOLUTION.
DO WE HAVE ANY QUESTIONS ON THIS ITEM? IS THERE ANY OTHER DISCUSSION FROM STAFF? ALL THOSE IN FAVOR OR DO I HAVE A MOTION? YES, MR. MAYOR FOR A MOTION THIS EVENING TO APPROVE THE RESOLUTION APPOINTMENT OF A HEARING EXAMINER FOR ALCOHOL LICENSE HEARINGS.
SECOND, I HAVE A MOTION BY MAYOR PRO TIMM MEKEL.
ANY DISCUSSION? ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, PLEASE VOTE YES.
DO WE REQUIRE AN EXECUTIVE SESSION THIS EVENING? WE DON'T, BUT I BELIEVE WE DO HAVE SOME PUBLIC COMMENT TONIGHT.
I THINK THERE'S A HANDFUL OF PEOPLE WHO HAVE SIGNED UP WITH THE CLERK.
[8. PUBLIC COMMENT]
YES, WE HAVE QUITE A FEW SPEAKERS.UM, SO IF YOU GUYS WANT TO GO AHEAD AND COME AND LINE UP ON THE FRONT ROW.
THE FIRST SPEAKER THIS EVENING IS MATT,
[03:05:01]
PETER.JUST A COUPLE FRIENDLY REMINDERS.
UM, PLEASE STATE YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS FOR THE RECORD AND ALSO TRY TO LIMIT YOUR COMMENTS TWO, THREE MINUTES EACH.
UH, GOOD EVENING MAYOR COUNCIL.
I LIVE AT 5 45 BARNSLEY LANE, ALPHARETTA, UM, IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD OF GLEN ABBEY.
UM, I AM THE FORMER PRESIDENT OF THE GLEN ABBEY, HOA FROM THE TWO ON 2023 TO 2025, UM, TIMEFRAME.
UM, AND I'M HERE TO HIGHLIGHT A SPECIFIC REGULATORY GAP IN CHAPTER 13 OF THE CITY CODE.
UM, AND IT'S BASED ON TWO YEARS OF DIRECT OVERSIGHT AND NOISE MITIGATION RESEARCH.
UM, IN MY OPINION, IT'S CLEAR THAT ALPHARETTA'S CURRENT NOISE ORDINANCES ARE NOT CALIBRATED FOR THE 400% INTENSIFICATION OF THE LAND USE THAT OCCURS WHEN WE CONVERT TENNIS COURTS INTO PICKLEBALL COURTS.
THAT 400% MEANS YOU TAKE SOMETHING THAT WAS TWO TO FOUR PEOPLE AT A TIME, YOU PUT FOUR PICKLEBALL COURTS ON IT, NOW YOU'VE GOT 16 PEOPLE ON THE COURT.
UM, YOU KNOW, AND IT'S EASY TO SORT OF CATEGORIZE THE STUFF AND THESE CONCERNS AS, YOU KNOW, PICKLEBALL ON IN THE NEWS KIND OF STANDARD NEIGHBOR TO NEIGHBOR DISPUTES, RIGHT? UM, YOU KNOW, FROM MY PERSPECTIVE AND SORT OF BEING IN THE NEUTRAL MIDDLE, I'M NOT A PICKLEBALL PLAYER.
I'M NOT IMPACTED BY ANY OF IT.
AND I'VE WORKED FOR TWO YEARS TO TRY AND FIND SOLUTIONS THAT WOULD WORK FOR EVERYBODY.
UM, YOU KNOW, WE SPENT THOSE TWO YEARS AS SORT OF FACT-FINDING BODY, UM, EXHAUSTING MITIGATION TACTICS, ACOUSTIC BLANKETS, ALL THIS STUFF, UM, QUIET PADDLES, AND BASICALLY FOUND THAT, YOU KNOW, ANY SOFT MITIGATION IS PRACTICALLY UNENFORCEABLE.
UM, YOU KNOW, THE SOUND IS SCIENTIFICALLY DISTINCT.
UM, IT DOESN'T, UH, UM, THE, THE, THE NOISE ORDINANCES, WHICH WE HAVE TODAY, WHICH ARE 60 DECIBELS AT THE PROPERTY LINE PLUS 10 FOR IMPULSE, UM, YOU KNOW, THEY'RE, THEY WERE NEVER DESIGNED TO MANAGE THE SITUATION THAT WE ARE DEALING WITH.
UM, YOU KNOW, I UNDERSTAND WHY THE SUPPORT IS POPULAR AND THE RELATIONSHIPS AND THE FRIENDS AND THE SOCIAL ASPECT AND HOW IMPORTANT IT'S TO PEOPLE.
UM, YOU KNOW, THE REALITY IS THOUGH, IS THAT THESE COURTS WITHIN ABOUT 250 FEET, UM, THEY CREATE A SUPER PREDICTABLE STARTLE REFLEX, UH, ENVIRONMENT.
AND THAT MEANS, UM, YOU KNOW, SYMPTOMS THAT ARE SIMILAR TO LIKE, UH, GUNSHOTS ALMOST, RIGHT? UH, FOR PEOPLE THAT ARE AFFECTED BY 'EM.
UM, WE'VE GOT NEIGHBORS WHO LIKE, HAVE MOVED THEIR BABY INFANTS, UM, AND YOU KNOW, FROM THEIR, UM, THEIR ROOM UPSTAIRS INTO THE BASEMENT.
UM, WE'VE GOT PEOPLE THAT JUST SAY, YEAH, WE JUST, ON THE WEEKENDS, WE JUST LEAVE.
AND IF IT RAINS, LIKE THEN WE CAN SPEND THE DAY AT THE HOUSE.
UM, YOU KNOW, FROM A CITY PLANNING PERSPECTIVE, WE'RE LOOKING AT, YOU KNOW, IN SIMILAR SITUATIONS.
IT'S VERY PREDICTABLE AT THIS POINT.
UM, ROSWELL, PETREE, CITY, NEWNAN, TUCKER, AVONDALE ESTATES, THEY'VE ALL FACED THESE ISSUES.
UM, AND THE CONCLUSION IS PRETTY MUCH ALWAYS THE SAME.
YOU KNOW, DISTANCE IS THE REALLY THE ONLY RELIABLE MITIGATION.
UM, THEY FIND ALTERNATIVE SITES, THEY, YOU KNOW, LOOK AT OTHER WAYS OF DOING IT.
UM, YOU KNOW, AND RIGHT NOW RELYING ON POLICE OFFICERS WHO, UM, MEASURE THE DECIBELS, RIGHT, UH, IN THE MIDDLE OF THIS WORKDAY OR, YOU KNOW, AS THIS, UM, THE PLAY COMES AND GOES IS SORT OF A INEFFICIENT USE OF CITY RESOURCES.
UM, PEOPLE CALL THE POLICE TO TRY AND, YOU KNOW, UH, NOTIFY THEM OF THESE THINGS.
AND IT'S HAPPENING AGAIN AND AGAIN.
UM, YOU KNOW, CAME AND THE HOA THAT WOULD HAPPEN TO US TOO, LIKE GET NOTIFIED.
UM, I'LL FINISH UP IN ONE SECOND.
UM, SO I'M URGING THE COUNCIL TO CREATE, CONSIDER A PROACTIVE UPDATE TO OUR CODES WITH 250 FOOT MINIMUM SETBACKS FOR HIGH IMPACT NOISE SPORTS FROM RESIDENTIAL PROPERTY LINES, AND A CONDITIONAL USE PROCESS FOR ANY FACILITY WITHIN 500 FEET OF A HOME TO ALLOW FOR, YOU KNOW, SITE SPECIFIC VETTING.
UM, YOU KNOW, THAT'S, UH, MY MOST OF MY COMMENTS AND I'D LIKE TO JUST GIVE, YOU KNOW, RESIDENTS QUIET ENJOYMENT FROM THEIR ALPHA ADDRESS.
MS. NEXT SPEAKER, UM, NAIM RE RESOUR, I APOLOGIZE.
AND THEN NEXT UP IS BETH SHELLHOUSE.
GOOD EVENING, MAYOR AND COUNCIL MEMBERS.
I'M A RESIDENT OF ALFREDO 1, 2, 3, 3 0 CLAREMONT AVENUE, AND I AM ALSO A CITY PLANNER.
I'M SPEAKING TONIGHT IN SUPPORT.
IF YOU DON'T MIND, COULD YOU PLEASE SPEAK UP? YEAH.
[03:10:01]
I'M SPEAKING TONIGHT IN SUPPORT OF GLEN ABBEY'S RESIDENCE AND TO SHARE MY OWN EXPERIENCE AS A HOMEOWNER IN CLAREMONT COM COMMUNITY IN INCOMING ST STREET, CLOSE TO DOWNTOWN FLORIDA.UM, I WOULD START BY THAT WHEN TENNIS COURT WERE ORIGINALLY DESIGNED WITHIN RESIDENTIAL NEIGHBORHOODS, THEIR INTENDED USE WAS COMPATIBLE WITH SURROUNDING HOMES.
10 WAS CONSIDERED LOW IMPACT RECREATIONAL AMENITY.
OF COURSE, HOMES NEAR AMENITIES SHOULD EXPECT SOME LEVEL OF RECREATIONAL NOISE, AND THIS IS PART OF COMMUNITY LIVING.
HOWEVER, WHAT WE ARE EXPERIENCING TODAY IS NOT SOME LEVEL OF NOISE.
MY HOME IS APPROXIMATELY 150 FEET FROM OUR TENNIS COURT.
WHEN WE PURCHASED OUR HOUSE TWO YEARS AGO IN THE BEAUTIFUL CITY OF ALFREDA, THEY WERE USED.
THIS COURT WERE USED FOR TENNIS AND WE HAD NO ISSUES, SERIOUSLY NO ISSUES.
TENNIS NOISE WAS OCCASIONAL AND CONSISTENT WITH RESIDENTIAL EXPECTATIONS.
AFTER THE CONVERSION TO PICKLEBALL, WHICH OUR HOA DECIDED, THE CHARACTER OF THE SOUND CHANGED SIGNIFICANTLY.
THIS IS NOT SIMPLY ABOUT DISTAL LEVELS.
IT'S HIGH FREQUENCY, IMPULSIVE POP NOISE THAT IS CREATED BY THE HARD PADDLE AND THE HARD PLASTIC BALL.
THE SOUND IS SHARP, REPETITIVE, EVEN INSIDE OUR HOME.
WITH WINDOWS CLOSED, IT IS CLEARLY AUDIBLE.
FOR THE PAST YEAR, WE HAVE NOT BEEN FULLY ENJOYED.
OUR BACKYARD AND THE QUIET TIME IN OUR HOME AND PART OF OUR HOME WHEN THEY ARE PLAYING IS ALMOST NON-USABLE.
WE CLOSE OUR MASTER BEDROOM DOOR AND WE CANNOT, UM, REST IN OUR MASTER BEDROOM AND OUR LIVING ROOM.
UH, OVER THE PAST YEAR, WE HAVE TRIED TO ADDRESS THIS ISSUE WITH OUR HOA.
I PERSONALLY REQUESTED THAT THE IMPACT STUDY OR ACOUSTIC ANALYSIS BEING CONDUCTED AND THAT MITIGATION OPTIONS SUCH AS SOUND BARRIERS, UM, BE EXPLORED.
UNFORTUNATELY, THE REQUEST, THEY DON'T MOVE FORWARD.
THROUGH MY OWN RESEARCH, I HAVE FOUND THAT SOME MUNICIPALITIES RECOMMENDED PICKLEBALL COURTS BE LOCATED AT ITS 600 FEET AWAY FROM RESIDENTIAL HOMES TO MINIMIZE THE IMPACT HOME WITHIN 150 TO 250 FEET LIKE MINE ARE CONSISTENTLY IDENTIFIED AS HIGHLY AFFECTED.
I UNDERSTAND THAT THE CITY HAS TAKEN THOUGHTFUL STEPS REGARDING NEW DEVELOPMENT.
I KNOW THAT AND I APPRECIATE THAT.
UH, BUT MY QUESTION IS WHETHER THERE IS A MECHANISM FOR THE CITY TO REQUIRE IMPACT STUDIES OR MITIGATION MEASURES WHEN TENNIS COURTS ARE BEING CONVERTED TO PICKLEBALL COURTS WITHIN CLOSE PROXIMITY TO HOMES.
UM, I WANNA MENTION THIS IS NOT ABOUT ELIMINATING PICKLEBALL, UH, BUT IT'S ABOUT ENSURING COMPATIBILITY AND PROTECTED THE RESIDENTIAL QUALITY OF LIFE.
THANK YOU MS. OH, BETH, GO AHEAD.
AND THEN NEXT UP IS MATT CHRISTENSEN.
MY NAME IS BETH SHELL HOUSE AND I LIVE IN THE GLEN ABBEY NEIGHBORHOOD IN ALPHARETTA AT 3 4 5 TVA DALE COURT.
UM, I WANNA BEGIN BY ACKNOWLEDGING THE CITY'S MISSION TO MAKE A POSITIVE DIFFERENCE IN THE COMMUNITY AND TO PROVIDE SERVICES AND LEADERSHIP THAT EXCEED THE EXPECTATIONS OF ITS DECISIONS.
I ALSO APPRECIATE THE VISION TO OFFER A HIGH QUALITY ENVIRONMENT FOR RESIDENTS AND FOSTER A STRONG SENSE OF COMMUNITY SAFETY AND LIVABILITY.
I SUPPORT RECREATION AND COMMUNITY HEALTH.
HOWEVER, SINCE PICKLEBALL COURTS WERE PLACED NEAR OUR HOME, THE CHARACTER OF OUR NEIGHBORHOOD HAS BEEN DISRUPTED IN WAYS THAT CONFLICT WITH THESE SHARED VALUES.
WHAT WAS ONCE A PEACEFUL ENVIRONMENT IS NOW FILLED WITH SERIES OF SHARP, REPETITIVE POPS FROM THE COURTS.
THIS IS NOT JUST AN ANNOYANCE.
IT AFFECTS OUR FAMILY'S ABILITY TO REST, RELAX, AND FEEL SECURE IN OUR OWN HOME.
WIDELY RECOGNIZED DATA-DRIVEN FACTS ABOUT NOISE HELP EXPLAIN WHY THIS MATTERS, WHICH I WILL SUMMARIZE AS FOLLOWS.
NUMBER ONE, ENVIRONMENTAL NOISE IS A WELL-DOCUMENTED STRESSOR KNOWN TO INCREASE TENSION AND REDUCE OVERALL WELLBEING WHEN PERSISTENT.
NUMBER TWO, SLEEP DISRUPTION IS AMONG THE MOST CLEARLY ESTABLISHED EFFECTS OF ONGOING NOISE.
EXPOSURE AND HEALTHY SLEEP IS ESSENTIAL FOR PHYSICAL AND EMOTIONAL HEALTH.
NUMBER THREE, HIGH PITCH IMPULSIVE SOUNDS ARE MORE INTRUSIVE AND HARDER TO ADAPT TO THAN GENERAL BACKGROUND NOISE.
PERSONALLY SPEAKING, THE PICKLEBALL NOISE IS ABYSMAL TO SAY THE LEAST.
THE IRREGULAR CADENCE OF THE BALL STRIKE IS PIERCINGLY LOUD, SO LOUD THAT WE HEAR PICKLEBALL ACTIVITY INSIDE OUR HOME, INCLUDING
[03:15:01]
OUR PRIMARY BEDROOM.THE PICKLE NOISE AND NOISE AWAKENS OUR SLEEPING BABY, AND WE'VE HAD TO RELOCATE HIS BEDROOM DOWN TO THE BASEMENT, TWO FLOORS AWAY FROM THE REST OF THE FAMILY IN AN EFFORT TO PROVIDE HIM THE BEST ENVIRONMENT THAT WE CAN NEVER DID.
I EXPECT IN THE CITY OF ALPHARETTA TO HAVE SUCH A DISTURBANCE INSIDE OUR HOME.
FOR CLARIFICATION, WE NEVER HEAR TENNIS EVER INSIDE OUR HOME.
AND OUR HOME SITS 150 FEET AWAY FROM THE PICKLEBALL COURTS THAT WERE ORIGINALLY TENNIS BALL, TENNIS COURTS WHEN WE PURCHASED THE HOME.
IMAGINE BEING AN EXHAUSTED PARENT, A STRESSED OUT TEEN, OR A NEWBORN BABY, AND NOT BEING ABLE TO REST INSIDE YOUR OWN HOME, INSIDE YOUR BED.
BECAUSE A SMALL MINORITY OF PEOPLE WANT TO PLAY PICKLEBALL CLOSE TO THEIR HOMES RATHER THAN THE MANY OPTIONS AVAILABLE, WHICH ARE AVAILABLE IN THE CITY, INCLUDING MANY.
WITHIN ABOUT A FIVE MINUTE DRIVE OF OUR NEIGHBORHOOD, WE EVEN SPENT TENS OF THOUSANDS OR TENS OF THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS TO REPLACE OUR NOTHING STRONG WINDOWS IN ATTEMPT TO HOPE TO FIND RELIEF, BUT WAS WITHOUT SUCCESS.
AS A RESIDENT, I SHARED CITY'S ASPIRATION FOR A HIGH QUALITY ENVIRONMENT AND STRONG COMMUNITY, BUT THAT ENVIRONMENT MUST INCLUDE PLACES WHERE FAMILIES CAN LIVE IN PEACE, REST, AND COMFORT.
AS THE CITY'S OWN VISION DESCRIBES, I RESPECTFULLY URGE THE COUNCIL TO EXPLORE OPTIONS TO HONOR BOTH RECREATION AND LIVABILITY, SUCH AS ZONING RESTRICTIONS FOR PICKLEBALL COURTS AND THE SETBACK LIMIT.
INSTALLING A EFFECTIVE SOUND MITIGATION MEASURES, CONDUCTING FORMAL NOISE IMPACT ASSESSMENTS, WE ARE NOT ASKING YOU TO STOP RECREATION, ONLY ENSURE THAT OUR NEIGHBORHOOD REMAINS A HEALTHY, PEACEFUL, AND WONDERFUL PLACE TO LIVE CONSISTENT WITH THE CITY'S MISSION AND VISION.
THANK YOU, MS. SHAPIRO, MATT CHRISTENSEN, AND THEN LAST CAMMY CHRISTENSEN.
UH, MY NAME IS MATT CHRISTENSEN.
I LIVE FIVE 50 ELEY PLACE IN GLEN ABBEY, AND IT'S ALSO LESS THAN ABOUT 150 FEET FROM THE PICKLEBALL THAT WE'RE CONSTRUCTED BEHIND MY HOME THIS PAST FALL.
AND I JUST WANNA SHARE FRONT FIRST THAT I'M ACTUALLY AN AVID PICKLEBALL PLAYER.
UM, AND IT'S A, IT'S A GREAT SPORT.
SO WHAT I'M RAISING TONIGHT ISN'T OPPOSITION TO PICKLEBALL.
RATHER, IT'S ABOUT UNDERSTANDING ITS ACOUSTIC IMPACT ON RESIDENTIAL NEIGHBORHOODS AND FAMILIES WHO LIVE NEARBY THE COURTS.
PICKLEBALL NOISE IS NOT BACKGROUND NOISE.
IT IS NOT LIKE THE CONSISTENT HUM OF TRAFFIC OR LAWN EQUIPMENT.
UM, IT IS A CONSTANT SERIES OF SHARP, IMPULSIVE POPS, RANDOM HIGH PITCHED SOUND EVENTS THAT THE HUMAN BRAIN IS BIOLOGICALLY WIRED TO NOTICE AND REACT TO.
TO UNDERSTAND THE REAL IMPACT, YOU MUST LOOK BEYOND DECIBEL LEVELS AND LOOK AT FREQUENCY.
A SINGLE PICKLEBALL COURT REDUCES APPROXIMATELY 15 HITS PER MINUTE.
THAT'S ROUGHLY 900 POPS PER HOUR.
A PICKLEBALL IS PLAYED IF PICKLEBALL PLAYS ACTIVE FOR 10 TO 12 HOURS A DAY.
THAT'S MORE THAN 10,000 SHARP SOUND EVENTS PER QUART PER DAY.
I LIVE ADJACENT TO FOUR COURTS, SO DO THE MATH.
THAT'S 40,000 PULSIVE NOISE EVENTS THAT CAN IMPACT ME.
NOT OCCASIONALLY, BUT EVERY DAY.
OUR CURRENT SOUND ORDINANCES MEASURE THE WRONG THING WITH RESPECT TO PILL BALL, DECIBEL AVERAGES CAN SIMPLY CAPTURE THE RELENTLESS REPETITION AND UNPREDICTABLE TIMING OF THESE SHARP AND PULSE NOISES.
WHEN TENNIS WAS PLAYED, AS BEEN MENTIONED BEFORE, I HARDLY EVEN KNEW THAT IT'S GOING ON.
I DON'T EVEN KNOW THAT THEY'RE PLAYING.
BUT WHEN PICKLEBALL IS PLAYED, THE SOUND DISRUPTS MY BACK IN MY BACKYARD AND IT ACTUALLY PENETRATES INTO MY HOME.
IN MY BEDROOM, MY OFFICE, THROUGHOUT MY ENTIRE HOUSE, I REALLY CAN'T ESCAPE THE NOISE.
AS MENTIONED EARLIER, MY PROPERTY IS LESS THAN A HUNDRED FEET FROM THE PICKLEBALL COURTS.
AND AT THIS DISTANCE, EXPERTS CLASSIFY THIS PROXIMITY AS HIGHLY PROBLEMATIC.
COMMUNITIES ACROSS THE COUNTRY HAVE ALREADY CONFRONTED THIS ISSUE.
AND THE CONSISTENT CONCLUSION IS CLEAR DISTANCE MATTER.
THE MOST RECOMMENDED SETBACKS RANGE FROM 250 TO 800 FEET, FAR GREATER THAN WHAT CURRENTLY SEPARATES THESE QUARTS FROM MY HOME AND MY NEIGHBORS.
SO MY ASK TO THE COUNCIL IS THIS.
FIRST ESTABLISH, PLEASE ESTABLISH CONDITIONAL ZONING SPECIFICALLY FOR PICKLEBALL WITH CLEAR RESIDENTIAL SETBACK REQUIREMENTS.
PICKLEBALL IS ACOUSTICALLY DISTINCT AND IT DESERVES ZONING STANDARDS THAT REFLECT THE REALITY.
SECOND, PLEASE DEVELOP ORDINANCES THAT GIVE OUR POLICE AND CODE ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS THE TOOLS TO ADDRESS PICKLEBALL NOISE AS A TRUE SOUND DISTURBANCE, NOT JUST AS AN AVERAGE READING THAT FAILS TO CAPTURE THE ACTUAL HARM.
THE ASK IS REALLY ABOUT PLACING PICKLEBALL WHERE IT BELONGS AND CLEARLY MAKE SURE THAT IT DOESN'T GO WHERE IT DOESN'T BELONG, SO IT DOESN'T CREATE ONGOING CONFLICT BETWEEN NEIGHBORS AND THE CITY.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND THANK YOU FOR CONSIDERING SOLUTIONS THAT PROTECT THE QUALITY OF LIFE,
[03:20:01]
UH, FOR MY HOME OR FOR HOMEOWNERS LIKE ME.GOOD EVENING, MR. MAYOR AND COUNCIL.
I LIVE AT FIVE 50 ELEY PLACE IN ALPHARETTA.
I'D LIKE TO BEGIN BY INVITING MY FRIENDS AND NEIGHBORS WHO'VE ENDURED A VERY LONG MEETING, ENJOYED AND LEARNED A LOT TO PLEASE STAND THOSE WHO CAME TO SUPPORT US TONIGHT.
WE LOST ABOUT 10 PEOPLE DUE TO THE LATE HOUR, BUT I REALLY APPRECIATE THE SUPPORT OF MANY FRIENDS AND NEIGHBORS WHO ARE HERE FOR US TONIGHT.
UM, I AM HERE BECAUSE I ALSO AM EXPERIENCING MAJOR DISRUPTION TO THE PEACEFUL ENJOYMENT OF MY HOME AND PROPERTY.
DUE TO FOUR PERMANENT PICKLEBALL COURTS THAT WERE BUILT IN OCTOBER, 2025, JUST 150 FEET BEHIND MY PROPERTY LINE.
PICKLEBALL NOISE INTERRUPTS MY FAMILY DINNERS, ZOOM CALLS, WORK MEETINGS, AND TOTAL PREVENTS THE USE OF OUR OUTDOOR SPACE FOR MEALS OR FAMILY TIME.
IT IS HARD TO OVERSTATE THE IMPACT THAT THE IMPULSIVE REPETITIVE SOUND OF PICKLEBALL HAS ON OUR DAILY LIVES.
AS A HIGH SCHOOL EDUCATOR, I SPEND MY DAYS MANAGING THE NEEDS OF OTHERS.
WHEN I PULL INTO MY OWN DRIVEWAY.
I SHOULDN'T HAVE TO WONDER WHETHER THE FIRST THING I HEAR STEPPING OUT OF MY CAR WILL BE THE STRIKES OF PICKLEBALL ECHOING IN MY GARAGE.
THE IMPACT HAS BECOME SO SIGNIFICANT THAT I NOW HEAR PHANTOM POPS, EVEN WHEN NO ONE IS PLAYING A SIGN, WHICH IS SUPPORTED BY RESEARCH THAT MY NERVOUS SYSTEM HAS BEEN CONDITIONED TO ANTICIPATE THE SOUND THAT IS NOT A NUISANCE, THAT IS A HEALTH CONSEQUENCE.
I HAVE NO CONTROL OVER WHEN PICKLEBALL IS BEING PLAYED AND AM RELIEVED ON COLD OR RAINY DAYS THAT MY HOME ENVIRONMENT WON'T BE DISTURBED.
WHEN THE PERMANENT COURTS WERE ANNOUNCED LAST JUNE 12, GLEN ABBEY FAMILY SENT A LETTER TO THE ALFREDA CITY COUNCIL, MAYOR AND PLANNING DIRECTOR PETITIONING FOR A SITE REVIEW PRIOR TO THE COURT'S CONSTRUCTION.
UNFORTUNATELY, AN OFFICIAL REVIEW WAS NOT MADE AND THE COURT, THE CITY'S CURRENT ZONING AND NOISE REGULATIONS DID NOT PREVENT THE COURTS FROM BEING BUILT.
LAST OCTOBER, WE HAVE MADE MANY NOISE NUISANCE CALLS TO THE POLICE DEPARTMENT AND HAVE REALLY TRULY APPRECIATED THE SUPPORT OF CITY OFFICER LORI NICHOLSON, WHO HAS STOOD IN MY BEDROOM, STOOD IN MY KITCHEN, AND ON MY DECK PERSONALLY EXPERIENCING THE SOUND OF PICKLEBALL FOR HERSELF.
WE ARE HERE TONIGHT TO PETITION THE LEADERSHIP OF THE CITY OF ALPHARETTA TO UPDATE THEIR ZONING STANDARDS TO BE CONSISTENT WITH SCIENTIFIC AND ACOUSTICAL ENGINEERING EXPERT RECOMMENDATIONS, WHICH CATEGORIZE ANY COURT WITHIN A HUNDRED FEET OF A HOME AS HIGH RISK AND THOSE BETWEEN 102 HUNDRED 50 FEET AS HIGHLY PROBLEMATIC.
THERE ARE CURRENTLY ABOUT 10 GLEN ABBEY HOMES IN THE HIGHLY PROBLEMATIC ZONE.
I UNDERSTAND THAT PICKLEBALL IS A BELOVED ACTIVITY ENJOYED BY MANY ALPHARETTA RESIDENTS, INCLUDING MY HUSBAND, AND WE ARE NOT ASKING FOR IT TO BE ELIMINATED.
BUT RESPONSIBLE GOVERNANCE MEANS ENSURING THE ENJOYMENT OF THE MANY DOES NOT COME AT THE DOCUMENTED EXPENSE OF THE HEALTH AND WELLBEING OF THE FEW ZONING STANDARDS EXIST PRECISELY FOR THIS PURPOSE, AND WE ARE ASKING YOU TO DO THREE THINGS.
FIRST, ESTABLISH A MINIMUM SETBACK DISTANCE FOR PICKLEBALL COURTS FROM RESIDENTIAL HOMES.
SECOND, DESIGNATE PICKLEBALL AS A CONDITIONAL USE ACTIVITY REQUIRING SITE REVIEW AND THIRD UPDATE NOISE STANDARDS TO REFLECT THE IMPULSIVE NATURE OF PICKLEBALL SOUND.
THE CURRENT 70 DECIBEL LIMIT DOES NOT CAPTURE ITS TRUE ACOUSTIC IMPACT.
I'M URGING YOU TO TAKE ACTION TO PROTECT ME, MY FAMILY, AND OTHER OUTFIT AT A RESIDENCE FROM THE DAILY DISRUPTION.
I EXPERIENCE HAVING PICKLEBALL COURTS SO CLOSE TO MY HOME.
THERE ARE MANY PLACES FOR RESIDENTS TO ENJOY THIS RECREATIONAL ACTIVITY.
I ONLY HAVE ONE PLACE TO LIVE, EAT, SLEEP, AND CALL HOME.
THOSE ARE ALL THE PUBLIC COMMENT CARDS I HAVE AT THIS TIME, BUT IF THERE'S ANYONE ELSE, I'LL LEAVE THAT TO YOU.
MAYOR, IF THERE'S ANYONE ELSE THAT WOULD LIKE TO COME FORWARD AND SPEAK ON THIS, IT'S OPEN SPEAK.
WELL, I WILL SAY I APPRECIATE THE ISSUE.
I DON'T THINK ANY OF US UP HERE AREN'T AWARE THAT THAT IS A PROBLEM.
I THINK IF THERE WAS A SIMPLE SOLUTION, WE WOULD'VE ALREADY ADDRESSED IT.
I'LL BE GLAD TO HAVE OUR CITY ATTORNEY LOOK INTO WHAT OPTIONS WE HAVE.
BUT THE CHALLENGE IS WE CAN'T, AS A GOVERNMENT, MAKE PEOPLE BE NICE NEIGHBORS.
THE ABSURDITY OF AN HOA CAUSING THIS PROBLEM TO PEOPLE WHO OWN PROPERTIES IN THEIR LOOK.
I KNOW, BUT THE ABSURDITY OF THINKING WE MIGHT HAVE TO PUT OUR STAFF OR OUR CITY IN LEGAL JEOPARDY
[03:25:01]
FOR WHAT YOU'RE ASKING US TO, BECAUSE IF WE GO IN AND TRY TO IMPOSE A RESTRICTION THAT DIDN'T EXIST WHEN THEY BUILT OR BOUGHT THEIR HOME, WE MIGHT GET SUED BECAUSE WE DIDN'T HAVE AN ORDINANCE, WE DIDN'T HAVE A DISTANCE SET.HOW DO WE GO BACK AND RETROACTIVELY IMPOSE ONE ON PRIVATE PROPERTY OWNERS? THAT'S NOT A SIMPLE THING FOR US TO FIX.
IF IT WAS EASY, WE WOULD'VE ALREADY DONE IT.
IF WE COULD JUST TELL PEOPLE TO BE NICE, WE WOULD'VE ALREADY MADE THEM BE NICE.
WE'LL CONTINUE TO EXPLORE OPTIONS, BUT THE PROBLEM IS YOU'VE GOT HORRIBLE HOA PEOPLE WHO WON'T STAND UP AND DO WHAT'S RIGHT FOR THEIR HOMEOWNERS ASSOCIATION.
DOES ANYONE ELSE ON COUNCIL HAVE ANYTHING TO ADD TO THAT? I MEAN, WE'LL CONTINUE TO HAVE THE CONVERSATION.
WE'LL CONTINUE TO HAVE OUR POLICE DEPARTMENT AND OUR LEGAL TERM LOOK AT WHAT OUR OPTIONS ARE, BUT I DON'T WANT TO HAVE TO FIGHT A 10 YEAR LONG LAW LAWSUIT BECAUSE WE TOLD GLEN ABBEY THAT THEY CAN'T USE THE PICKLE COURTS THAT THEY BUILT.
BUT THAT'S THE WORLD WE FIND OURSELVES IN.
SO I'LL CONTINUE TO HAVE CONVERSATIONS.
FEEL FREE TO SH GIVE US OPTIONS, BUT I HAVEN'T HEARD ANYTHING YET THAT SAYS, NO, THAT'S NOT GONNA MAKE US END UP BEING IN THE LAWSUIT ONE WAY OR ANOTHER.
WE CAN'T WIN UNTIL WE FIND A BETTER SOLUTION.
BUT THANK YOU FOR CONTINUING TO HAVE THE CONVERSATION.
IF YOU FIND A PERFECT SOLUTION, WE'LL BE GLAD TO ENACT IT.
BUT I, I DON'T SEE IT THERE YET.
THAT BEING SAID, IF WE DON'T HAVE AN EXECUTIVE SESSION, WE HAVE A MOTION TO ADJOURN.
DO WE HAVE A SECOND? WE SECOND.
COUNCILMAN ALL THOSE IN FAVOR OF ADJOURNING, PLEASE VOTE YES.