* This transcript was created by voice-to-text technology. The transcript has not been edited for errors or omissions, it is for reference only and is not the official minutes of the meeting. [00:00:01] GOOD EVENING [1. CALL TO ORDER] EVERYONE. THANK YOU ALL FOR BEING HERE THIS EVENING. IT IS SIX 30 AND WE'LL BEGIN THE CITY COUNCIL MEETING AND THE PUBLIC HEARING FOR AUGUST 24TH, 2026. AND I'LL GO AHEAD AND NOTE FOR THE RECORD, ALL MEMBERS OF COUNCIL ARE PRESENT AND ACCOUNTED FOR. IF YOU'RE NOT FAMILIAR, WE BEGIN OUR CITY COUNCIL MEETINGS WITH A PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE. SO IF YOU'RE WILLING AND ABLE, PLEASE STAND AND JOIN US. MY PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO APPLY THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND TWO REPUBLIC WHO, WHICH IT STANDS, ONE NATION UNDER GOD IN WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL. FIRST ITEM [4. CONSENT AGENDA] ON TONIGHT'S AGENDA IS THE CONSENT AGENDA. CONSENT AGENDA CONSISTS OF THE CITY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES FOR THE MEETING OF AUGUST 17TH, 2026, AND THE SPONSORSHIP APPROVAL GA RECOVERY BUS TOUR COMMUNITY EVENT TO BE HELD AT BROOKS STREET PARK ON SEPTEMBER 10TH, 2026. IS THERE ANYONE ON COUNCIL WHO WOULD LIKE TO REMOVE ANYTHING FROM THE CONSENT AGENDA? UH, MR. MAYOR, I'D LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION TO REMOVE ITEM B FROM THE CONSENT AGENDA. I HAVE A POTENTIAL CONFLICT AND WILL BE RECUSING MYSELF FROM VOTING. ALRIGHT, SIR. IS THERE ANYONE ELSE THAT WOULD LIKE TO REMOVE ANYTHING FROM THE CONSENT AGENDA? SEEING NONE. DO WE HAVE A MOTION TO APPROVE CONSENT AGENDA? MOTION TO APPROVE THE CONSENT AGENDA MINUS B SECOND. HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND. ANY DISCUSSION? ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, PLEASE VOTE YES. AND THE CONSENT AGENDA PASSES UNANIMOUSLY. SO WE'LL MOVE ON TO THE PUBLIC HEARING PORTION OF THIS EVENING. FIRST I WOULD LIKE MR. MAYOR, BEFORE WE DO THAT, COULD WE GO BACK AND, UH, DISPOSE OF THE ITEM THAT WAS REMOVED? IT WOULD GO INTO NEW BUSINESS. UM, MAKE [B. Sponsorship Approval: GA Recovery Bus Tour Community Event to be held at Brooke Street Park on September 10, 2026 Consideration and approval of a $2,500 Recovery Partner sponsorship to Vision Warriors for the September 10, 2026, #GARECOVERS Bus Tour event at Brooke Street Park, with funding from the City's Opioid Settlement Funds.] A MOTION TO APPROVE THE CONSENT AGENDA. ITEM B WITH COUNCILMAN DRISCOLL ACCUSING HIMSELF. SECOND. MY APOLOGIES. THANK YOU. HAVE FIRST AND A SECOND. ANY DISCUSSION? ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, PLEASE VOTE YES. AND ITEM B PASSES UNANIMOUSLY AS WELL. SO ONCE [A. Announcement of Public Hearing Procedures] AGAIN, WE WILL MOVE TOWARDS THE PUBLIC HEARING AND WE'LL BEGIN WITH THE ANNOUNCEMENT OF THE PUBLIC HEARING PROCEDURES. MR. DOVE, PLEASE, 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, PROCEEDING WITH ANY COMMENTS OR REMARKS. THE COUNCIL WILL ALLOW THE PROPONENTS A TOTAL OF 10 MINUTES TO SPEAK IN SUPPORT OF AN APPLICATION. OPPONENTS WILL BE ALLOWED 10 MINUTES TO SPEAK IN OPPOSITION. COMMENTS ARE ACCEPTED FIRST FROM THE APPLICANT, FOLLOWED BY PERSONS SPEAKING IN 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 THE ORIGINAL ALLOTTED 10 MINUTES. MAYOR, I LIKE TO MAKE A PROCEDURAL MOTION ON COUNCIL RIGO PUBLIC HEARING PROCEDURES FOR THIS EVENING. WE TYPICALLY DO ALLOW 10 MINUTES FOR EACH SIDE. UM, BUT I WOULD LIKE TO, UM, BECAUSE OF THE CROWD THAT WE HAVE, THE HERE THIS EVENING AND THE PUBLIC INTEREST IN THIS APPLICATION, WHICH IS SIGNIFICANT, UM, I WOULD LIKE TO, UH, MOVE THAT WE ALLOW, UH, ANYONE THAT WANTS TO SPEAK THREE MINUTES, UM, BOTH FOR AGAINST OR FOR, AND, AND ALSO ALLOW THAT ADDITIONAL TIME TO THE APPLICANT IF THEY NEED IT, UH, SO THAT WE GET A PROPER PUBLIC HEARING OF THIS MASSIVE APPLICATION. SECOND. SECOND. WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND. ANY DISCUSSION? UH, YEP. COUNCILMAN, HES, BECAUSE THAT'S A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENT THAN THE PROCEDURES THAT WE HAD BEEN GIVEN BEFORE, IS THAT I'M GONNA, I'M GONNA ASK COUNSEL. DOES THAT, THAT WORKS. OKAY. ALRIGHT. AND MAYOR AND COUNCIL MEMBERS, UM, AND, AND EVERYONE HERE THIS EVENING, THE REASON I'M DOING THIS IS THERE'S BEEN, UH, A TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF DISCUSSION AMONGST THE COMMUNITY, [00:05:01] BOTH FOR AND AGAINST. OKAY. SO, AND, AND, AND, AND, AND I, I, I THINK THAT, UM, I, I, I'LL STAY HERE ALL NIGHT IF I HAVE TO LISTEN TO THE PUBLIC. AND I, I WANT TO HEAR FROM EVERYBODY. I DON'T WANT TO, 10 MINUTES FOR EACH SIDE IS LIKE DE MINI COMPARED TO WHAT WE'RE CONSIDERING HERE THIS EVENING AND THE IMPACT ON THE, ON THE CITY PRO AGAINST OR, OR FOR, SO THAT'S WHY I'M PUTTING THIS FORTH. ANY OTHER DISCUSSION. SECOND, I AGREE WHOLEHEARTEDLY WITH DOUG. I, YOU KNOW, YOU HEAR ABOUT COUNCIL MEETINGS GOING LONG. THIS IS OUR, THIS IS OUR ITEM TONIGHT, AND Y'ALL TOOK TIME OUTTA YOUR DAY TO COME AND BE HERE. AND IF YOU WANNA BE HEARD, THREE MINUTES SEEMS A VERY SMALL THING TO GIVE. I WOULD HATE FOR Y'ALL TO HANG AROUND AND NOT BE HEARD IF YOU WANT TO BE HEARD. SO I THANK YOU FOR MAKING THE MOTION. COUNCILMAN DORITO, ANY OTHER DISCUSSION? ALL THOSE IN FAVOR OF THE MOTION, PLEASE VOTE YES. AND THE MOTION PASSES UNANIMOUSLY. THANK YOU, MADAM. YOU'RE WELCOME. SO WE'LL MOVE ON TO THE NEXT ITEM, [B. MP-26-06/Z-26-05/CU-26-04/V-26-08 North Point Sports & Entertainment DistrictConsideration of a master plan amendment, rezoning, conditional use and variances to allow for the redevelopment of North Point Mall with a mixed-use development consisting of approximately a 20,000-seat hockey arena, 4,000-seat music hall and performing arts center, 2,000-seat team practice facility and community hockey rink, movie theater, 30,000 square foot hotel conference center, 350-room full-service hotel, 300-room hybrid hotel, 750,000 square feet of office, 565,000 square feet of retail/restaurant, 1,385 ‘For-Rent’ dwelling units, and 26 acres of public parks, plazas and multi-use trails on 98.58 acres in the North Point Overlay. A master plan amendment is requested to the North Point Mall Master Plan to allow for the proposed mixed-use development. A rezoning is requested from PSC (Planned Shopping Center) to MU (Mixed Use) and a conditional use is requested to allow ‘Dwelling, ‘For-Rent’ use, to increase residential density, and to increase non-residential building height. Variances are requested to Unified Development Code (UDC) Subsection 2.2.20(B)(4) to reduce the minimum percentage of office, UDC Subsection 2.5.4 to increase the distance requirement for off-site parking, UDC Subsection 2.10.3 to modify streetscape requirements, UDC Subsection 2.10.4 to modify block and access requirements, UDC Subsection 2.10.3(D) to increase residential building height, and UDC Subsection 3.2.2 to allow an encroachment into the Georgia 400 Tree Buffer. The property is located at 0 North Point Drive, 0 Rock Mill Road, 1000 North Point Parkway, and 2000, 4000, 4500, 5000 & 6000 North Point Circle and is legally described as being located in Land Lots 687, 688, 689, 700, 701, 702, 742, and 743, 1st District, 2nd Section, Fulton County, Georgia.] WHICH IS MP DASH 26 DASH OH SIX SLASH Z DASH 26 DASH OH FIVE SLASH CU DASH 26 DASH OH FOUR SLASH V DASH 26 DASH OH EIGHT NORTH POINT SPORTS AND ENTERTAINMENT DISTRICT. MR. WOODMAN, I BELIEVE YOU'VE GOT THE FLOOR ON THIS ITEM. THANK YOU, MAYOR. AND COUNSEL, BEFORE I START THIS EVENING, I JUST WANT TO GIVE YOU AN OVERVIEW OF OUR PRESENTATION. I'LL START OUT WITH THE APPLICANT'S REQUEST. I'LL GO OVER THE APPLICANT'S PROPOSED SITE PLAN, UM, TO TALK ABOUT THE APPLICANT'S PROPOSAL AS IT RELATES TO CONSISTENCY WITH THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN AND THE NORTH POINT PLANNING DOCUMENTS. AND THEN KATHY COOK WILL TAKE OVER TO DISCUSS OPEN SPACE, UH, OR RENT REQUEST, OFFICE HOTELS AND PUBLIC SAFETY. THEN OUR TRAFFIC ENGINEER WILL COME FORWARD, BRIAN BULLOCK, TO DISCUSS PARKING AND TRAFFIC. AND THEN I WILL WRAP THINGS UP WITH, UH, GOING OVER THE REVIEW CRITERIA, UM, A THE GOING OVER THE CONCURRENCES, THE COMMUNITY ZONING INFORMATION MEETING, AND THE CITIZEN PARTICIPATION PLAN, AS WELL AS THE PLANNING COMMISSION'S RECOMMENDATION. ALRIGHT, THANK YOU MAYOR AND COUNSEL. THE ITEM BEFORE YOU IS A REQUEST FOR MASTER PLAN AMENDMENT REZONING, CONDITIONAL USE AND VARIANCES TO ALLOW FOR THE REDEVELOPMENT OF NORTH POINT MALL WITH A MIXED USE SPORTS AND ENTERTAINMENT DISTRICT, CONSISTING OF A 20,000 SEAT NHL HOCKEY ARENA, A 2000 SEAT TEAM PRACTICE AND COMMUNITY ICE FACILITY, 565,000 SQUARE FEET OF COMMERCIAL USES, WHICH DOES INCLUDE 342,000 SQUARE SQUARE FEET OF EXISTING ANCHORS TO REMAIN 750,000 SQUARE FEET OF OFFICE, 1,385 FOR RENT DWELLING UNITS, 1,139 SEAT CINEMA, A 4,000 SEAT MUSIC HALL, 650 HOTEL ROOMS, WHICH WOULD INCLUDE A 30,000 SQUARE FOOT HOTEL CONFERENCE CENTER AND APPROXIMATELY JUST UNDER 27 ACRES OF OPEN SPACE. AND THAT PROPERTY IS JUST UNDER 99 ACRES. AND, AND LOCATED IN THE NORTH POINT OVERLAY, THE PROPOSED DENSITY IS 14.04 DWELLING UNITS PER ACRE. A MASTER PLAN AMENDMENT IS REQUESTED TO THE NORTH POINT MALL MASTER PLAN TO, TO MODIFY THE DEVELOPMENT MIX. REZONING IS REQUESTED FROM PLAN SHOPPING CENTER, PSC TO MIXED USE. MU CONDITIONAL USE IS REQUESTED TO ALLOW DWELLING FOR RENT USE TO INCREASE THE ALLOWABLE RESIDENTIAL DENSITY AND TO INCREASE THE NON-RESIDENTIAL BUILDING HEIGHT. AND THERE ARE VARIANCES REQUESTED TO ALLOW THE MARTA EXPRESS LANE TRANSIT AND MULTI-USE TRAIL IN THE GEORGIA 400 BUFFER TO REDUCE MU OFFICE PERCENTAGE TO MODIFY BLOCK ACCESS AND STREETS SCAPE REQUIREMENTS TO ALLOW OFFSITE PARKING IN EXCESS OF 500 FEET FROM THE PROPERTY AND TO INCREASE RESIDENTIAL BUILDING HEIGHT. AND I HAVE THE LOCATION MAP ON THE OVERHEAD. THIS PROPERTY IS LOCATED AT 1000 NORTH POINT PARKWAY, 4,500 NORTH POINT PLACE ZERO AND 5,000 NORTH POINT DRIVE, 2000 [00:10:01] AND 6,000 NORTH POINT CIRCLE AND ZERO ROCK MILL ROAD. SURROUNDING PROPERTIES ARE ZONED PSC PLANNED SHOPPING CENTER. UH, SURROUNDING PROPERTIES INCLUDE THE ESTA SUITES TO THE NORTHEAST. THERE'S A REGIONAL STORMWATER FACILITY TO THE EAST, THE COMMERCIAL OUT PARCELS ALONG NORTH POINT PARKWAY TO THE SOUTH, THE ENCORE COMMONS OFFICE BUILDINGS TO THE WEST AND GEORGIA 400 TO THE NORTH. THE COMPREHENSIVE LAND USE PLAN DESIGNATION OF THE PROPERTY IS MIXED USE, WHICH DOES SUPPORT THE PROPOSED MIXED USE DEVELOPMENT. THE NORTH POINT MALL MASTER PLAN WAS APPROVED IN 1990. IT ALLOWED A, ALLOWED A 1.4 MILLION SQUARE FOOT REGIONAL SHOPPING MALL. THE MASTER PLAN HAS BEEN AMENDED ON A FEW OCCASIONS OVER THE YEAR, MOST RECENTLY WITH THE CREATIVE OFFICE SPACE INSIDE THE MALL FOR SPACES, AND THEN THE REDEVELOPMENT OF THE SEARS ANCHOR, UH, WITH A NEW MIXED USE DEVELOPMENT. THAT PARTICULAR DEVELOPMENT DID ALLOW 300 FULL RENT UNITS. HOWEVER, THOSE UNITS DID REVERT TO 304 CELL UNITS IN 2022. AS I MENTIONED, THERE ARE THREE CONDITIONAL USE TO ALLOW DWELLING FOR RENT AND TO INCREASE RESIDENTIAL DENSITY. SO IN THE NORTH POINT OVERLAY, WE DO HAVE THE NORTH POINT, UH, LCI DENSITY PRIORITY MAP, AND THIS, UH, THE MALL IS, UH, LOCATED IN PRIORITY AREA ONE. THIS AREA IS DESIGNATED AS AN AREA THAT IS APPROPRIATE FOR HIGHER DENSITIES. AND THE OVERLAY ALLOWS COUNCIL TO AUTHORIZE DENSITIES ABOVE THE MAX DENSITY ALLOWED IN THE UNDERLYING ZONING DISTRICT, WHICH IN THIS CASE WOULD BE EIGHT UNITS PER ACRE. THE CRITERIA TO BE CONSIDERED WOULD BE CONFORMANCE WITH THE PLANNING NORTH POINT PLANNING DOCUMENTS AS WELL AS COMPREHENSIVE PLAN. AND THE NORTH POINT LCI, THERE'S ALSO CONDITIONAL USE TO INCREASE THE MAXIMUM NON-RESIDENTIAL BUILDING HEIGHT. WE LOOKED AT SURROUNDING PROPERTIES AND THERE ARE MORE THAN JUST THE SURROUNDING PROPERTIES AROUND THE MALL THAT ALLOW HEIGHTS UP TO 20 AND 30 STORIES. BUT THESE ARE IMMEDIATELY ADJACENT, UH, TO THIS PROPERTY. THESE PROPERTIES ARE LOCATED IN THE NORTH POINT BUSINESS CENTER MASTER PLAN. THE APPLICANT'S PROPOSING THE FOLLOWING, BUILDING HEIGHTS COMMERCIAL UP TO FOUR STORIES, PARKING DECK UP TO SEVEN LEVELS, OFFICE UP TO 14 STORIES, TWO HOTEL BUILDINGS UP TO TW, UM, UP TO 20 STORIES. TWO OF THE FIVE RESIDENTIAL BUILDINGS WOULD BE UP TO 20 STORIES. BUT THE REMAINING THREE RESIDENTIAL BUILDINGS WOULD NOT EXCEED SEVEN STORIES. THE PROPOSED NHL ARENA WOULD HAVE A HEIGHT OF NO MORE THAN 170 FEET AND THE MUSICAL HALL AND CINEMA 80 FEET. THERE ARE A FEW VARIANCES THAT HAVE BEEN REQUESTED WITH THE APPLICANT'S PROPOSAL. THE FIRST BEING TO REDUCE THE MU OFFICE PERCENTAGE. SO IN THE MU MIXED USE ZONING DISTRICT, WE REQUIRE A MINIMUM 25% OFFICE. THE APPLICANT IS SHOWING 17.4% OFFICE WITHIN THE DEVELOPMENT. THAT INCLUDES THE 750,000 SQUARE FOOT OF OFFICE THAT IS PROPOSED. WE DID NOTE THAT THERE IS ALMOST 600,000 SQUARE FOOT OF SQUARE FEET OF OFFICE IN THE ADJACENT PROPERTY TO THE WEST ENCORE COMMONS. UM, ALSO TO ALLOW OFFSITE PARKING GREATER THAN 500 FEET FROM THE PROP, UH, PROPERTY. THE APPLICANT PROVIDED THIS, UM, EXHIBIT THAT SHOWED THAT THERE WERE, UM, THE, UH, OFFSITE PARKING PROPOSED WITHIN, UH, 15 MINUTE WALK OF THE PROPERTY. AND THEY'VE INDICATED THERE ARE APPROXIMATELY 10,000, UH, PARKING SPACES IN THAT, UH, 15 MINUTE WALK. THE APPLICANT IS ALSO PROPOSING TO MODIFY ACCESS BLOCK AND STREET SCAPE REQUIREMENTS, AND THEY DID PROVIDE TYPICAL STREET SCAPES. UH, THE STREET SCAPE ON THE LEFT HERE WOULD BE THE PRIMARY STREET DOWN THE CENTER OF THE DEVELOPMENT WITH THE SECONDARY STREETS. UM, ON THE RIGHT SIDE HERE THEY ARE, UM, DOWN THE PRIMARY STREET, AND I'LL POINT THIS OUT WHEN WE GET TO THE SITE PLAN, THEY ARE SHOWING THE ALPHA LOOP, UM, AS WELL AS SIDEWALKS ON BOTH SIDES OF THE STREET VARIANCE TO INCREASE THE RESIDENTIAL BUILDING HEIGHT FROM 40, UH, FROM FOUR STORIES TO 20 STORIES. UM, AND THAT WOULD BE FOR THE TWO RESIDENTIAL BUILDINGS UP TO 20 STORIES. AGAIN, THE REMAINING RESIDENTIAL BUILDINGS WOULD BE NO MORE THAN SEVEN STORIES. AND THEN OF COURSE, TO ALLOW THE MARTA, UH, EXPRESS LANE TRANSIT AND MULTI-USE TRAIL ON THE GEORGIA 400 BUFFER. I'LL POINT THAT OUT WHEN WE GET TO THE SITE PLAN. SO THIS IS THE APPLICANT'S PROPOSED SITE [00:15:01] PLAN, WHICH DEPICTS REDEVELOPMENT OF, OF THE MALL. THE ONLY REMAINING PIECES WOULD BE THE TWO ANCHORS AS WELL AS THE EXISTING PARKING DECK. BUT I WANT TO GO THROUGH THE, THE PLAN BY QUADRANT. THIS NORTHEAST QUADRANT YOU HAVE THE NHL HOCKEY ARENA, THE HOTEL AND MUSIC HALL. OF COURSE, THERE'S PARKING DECKS AS WELL AND THE NORTHWEST QUADRANT OF THE DEVELOPMENT. MR. WOODMAN, I HAD TO INTERRUPT IT. CAN YOU, CAN YOU ZOOM IN A LITTLE BIT SO WE CAN GET A BETTER VISUAL OF WHAT YOU'RE LOOKING AT. IN THE NORTHWEST QUADRANT OF THE DEVELOPMENT, YOU HAVE THE TEAM PRACTICE FACILITY AND COMMUNITY ICE RETAIL ALONG THE, UM, MAIN SPINE ROAD, THE PRIMARY ROAD THAT BISECTS THE PROPERTY FROM NORTH TO SOUTH, UH, HOTEL, UH, CINEMA PARKING WITH VERDE PORT, THE SOUTHWEST QUADRANT OF THE DEVELOPMENT, YOU HAVE THE EXISTING, UM, ANCHORS THAT REMAIN DILLARD'S VON MAR ANCHOR, UM, AS WELL AS THE PARKING DECK HERE. THERE IS RETAIL THAT IS ADDED ALONG THE PRIMARY, UM, STOREFRONT STREET WITH OFFICE ABOVE. AND THEN IN THE SOUTHEAST QUADRANT OF THE SITE IS WHERE THE FOUR RENT RESIDENTIAL IS CONCENTRATED. THERE ARE PARKING DECKS ATTACHED TO THE BUILDINGS. THERE'S ALSO, UM, AN OFFICE BUILDING OVER RETAIL AT THIS LOCATION DIRECTLY ACROSS FROM THE ARENA. ACCESS TO THE PROPERTY WILL CONTINUE BY WAY OF THE EXISTING STREET NETWORK. SO NORTH POINT CIRCLE WILL REMAIN IN PLACE, THE EXISTING DRIVEWAYS THAT PROVIDE ACCESS OVER, UH, TO, UH, NORTH POINT PARKWAY AS WELL AS NORTH POINT DRIVE AT NORTH POINT CENTER EAST. AND THEN MARTA HAS A FUTURE, UH, STOP AT THE NORTH POINT MALL PROPERTY. THIS IS SOMETHING THAT WAS PLANNED BEFORE THIS APPLICATION, UH, CAME IN. UM, SO THERE IS A PLAN STOP WITH THE EXPRESS LANES TRANSIT AT THIS LOCATION DIRECTLY BY THE MALL. AND THERE IS AN ELEVATED CONNECTION THAT WOULD PROVIDE ACCESS TO THE SITE. THIS ELEVATED CONNECTION WOULD ALSO PROVIDE, UH, AN ALIGNMENT OF OUR ALPHA LOOP MULTI-USE TRAIL SYSTEM. AND SO THAT WOULD COME INTO THE SITE AND RUN SOUTH ALONG WHAT WOULD BE A FUTURE DETENTION PARK, UM, STORM WATER PARK SITE HERE, AND THEN PROVIDE ACCESS DOWN TO NORTH POINT PARKWAY. THE ALPHA LOOP WOULD ALSO CONTINUE WEST AND CONNECT OVER TO NORTH POINT CENTER EAST, WHICH THE CITY HAS PLANS TO EXTEND THE ALPHA LOOP ALONG NORTH POINT CENTER, EAST AND DOWN ENCORE OVER TO THE BAKER CREEK GREENWAY. AS I MENTIONED, THE DEVELOPMENT IS REALLY, UH, SITUATED ON THIS PRIMARY STOREFRONT STREET HERE. THE TALLER BUILDINGS THAT ARE PROPOSED, THE TWO HOTEL BUILDINGS AS WELL AS THE TWO RESIDENTIAL BUILDINGS ARE PURPOSELY BY THE APPLICANT, UH, ACCORDING TO THE APPLICANT, UH, POSITIONED IN THE MIDDLE OF THE DEVELOPMENT WITH THE HEIGHT GRADUALLY COMING DOWN AS YOU GET CLOSER TO THE RING ROAD. AND THEN THE SECONDARY STREETS PROVIDE ACCESS TO THE RING ROAD THROUGH THE, THROUGH THE DEVELOPMENT AS WELL, CREATING A STREET GRID, UH, WHICH WAS ENVISIONED WITHIN THE NORTH POINT DEVELOPMENT FRAMEWORK PLAN. AND THEN OF COURSE, SIDEWALKS ARE DEPICTED THROUGHOUT, UH, THIS SITE. OF COURSE, ALL UH, KATHY COOK WILL BE TALKING ABOUT THE OPEN SPACE. I'LL SKIP OVER THAT. UH, BUT IMPACTS THE TREES, REALLY. THIS IS A SITE THAT'S BEEN, UH, DEVELOPED AS A REGIONAL MALL. THERE WON'T BE IMPACTS, UH, TO TREES IN THIS PARTICULAR INSTANCE. AND THEN THE STORM WATER WILL BE DEALT WITH WITH THE EXISTING STORMWATER PONDS. THE APPLICANT OWNS THESE TWO PONDS. UM, THE REMAINING PORTION OF THE PROPERTY IS OWNED BY A CSO, UH, ENCORE THAT OWNS THE ENCORE COMMONS PROPERTY. AND THEN I'LL JUST BRIEFLY SHOW YOU SOME RENDERINGS THAT THE APPLICANT HAS SUBMITTED WITH THE APPLICATION. THIS IS A BIRD'S VIEW, BIRD'S EYE VIEW, LOOKING AT THE PROPERTY FROM THE, UH, EAST NORTHEAST SIDE OF THE PROPERTY LOOKING WEST. THIS IS WITHIN THE DEVELOPMENT WITH THE ARENA HERE. THIS IS MORE ALONG THE STOREFRONT STREET. AND YOU CAN SEE THAT THE CAROUSEL INSIDE NORTH POINT MALL HAS BEEN INTEGRATED INTO THE DEVELOPMENT AND THIS, UH, RENDERING, YOU CAN SEE THE ALPHA LOOP COMING THROUGH THE STOREFRONT STREET ALONG THE STOREFRONT STREET. AND THIS IS A BIRDS, BIRD'S EYE VIEW FROM THE WEST SIDE OF THE DEVELOPMENT LOOKING EAST. [00:20:04] THEN I JUST WANTED TO GO OVER, UH, CONSISTENCY WITH NORTH POINT PLANS AND COMPREHENSIVE PLAN. AS YOU KNOW, WE JUST RECENTLY UPDATED OUR COMPREHENSIVE PLAN TO THE 2045 COMPREHENSIVE PLAN. AND DURING THAT PROCESS, THERE WERE FOUR THEMES THAT CAME OUT FROM, FROM THE COMMUNITY AND NORTH POINT BEING ONE OF THOSE THEMES. AND REALLY WHAT WE HEARD FROM THE COMMUNITY AS PART OF THAT PROCESS ABOUT NORTH POINT IS THEY WANTED TO CAPITALIZE ON THE REDEVELOPMENT OF NORTH POINT MALL TO ACCELERATE, UH, REDEVELOPMENT AND REINVESTMENT IN THE REMAINING NORTH POINT AREA. UH, CREATING A MORE CONNECTED DISTRICT BY INCREASING WALKABILITY TRAIL CONNECTIONS. AND WE SEE THAT WITHIN THE APPLICANT'S PLAN, UM, THEY WANTED NORTH POINT TO BE DIFFERENT THAN DOWNTOWN IN AVALON, SO THAT WE ARE NOT POACHING, UH, FROM THOSE DEVELOPMENTS. AND WE'RE CREATING A NEW DESTINATION WITHIN THE CITY AND EMBRACING THE NORTH POINT ECO DISTRICT, UH, DESIGNATION, UM, AND ENHANCING THE DISTRICT'S IDENTITY THROUGH PLACEMAKING, PUBLIC SPACES, AND AN EMPHASIS ON ENTERTAINMENT. THIS IS OUR MOST RECENT FUTURE LAND USE MAP. YOU CAN SEE THAT THE NORTH POINT MALL PROPERTY IS HERE. IT IS DESIGNATED MIXED USE, AND IT HAS A BIG NUMBER ONE ON IT, 'CAUSE IT IS DOES IT IS SHOWN AS THE NUMBER ONE FOCUS AREA AS GROWTH OPPORTUNITY FOR FUTURE DEVELOPMENT. AND THIS IS AN EXHIBIT OUT OF THE, UM, RECENT COMPREHENSIVE PLAN UPDATE. I JUST FOUND THIS FEEDBACK FROM THE COMMUNITY AS PART OF THIS, THE SURVEYS AND THE MEETINGS THAT WE HELD. UM, SOME OF THE RESPONSES WE GOT WERE, ONE OF THE QUESTIONS WAS THE AREA OF CHANGE THAT WILL HAVE THE BIGGEST IMPACT ON THE CITY OF ALPHARETTA OVER THE NEXT 10 YEARS. AND NORTH POINT DISTRICT WAS, UH, CAME OUT ON TOP BY ABOUT 58% OF THE RESPONSES. AND THEN WE ASKED, WHERE IN THIS CITY SHOULD FUTURE GROWTH BE DIRECTED? AND, UM, OVERWHELMINGLY 77% SAID THE NORTH POINT AREA. THESE DOTS ARE ALL CONCENTRATED AROUND THAT NORTH POINT AREA. WE ALSO LOOKED AT THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN GOALS, UH, POLICIES AND STRATEGIES AND EACH OF THE ELEMENTS, UM, TO SEE WHERE THIS APPLICATION WAS CONSISTENT. AND I NOTED JUST A FEW, UH, HERE THE HOUSING ELEMENT ELEMENT, UM, DISCUSSES PRIORITIZING HIGH DENSITY DEVELOPMENT IN THE NORTH POINT AREA, ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, ENCOURAGING MOBILITY OPTIONS, HEALTHY AND ATTRACTIVE RETAIL ENVIRONMENT, AND IMPLEMENTING THE NORTH POINT CREATIVE PLACEMAKING PLAN. THE LAND USE ELEMENT, LAND USE DECISIONS ARE CONSISTENT WITH THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN, UM, GUIDING DEVELOPMENT TO AREAS WHERE INFRASTRUCTURE, UH, IS AVAILABLE AND EXPANDING OUR, OUR EXISTING EMPLOYMENT CENTERS. AGAIN, HIGHEST DENSITIES ALONG GEORGIA 400 AND ALONG IN THE NORTH POINT AREA. UH, PLAN PLANNING FOR A REGIONAL DRAW, UM, SUCH AS ENTERTAINMENT IN NORTH POINT, LOOKING AT THE TRANSPORTATION ELEMENT, INCREASING TRANSPORTATION ACCESSIBILITY AND MOBI AND MOBILITY, THE TRAIL CONNECTIONS, THE WALKABILITY, THE ACCESS TO, TO, UH, THE MARTA ELT. UM, AGAIN, MULTIMODAL TRANSPORTATION OPTIONS. LOOKING AT NATURAL HISTORIC CULTURAL RESOURCE ELEMENT AND, UH, ENHANCING CONNECTIVITY TO COMMUNITY DESTINATIONS. ENCOURAGING PUBLIC ART. THERE ARE CONDITIONS OF ZONING THAT REQUIRE PUBLIC ART THROUGH THE, UH, THROUGH THE DISTRICT. ENCOURAGING ARTS AND CULTURAL EVENT VENUES, WE SEE THAT MUSIC HALL, UM, SOME THOSE TYPES OF VENUES PROPOSE IN THE APPLICANT'S, UH, PROPOSAL AND A BALANCE OF AMENITY AND CIVIC SPACE. SO THOSE PRI THOSE PRIVATE SPACES AND PUBLIC SPACES. AND THEN FINALLY, COMMUNITY SERVICES AND FACILITY ELEMENT. UM, MAKING SURE THAT INFRASTRUCTURE DEVELOPMENT KEEPS PACE, UH, WITH GROWTH, ENHANCING THE QUALITY OF LIFE BY PROVIDING GREEN SPACE, PARKS AND RECREATION FACILITIES AND CULTURAL OPPORTUNITIES. AND AGAIN, PROMOTING WALKABLE COMMUNITIES. THIS IS AN EXHIBIT OUT OF OUR NORTH POINT CREATIVE PLACEMAKING PLAN AND REALLY JUST WANTED TO SHOW THE, THE ROAD INFRASTRUCTURE THAT EXISTS TO SUPPORT THIS COMMUNITY AND THE, AND THE POTENTIAL CONNECTIONS TO THE TRAIL SYSTEM. THE CITY IS DEVELOPING AND HAS IN PLACE ALONG THE BIG CREEK GREENWAY. THIS IS SOME OF THE CREATIVE PLACE MAKING PLANS FOR NORTH POINT. AND WITH THE APPROVAL OF THIS DEVELOPMENT, YOU WOULD SEE, UM, DISTRICT MONUMENTS, UH, AND THRESHOLDS THROUGHOUT THE DEVELOPMENT SUCH AS THESE. AND THIS IS AN EXHIBIT FROM THE NORTH POINT DEVELOPMENT FRAMEWORK PLAN. THIS IS THE MOST RECENT PLANNING DOCUMENT, UM, THAT WE HAVE OUT NORTH POINT. AND I JUST REALLY LIKE TO SHOW THIS BECAUSE IT SHOWS ALL THE PLANNING EFFORT THAT [00:25:01] THE CITY HAS PUT INTO THE NORTH POINT AREA GOING BACK TO 2008. AND THIS IS A PLAN, UH, OUT OF THAT SAME DEVELOPMENT, UM, FRAMEWORK PLAN, JUST SHOWING A POTENTIAL OF A GRID SYSTEM, WHICH THE APPLICANT DOES HAVE WITHIN THEIR, UH, PROPOSED DEVELOPMENT. AND WITH THAT, I WILL TURN IT OVER TO KATHY COOK TO DISCUSS THE NEXT SECTION OF OUR PRESENTATION. THANK YOU, MICHAEL. THANK YOU. YOU'RE WELCOME. IS THAT ONE YOUR WATER? YES. OKAY. GOOD EVENING, MAYOR AND COUNSEL. I'M JUST GONNA TOUCH A LITTLE BIT MORE ON THE OPEN SPACE, WHICH WAS SOMETHING THAT WAS SO IMPORTANT, UM, TO THE COMMUNITY AS WE WERE GOING THROUGH THE DIFFERENT PLANS. HOW DO WE TAKE SOMETHING THAT IS SO AUTOCENTRIC AND MAKE IT INTO SOMETHING WHERE IT'S A PLACE THAT PEOPLE WANNA LIVE? BECAUSE IF WE'RE GONNA PUT HOUSING THERE, WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT IT IS SOMETHING WHERE PEOPLE WANNA LIVE. AND WE HAVE DIFFERENT TRAILS THROUGHOUT THE CITY, OF COURSE, WE HAVE THE GREENWAY AND WE HAVE THE ALPHA LOOP. WE HAVE PARKS THROUGHOUT THE CITY. SO ANY TYPE OF PLANNING THAT WE WE DO, WE WANNA MAKE SURE THAT WE, WE HAVE A PLACE WHERE IT'S A GREAT PLACE, UH, FOR PEOPLE TO LIVE. SO ONE OF THE THINGS THAT, UH, WE, THEY ARE PROPOSING IS THE SITE PLAN DEPICTS 26.86 ACRES, 27.2 OPEN, UH, PERCENT OF OPEN SPACE, UH, OF WHICH 21.24 ACRES IS CIVIC SPACE. AND 5.62 ACRES IS AMENITY SPACE. SO THEY, THEY MEET THE REQUIREMENTS FOR THE, FOR THE MU THEY EXCEED THE REQUIREMENTS FOR THE MU OPEN SPACE. AND I ALSO THINK IT'S GOOD TO, TO, THE PLAN IS SO LARGE, SO YOU DON'T REALLY KNOW HOW LARGE SOME OF THESE GREEN SPACES THAT THEY'RE PROPOSING ARE. AND SO THEY DID PREPARE A CHART, WHICH I HAVE HERE, BUT I'LL SHOW YOU WHAT THE LOOKS LIKE. SO THIS, UH, ON THE NORTHWEST SIDE, THE NORTH POINT GREEN, WHICH IS HERE, THAT IS ABOUT THE SIZE OF, UH, SANDY SPRINGS CITY GREEN. AND IF YOU LOOK ON THE, THE SOUTHWEST SIDE, THIS GREEN SPACE, IT'S LOCATED HERE. IT'S TWO ACRES. SO YOU'RE THINKING ABOUT THOMPSON STREET PARK IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ALPHA LOOP. THIS, UM, GREEN SPACE HERE IS THE SAME SIZE. AND THEN IT, OH, I'M SORRY. IS THIS, IS THIS OKAY THOUGH? YEAH. SORRY ABOUT THAT. I'LL CHECK THAT. UM, ANOTHER GREEN SPACE THAT I THINK IS REALLY IMPORTANT TO TO POINT OUT IS ACTUALLY THE EVENT PLAZA, WHICH IS HERE. SO THAT EVENT PLAZA IS THREE ACRES, IF YOU'RE FAMILIAR WITH THE BATTERY. THE BATTERY IS 1.3 ACRES. SO THESE, THE SPACES THAT THEY'VE INCORPORATED ARE, ARE LARGE COMPARED TO MOST OF THE MIXED USE, UM, DEVELOPMENTS OR OTHER SPORTS MIXED USE DEVELOPMENTS THAT YOU'VE, YOU'VE SEEN. AND I'LL TALK A LITTLE BIT MORE ABOUT THE STORMWATER PARK. 'CAUSE THIS IS ACTUALLY, ALTHOUGH THEY ONLY OWN THREE ACRES, IT'S ACTUALLY GONNA BE PART OF A, A LARGER 14 ACRE, UM, PARK. AND THEN HERE'S THE PLANT. THIS, THIS IS ACTUALLY SHOWING THE, UM, THE CIVIC SPACE, WHICH IS SHOWN IN BLUE. AND THEN THE ORANGE SPACE IS THE AMENITY SPACE. OF COURSE, THAT DOESN'T EXIST NOW AT, UH, NORTH POINT. AND I'M GONNA GIVE YOU A LITTLE BIT MORE DETAIL ON THE STORMWATER PARK. I HAVE A BLOW UP OF WHAT THAT LOOKS LIKE. THIS IS THE STORMWATER PARK. THE APPLICANT OWNS THESE TWO CORNERS. THE, YOU KNOW, YOU'LL SEE CONDITIONS THAT TALK ABOUT THE NORTH SECTION AS WELL AS THE SOUTH SECTION. SO THE APPLICANT WOULD PROPOSE TO IMPROVE THOSE, UM, SUBJECT TO RECEIVING IMPACT FEE CREDITS. THE REASON THAT, THAT WE WOULD OFFER IMPACT FEE CREDITS, BECAUSE IN THE FUTURE WE WOULD WANT THIS TO BE PART OF A LARGER 14 ACRE PARK. UM, IF YOU THINK OF, UH, FOURTH WARD STORMWATER PARK IN ATLANTA, THAT'S A LITTLE OVER 15 ACRES. SO THIS IS A SUBSTANTIAL SIZE PARK. ONCE YOU PUT THE TWO CORNERS TOGETHER, AND YOU HAVE THAT 14, AND THERE'S SOME REALLY GOOD RENDERINGS, UH, AND DETAILS OF WHAT THAT GROUP SPACE WOULD DO FOR THE AREA. THIS IS WHEN THEY SUBMITTED WITH THE, UM, PREVIOUS, THIS IS THE, UH, OF COURSE THE THIRD APPLICATION, UH, FOR THE MALL, MALL SINCE, UH, 2018. SOME OF THE RENDERINGS THAT THEY HAD, SOME OF THE DETAILS THAT WOULD CONVERT THIS AREA HERE WOULD BE LIKE A CANOPY WALK. AND THIS IS SOMETHING CREATED BY SITE SOLUTIONS, UH, FOR THE, FOR PREVIOUS APPLICATIONS THAT WOULD BE BROUGHT FORWARD FOR THIS APPLICANT TO BE REQUIRED. AND HERE'S WHAT THE OVERLOOK WOULD LOOK LIKE. AND WHAT'S GREAT ABOUT THIS PARK IS WHEN IT WAS BUILT, THE STORMWATER PARK, UM, [00:30:01] DOESN'T HAVE THE CONCRETE WALLS THAT YOU TYPICALLY SEE WITH A DETENTION POND. THIS IS, THIS IS, UH, PERMANENT POOLING WATER. VERY, VERY NATURAL. SO YOU CAN CREATE THIS TYPE OF AN ATMOSPHERE. TALK A LITTLE BIT, UH, IN MORE DETAIL ABOUT THE, THE ALPHA LOOP ALSO. AND, AND WE'VE ACTUALLY GONE BACK AND FORTH WITH THE APPLICANT AND THEY HAVE, UM, PROPOSED A LOCATION NOW THAT STAFF CAN SUPPORT. AND ACTUALLY THE PLANNING COMMISSION SUPPORTED THAT ALSO. SO THE ALPHA LOOP IS VERY IMPORTANT, UM, TO CONNECT OVER TO NORTH POINT MALL. OF COURSE, WE HAVE THAT SECTION THAT WE'RE WORKING ON AT THE END OF ENCORE. HERE IS THE MALL. THIS IS, UH, THE MALL LOCATION. AND THEN OF COURSE THE ALPHA LOOP THAT WOULD CONNECT OVER TO THE ENCORE GATEWAY PARK THAT'S UNDER CONSTRUCTION. UM, WE JUST GOT A COUPLE OF PICTURES OF THAT, AND OF COURSE THAT WILL TIE OVER TO THE, UH, THE BIG CREEK GREENWAY. SO ALL OF THAT, MAKING IT A PLACE WHERE IF YOU HAVE PEOPLE LIVING THERE, IT IS A GREAT PLACE TO LIVE, VISIT AND FIND OTHER WAYS FOR TRANSPORTATION. ALSO, WITH THE, THE ALPHA LOOP, AND MICHAEL TOUCHED ON THIS, UM, THEY HAD PREVIOUSLY PROPOSED THE, THE ALPHA LOOP WOULD GO, UM, MORE INTERNAL TO THE SITE AND THEN EXXON TO NORTH POINT. WE DID ASK THEM TO MOVE THAT OVER TO THE STORMWATER PARK BECAUSE IT IS, IT IS SUCH A FOCAL POINT THAT IT SHOULD BE, UM, BRINGING PEOPLE OVER TO THAT STORMWATER PARK. THEY ALSO HAVE THE ALPHA LOOP THAT'S GOING DOWN THROUGH, UM, THE MIDDLE OF THE DEVELOPMENT. THIS IS SOMETHING THAT AVALON WAS NOT ABLE TO DO BECAUSE OF THE TIMING THEY WERE BUILT. AND THEN WE OF COURSE, CREATED THE ALPHA LOOP. AND, AND I KNOW THAT THEY'VE SAID PREVIOUSLY THEY WOULD LIKE TO HAVE HAD THE ALPHA LOOP. SO ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE ARE REQUESTING, AND I KNOW MICHAEL SHOWED THIS TO YOU EARLIER, WE REQUESTED THAT THEY PUT LANDSCAPE ON EACH SIDE. WE HAD SOME, A LOT OF COMMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC ABOUT THIS COULD BE DANGEROUS IF, YOU KNOW, PEOPLE ARE ON BIKES, HOW DO WE HAVE THAT SEPARATION? SO MICHAEL HAD SHOWN YOU THE, THE, THE STREET SEPARATION, BUT WE ALSO HAVE A CONDITION IN THERE IF THIS IS APPROVED, THAT YOU DO HAVE A CURB AND YOU HAVE LANDSCAPE SEPARATION TO MAKE SURE THAT YOU DON'T HAVE THOSE, THOSE CONFLICTS. AND THEN ALSO YOU'LL SEE A BIKE SHARE PROGRAM. UH, WE DID REQUIRE THAT THEY HAVE, UM, THE BIKE SHARE STATION ON THE PROPERTY. OF COURSE, COUNSEL HAS JUST APPROVED THAT, UM, SEVERAL DIFFERENT STATIONS THROUGHOUT THE CITY. SO WE WOULD WANNA MAKE SURE THAT THERE WAS A CONDITION IF THIS WAS APPROVED, THAT IT WOULD ALSO HAVE, UM, THE BIKE STATION. AND I DIDN'T MENTION, BUT COUNSEL JUST APPROVED AT THE AUGUST 17TH MEETING, I BELIEVE. UM, THE DESIGN BUILD FOR THE ALPHA LOOP SECTION, THAT WOULD GO FROM HAYNES BRIDGE OVER TO ENCORE. LEMME SEE, I THINK I HAVE IT HERE, HERE. SO IT'S, IT'S THE SECTION HERE ON THE, THE NORTH SIDE, UH, THAT WAS JUST, UM, VOTED TO MOVE FORWARD. THEN I WANNA TALK ABOUT THE, THE RENTAL REQUEST A LITTLE BIT ABOUT, UM, HOW STAFF CAME UP WITH THE RECOMMENDATION. THE REQUEST IS FOR A 1000 385 4 RENTS REQUESTED, THEY'RE PROPOSING A MIX, 65% MAX STUDIO, NO MORE THAN 10%. THREE BEDROOM DENSITY PROPOSED 14 DWELLING UNITS FOR ACRE. IT IS LOWER THAN THE AVERAGE MALL REDEVELOPMENTS ACROSS THE COUNTRY, WHICH AVERAGE 29 UNITS TO THE ACRE. AND IN FACT, WE ACTUALLY, IT WAS OVER 60 UNITS TO THE ACRE, BUT WE TOOK OUT EVERY MALL REDEVELOPMENT UNLESS IT WAS IN GEORGIA, EVERY MALL REDEVELOPMENT THAT DIDN'T MEET OUR, UM, AVERAGE ANNUAL HOUSEHOLD INCOME BECAUSE IT DIDN'T MAKE A LOT OF SENSE TO INCLUDE WITHIN OUR CHART, UM, MALL REDEVELOPMENT THAT WASN'T SIMILAR TO ALPHARETTA. SO YOU HAVE THE CHART WITHIN YOUR PACKET, AND I'LL SHOW THAT HERE. THAT INCLUDED ALL MALLS IN GEORGIA AS WELL AS MALLS THAT ARE SIMILAR BECAUSE OF THE AVERAGE HOUSEHOLD INCOME. AND YOU CAN SEE THAT, UM, NORTH POINTS NUMBER THREE IN THE UNITS PER ACRE, BELMAR LOWEST IN LAKEWOOD, COLORADO, UH, 10 UNITS TO THE ACRE. AND THEN ALL THE WAY DOWN TO, IT'S AN AREA BY BEVERLY HILLS, THAT'S 20, UH, 2 66 UNITS TO THE ACRE. AND THEN WE ALSO INCLUDED, UH, THE, YOU'LL SEE THE MEDLEY, JOHNS CREEK, AND I KNOW THAT'S NOT A MALL REDEVELOPMENT, BUT IT'S SOMETHING THAT'S UNDER CONSTRUCTION. IT'S MORE OF A, IT'S A NEWER MIXED USE THAT PEOPLE ARE FAMILIAR WITH. AND THAT ONE IS 17.4 UNITS TO THE ACRE. SO THE MALL DENSITY REQUESTED IS 14 UNITS TO THE ACRE. OF COURSE, OVER THE LAST YEAR, THEY HAD ADDITIONAL, UM, THEY HAD REQUESTED, [00:35:01] UM, NOT AS PART OF THE PUBLIC HEARING, UH, BUT WE HAD SEEN DIFFERENT SITE PLANS THAT HAD A LARGER NUMBER THAN THE 1385, BUT THEY ULTIMATELY SUBMITTED THE 1385 BECAUSE, UM, WE HAD ASKED THEM NOT TO INCLUDE ANYTHING THAT WASN'T REQUIRED FOR, FOR THE DEVELOPMENT. SO YOU CAN SEE ON THIS CHART, UH, THE FOURTH IN DENSITY WITH THE ONES THAT WE FOUND THAT WERE COMPARABLE. WE ALSO, AS YOU KNOW, WE HAVE A REQUIREMENT THAT WE HAVE A HOUSE. IT'S NOT A REQUIREMENT, IT'S A HOUSING POLICY. AND WE'VE, WE'VE BEEN REALLY GOOD ABOUT TRYING TO MAINTAIN THAT HOUSING POLICY. AND IT STATES HOUSING POLICY TOO, MAINTAIN A BALANCE IN BETWEEN OWNER OCCUPIED AND RENTER OCCUPIED AND ALPHARETTA, SUCH THAT AT LEAST 68% OF THE HOUSING STOCK IS OWNER OCCUPIED. SO YOU'LL SEE, WE PUT A CONDITION IN THERE IF THIS IS APPROVED, THAT IN ORDER TO MEET THAT REQUIREMENT, THE CERTIFICATE OF OCCUPANCIES WOULD HAVE TO BE SPACED OUT OVER YEARS. SO BY 20, IN 2029, THEY WOULD BE ABLE TO GET A, A CERTIFICATE OF OCCUPANCY FOR 600 UNITS, 20, 31, 85, 20, 32, 300 UNITS, UH, 20, 34, 300 UNITS. THE REASON WE'RE RECOMMENDING THAT SPACING IS THAT WE STILL MAINTAIN OUR 68 32, WHICH WE ARE AT CURRENTLY, THE 68 32. UH, THE SCHOOL IMPACT, OF COURSE, WE ALWAYS ASK FULTON COUNTY WHAT THE IMPACT IS. ALL THREE SCHOOLS UNDER CAPACITY, NORTHWOOD, HAYNES, BRIDGE MIDDLE, AND CENTENNIAL ACCORDING TO FULTON COUNTY. WE'VE ALSO FOUND THAT MIXED USE RENTALS AT AVALON AND CITY CENTER GENERALLY HAVE FEWER SCHOOL AGED CHILDREN VERSUS GARDEN STYLE APARTMENTS, UH, WHICH ARE NOT EVEN EVEN PERMITTED IN ALPHARETTA. WE, WE SAW THE IMPACTS THAT WE RECEIVING FROM GARDEN STYLE APARTMENTS. OUR CODE WAS CHANGED THAT YOU CAN ONLY REQUEST APARTMENTS IF IT'S PART OF A 25 ACRE PLUS MIXED USE DEVELOPMENT, OR IF IT'S LOCATED WITHIN DOWNTOWN, BECAUSE WE SEE DOWNTOWN AS A, AS A LARGER MIXED USE. UH, THE CREATION ALSO OF 750,000 SQUARE FEET OF OFFICE GENERATES OVER 5,000 EMPLOYEES. ANOTHER REASON FOR PEOPLE TO LIVE THERE AND NORTH POINT, AS MICHAEL MENTIONED EARLIER, IS A PRIORITY AREA. AND THEN A COUPLE POINTS FROM OUR ALPHA, THE RENTAL STUDY THAT WE JUST HAD UPDATED IN DECEMBER. UH, THE CURRENT RENTAL APARTMENT VACANCY IS 5.1, DECLINED FROM 5.3, WHICH A SUSTAINED DEMAND FOR HIGH RENT. UH, HIGH QUALITY RENTAL, UH, RENTAL HOUSEHOLD INCOME HAS INCREASED FROM A LITTLE OVER 71,000 TO CLOSE TO 90,000 HIGH INCOME EARNERS, A HUNDRED THOUSAND PLUS GREW BY 9%. AND THEN SHARE OF RENTALS WITH CHILDREN UNDER 18 CONTINUES TO DECREASE 38.4% IN 20 15, 34 0.9 IN 2023. AND THEN ALSO, IT'S GOOD TO NOTE, I DON'T THINK A LOT OF PEOPLE REALIZE THAT 22% OF OUR RENTALS THAT WE LIST ARE SENIOR HOUSING ASSISTED LIVING. SO ALTHOUGH WE'RE AT 68, 32 OF THAT THIRD OF THE RENTALS THAT WE HAVE, 22% OF THOSE ARE ASSISTED LIVING. AND OF COURSE, THEY DON'T HAVE CHILDREN OR IMPACT, UM, THE, THE TRA TRANSPORTATION AS MUCH. BUT THAT IS SOMETHING THAT WE INCLUDE. UH, THE STUDY RECOMMENDS TARGETING 149 RENTAL UNITS PER YEAR TO REMAIN AT OUR CURRENT TARGET, WHICH IS WHAT WE, WE ARE RECOMMENDING. AND THEN JUST TWO MORE ON THE, THE RENTAL. JUST TO TOUCH ON ANOTHER POINT, UM, THAT IS IMPORTANT THAT, THAT DIFFERENTIATES ALPHARETTA FROM OTHER LOCATIONS. WE HAVE 21 MILLION SQUARE FEET OF OFFICE. IF YOU LOOK AT ROSWELL, IT HAS 4.3 MILLION SQUARE FEET OF OFFICE. JOHNS CREEK, 2.8, MILTON 1.8. WE HAVE ALWAYS BEEN A REGIONAL JOB CENTER. ALL OF OUR ZONING SINCE THE EIGHTIES AND NINETIES, THERE'S A LOT OF RES, THERE'S A LOT OF OFFICE DENSITY ALONG 400, UM, SANDY SPRINGS, 22 MILLION. SO IT'S VERY DIFFERENT WITH THE 20 MILLION COMPARED TO TO THE OTHER. UM, NEARBY CITIES. OUR JOBS TO HOUSING RATIO IS THREE. SO WE HAVE THREE JOBS FOR EVERY HOUSEHOLD. IF YOU LOOK AT, UM, ROSWELL, 1.3 JOBS FOR EVERY HOUSEHOLD, AND THEN, UH, LESS THAN ONE AT JOHNS CREEK. AND THEN LASTLY ON THE RENTAL, THIS WAS THE CHART THAT WAS INCLUDED WITHIN OUR COMPREHENSIVE LAND USE PLAN. SO WE, WE GET A LOT OF PEOPLE THAT ARE CONCERNED ABOUT TRAFFIC. WE DO HAVE A HUNDRED, OVER A HUNDRED THOUSAND PEOPLE THAT ARE COMMUTING IN, UM, TO ALPHARETTA. WE DO HAVE 6,200 PEOPLE THAT LIVE HERE. OF COURSE, THIS WORK WAS JUST DONE WITH OUR CONFERENCE OF LAND USE PLAN. AND THEN WE HAVE, UH, 26,000 THAT COMMUTE OUT. AND THEN A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE OFFICE AND HOTEL, [00:40:09] WE INCLUDED A CHART WHICH SHOWS THE DIFFERENT DENSITY THROUGHOUT THE, I'M SORRY ABOUT THAT. DIFFERENT DENSITY THROUGHOUT THE CITY. AND YOU CAN SEE THAT DOWNTOWN, VERY LOW VACANCY RATE. UM, WITH THE, ALSO THE, UM, THE AVALON AREA ONLY 10%. SO YOU CAN SEE THAT THERE'S LOWER DENS IN THE MIXED USE AREAS. SOME OF THE HIGHER DENSITIES THAT WE ARE SEEING, 38%, THAT'S GREAT. GREAT OAKS WAY AREA. THAT'S VERY CLOSE, OF COURSE, TO THE NORTH POINT AREA. AND THEN 25% FOR NORTH POINT, UH, WINDWARD, UH, 21%. SO WINDWARD IS LOWER THAN OUR AVERAGE, UH, VACANCY THROUGHOUT THE CITY. SO THE HIGH VACANCY THAT WE'RE SEEING IS VERY CLOSE TO THE NORTH POINT AREA. THIS IS, THIS IS LOWER, THIS IS HIGHER. THIS IS BUILDINGS THAT ARE OLDER. YOU'RE NOT SEEING A LOT OF INVESTMENT. UM, WE DO BELIEVE THAT AN ADDITIONAL, THE ADDITIONAL OFFICE THAT'S REQUESTED OF THE 750,000 SQUARE FEET WILL SPUR ADDITIONAL INVESTMENT. NOW THIS IS A VARIANCE TO THE REQUIRED AMOUNT OF OFFICE THAT THEY'RE REQUIRED, THAT THEY'RE REQUIRED TO HAVE. HOWEVER, THEY HAVE OVER 500,000 SQUARE FEET OF OFFICE THAT'S ADJACENT TO THEM WITHIN THE CSO BUILDING. SO THOSE ARE THE CSO PROPERTY. THERE'S ABOUT FOUR OFFICE BUILDINGS THERE. BUT WHAT WE'VE SEEN IS INVESTMENT. USUALLY THEN OF COURSE THE LEASES, UH, PICK UP AND THEN THE VACANCY RATE. YOU CAN SEE WHAT HAPPENED. OF COURSE, EVERYBODY KNOWS IN 2020, UH, THE VACANCY STARTED TO, TO GO SKY HIGH. HERE WE ARE IN 2026. SO YOU'RE STARTING TO SEE THAT THAT'S, THAT'S COMING BACK DOWN. WE'RE STARTING TO SEE A LOT OF, LOT OF ACTIVITY. SO WE DID RECOMMEND THE ADDITIONAL OFFICE. ONE OF THE OTHER CHANGES THAT THE APPLICANT REQUESTED INITIALLY, 850 HOTEL ROOMS WERE REQUESTED AND THEY WERE REQUESTING 45,000 SQUARE FEET OF CONFERENCE SPACE CENTER. UM, STAFF COULD NOT SUPPORT THAT THERE WAS A CHANGE AT PLANNING COMMISSION. THERE'S, THERE'S ALSO, UH, I KNOW THAT THEY'RE GONNA BE, UH, REQUESTING A CHANGE TONIGHT TOO, TO, TO, UH, REDUCE OR CHANGE THE TYPE OF HOTELS THAT THEY'RE REQUESTING. ORIGINAL REQUESTS, THREE HOTELS. NOW THE REQUEST IS FOR TWO HOTELS. THEY DID HAVE A REQUEST FOR HYBRID. NOW THEY ARE REQUESTING, UH, TWO HOTELS. BOTH OF THOSE WOULD HAVE A, A FULL SERVICE RESTAURANT, WHICH MEETS OUR DEFINITION OF FULL SERVICE. THEY'VE ALSO REDUCED THE CONFERENCE CENTER SPACE. AT FIRST, WHEN WE LOOKED AT THE CONFERENCE CENTER OVER AT AVALON, WE THOUGHT, WE DON'T, WE DON'T NEED THIS COMPETITION WITH THE, THE CONFERENCE CENTER THAT WE HAD AT AVALON. WHAT WE FOUND IS THERE IS NO OUTDOOR CONFERENCE SPACE AT AVALON. IF YOU WANNA HAVE A CONFERENCE OR AN EVENT AT THE HOTEL AVALON, THEY CAN ACCOMMODATE FROM 20 TO 80 PEOPLE AT THE POOL AREA. SO YOU'LL SEE SOME OF OUR CONDITIONS ARE RECOMMENDED IN ORDER TO HAVE SOMETHING DIFFERENT SO THAT WE CAN MAKE SURE THAT IF WE HAVE A CONFERENCE CENTER, THAT IT'S GONNA ACCOMMODATE UP TO 7,500 SQUARE FOOT MINIMUM OUTDOOR INDOOR SPACE. THAT'S SOMETHING THAT WE DO NOT HAVE. UM, SO THAT WOULD NOT BE A, A, A COMPETITOR. AND OF COURSE, IF YOU HAVE AN ARENA AS PART OF THIS, YOU'RE GONNA HAVE DIFFERENT TRADE SHOWS, DIFFERENT SHOWS THAT WOULD BE ABLE TO USE, UM, THE CONFERENCE CENTER IN A DIFFERENT WAY. WE ALSO FOUND, FOUND, THE REASON WE DIDN'T RECOMMEND THE HYBRID HOTEL VERSUS THE FULL SERVICE IS THAT WE FOUND SIMILAR, UM, CITIES THAT HAD THE AMOUNT OF OFFICE THAT WE HAVE, HAVE A LOT MORE FULL SERVICE HOTEL ROOMS. OUR HOTEL ROOMS THAT ARE FULL SERVICE ARE SEEING A HIGHER, UM, OCCUPANCY THAN THE ONES THAT ARE THE LIMITED SERVICE. AND ALSO, JUST TO POINT OUT, THERE ARE THREE HOTELS THAT ARE SURROUNDING IT, BUT THEY WERE BUILT IN 19 97, 99. THEY DON'T HAVE RESTAURANTS. SO THEY'RE SERVING A, A DIFFERENT, UM, TYPE OF VALUE. AND THEN LASTLY, A LITTLE BIT ABOUT PUBLIC SAFETY. BEFORE I TURN IT OVER, UM, TO TRAFFIC, WE WORKED VERY CLOSELY WITH THE FIRE AND POLICE. IN FACT, THERE'S 18 DIFFERENT CONDITIONS THAT ARE RECOMMENDED AS PART OF THIS. IF, IF IT'S, IF IT'S APPROVED. ALTHOUGH I'M NOT GONNA GO OVER ALL 18 CONDITIONS. I DID, UM, HAVE A FEW OF 'EM I JUST WANTED, WANTED TO GO OVER TO TALK ABOUT. AND THERE WAS ALSO TRIPS TO THE BATTERY. WE WANTED TO LEARN FROM THEM, WHAT DID THEY MISS WE WANT, AND WHAT WOULD THEY RECOMMEND TO US. SO SOME OF THE CONDITIONS YOU'LL SEE CAME OUT OF THOSE MEETINGS. SO, UH, 40, CONDITION NUMBER 44 PUT THIS UP HERE. UH, REQUIREMENT FOR F UH, FIRE SAFETY OFFICERS [00:45:01] FOR EVENTS BASED ON OCCUPANCY LOAD FUNDED BY THE DEVELOPER OPERATOR. SO A LOT OF CONDITIONS REQUIRING WHAT IS NEEDED TO BE PAID BY THE DEVELOPER. 45. UH, DEDICATION OF EMERGENCY ACCESS FOR CRITICAL APPARATUS, ACCESS ROUTES AND EMERGENCY OPERATIONAL AREAS PRESERVE LONGTIME ACCESS. LESSON LEARNED FROM THE BATTERY, AND THEY DIDN'T, APPARENTLY WHEN THEY APPROVED IT, THEY DIDN'T REQUIRE THAT THOSE ACCESS, EMERGENCY ACCESS, UH, ROUTES ARE, UH, DEDICATED AND AN EASEMENT ESTABLISHED. SO YOU'LL SEE SOME CONDITIONS THAT REQUIRE TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY STAY OPEN FOR, FOR EASY ACCESS. FOUR SIX, UH, REQUIRES A STANDARD OF COVERAGE STUDY, UH, EVALUATES EMERGENCY RESPONSE TIME AS WELL AS OTHER FACTORS MAY REQUIRE MINIMUM OF 7,500 SQUARE FEET WITHIN A PLANNED BUILDING FOR ONE BAY FIRE TRUCK STATION. WHAT'S THAT LOOK LIKE? HERE'S WHAT THAT LOOKS LIKE. SO THEY WOULD HAVE TO ACTUALLY PROVIDE SPACE IN THE FIRST FLOOR OF, IT COULD BE A PARKING DECK OR RETAIL CENTER. AND THAT'S BASED ON THAT STANDARDS OF COVERAGE STUDY THAT THEY WOULD BE REQUIRED TO PAY FOR IF IT'S APPROVED. AND THEN 48 REQUIRES PUBLIC SAFETY SUBSTATION TO SUPPORT MULTI-AGENCY EMERGENCY OPERATIONS. MINIMUM 650 SQUARE FEET SHARED WITH ONSITE PROPERTY SECURITY. ALSO, TWO ONSITE HOLDING CELLS ARE REQUIRED. AGAIN, THIS IS SOMETHING LESSON LEARNED FROM THE BATTERY. AND THEN 50 REQUIRES THIRD PARTY REVIEWS WHERE NEEDED WITH FINAL APPROVAL BY ALPHARETTA. AND THAT ALSO THE THIRD PARTY REVIEWS WOULD ALSO, UH, ADDRESS BUILDING INSPECTIONS. SO IF WE DIDN'T HAVE ENOUGH INSPECTORS, WE WOULD REQUIRE THAT THEY GET THIRD PARTY REVIEWS SO THAT THERE'S NOT AN IMPACT, UH, TO THE CITY. AND NOW I'LL TURN IT OVER TO BRIAN, WHO'S GONNA GO OVER THE TRAFFIC. THANK YOU, DIRECTOR. GOOD EVENING. UH, MAYOR, MAYOR AND COUNCIL. UH, I WANTED TO TALK TO YOU TONIGHT ABOUT, UH, A COUPLE OF STUDIES THAT THE APPLICANT PREPARED RELATED TO TRAFFIC AND PARKING FOR THIS PROJECT. STARTING WITH TRAFFIC, THE APPLICANT PREPARED, UH, DEVELOPMENT OF REGIONAL IMPACT TRAFFIC STUDY FOR THE PROJECT THAT LOOKED AT, UH, 14 INTERSECTIONS ALL AROUND THE SITE, INCLUDING THE TWO INTERCHANGES THAT, UH, SERVE THE PROPERTY AND SEVERAL, UH, ACCESS POINTS THAT CURRENTLY SERVE THE PROPERTY. THE, UM, THE STUDY LOOKED AT THREE DIFFERENT CONDITIONS. IT LOOKED AT THE EXISTING CONDITION TODAY, IT LOOKED AT A CONDITION, UH, 10 YEARS IN THE FUTURE. UH, A NO BILL CONDITION IF NOTHING WERE TO HAPPEN ON THE SITE. AND IT ALSO LOOKED AT, UH, A 10 YEAR FUTURE CONDITION IF THE SITE WERE FULLY DEVELOPED AS PROPOSED FROM THOSE STUDIES, UH, A NUMBER OF RECOMMENDATIONS WERE IDENTIFIED, AND THOSE ARE ALL INCLUDED IN STAFF RECOMMENDATIONS. THEY INCLUDE A VARIETY OF, UH, REQUIRED IMPROVEMENT INCLUDING, UH, LENGTHENING TURN LANES, ADDING, UH, TURN LANES, MODIFYING TRAFFIC SIGNALS AS TRAFFIC SIGNAL PHASING, UH, AND TIMING. UH, ALSO INCLUDED IN THE RECOMMENDATIONS IS THE DEVELOPMENT OF A TRANSPORTATION PLAN FOR EVENTS, ESPECIALLY, UH, IF THERE ARE MULTIPLE EVENTS, UH, AT THE ARENA, AT THE MUSIC CENTER, AND POTENTIALLY EVEN IF THERE WERE EVENTS AT THE SAME TIME, UH, AT THE AMPHITHEATER. SO, UH, WE THINK THAT'S A VERY IMPORTANT RECOMMENDATION SO THAT, UM, A PLAN CAN BE DEVELOPED AND UNDERSTOOD HOW INFRASTRUCTURE NEEDS TO SERVE, UH, THE PROPERTY AND OR THE, THE WHOLE SITE WHEN IT'S BEING DEVELOPED TO GIVE YOU SOME, UH, ORDER OF MAGNITUDE. LOOKING AT THE ENTIRE DEVELOPMENT, THE, UH, THE DAILY TRIP GENERATION FOR THE SITE, INCLUDING IF, IF EVENTS WERE HAPPENING AT, AT THE MUSIC CENTER AND, UH, ALSO AT THE ARENA, UH, WAS 50,298, UH, TRIPS A DAY. THAT WOULD BE WHEN THERE'S, WHEN IT'S FULLY LOADED SITE, UH, WHEN THERE AREN'T EVENTS GOING ON. UH, THAT NUMBER DROPS DOWN TO 26,904, ABOUT 27,000, UH, TRIPS A DAY, UH, IN AND OUTTA THE SITE. ON A, A TYPICAL NON-EVENT, DAY BY COMPARISON, THE APPLICANT PROVIDE A, UM, A SUPPLEMENTAL ANALYSIS LOOKING AT WHAT THE TRAFFIC, UH, WOULD'VE LOOKED AT, LIKE AT THE MALL BACK WHEN THE MALL WAS AT ITS FULL, YOU KNOW, OPERATION, AS IT DID IN THE, IN THE EARLY DAYS. UH, THOSE DAILY TRIPS TO THE MALL WERE 28,352. SO BY COMPARISON, THE DAILY TRIPS TO THE MALL WERE SLIGHTLY HIGHER THAN THE TRIPS WOULD BE TO THIS, UH, TO THIS DEVELOPMENT IF THERE WERE NO EVENTS, OBVIOUSLY [00:50:01] WITH EVENTS THAT THAT CHANGES. BUT THAT, THAT IS A GOOD LEVEL OF COMPARISON, HOPEFULLY HELPS YOU UNDERSTAND HOW THE INFRASTRUCTURE WOULD SUPPORT THE DEVELOPMENT. THE, UH, LET'S SEE HERE. WE, UH, ALSO ASK THE APPLICANT TO LOOK AT, UH, OPERATIONS, NOT JUST DURING THE RUSH HOUR OR PEAK HOUR, AS WE OFTEN CALL IT, TRAFFIC ENGINEERS, BUT WHAT, WHAT DOES IT LOOK LIKE DURING THE PEAK? UH, ENTER AND EXIT TIME FOR, FOR THE EVENTS? BECAUSE THESE EVENTS OFTEN HAPPEN, YOU KNOW, LATER IN THE DAY AFTER, UH, AFTER RUSH HOUR, UH, AND SO, OR EVEN ON THE WEEKENDS. AND SO THE RECOMMENDATIONS THAT ARE IN THE STUDY, UH, OR IN THE, UH, THE DOCUMENTS, STAFF RECOMMENDATIONS INCLUDE, UH, THE IMPACTS NOT JUST DURING RUSH HOUR, BUT IMPACTS THAT MIGHT HAPPEN, UH, WHEN THERE'S A, A LARGE EVENT HAPPENING LATER, LATER IN THE TIME OF THE DAY THAT, UH, THAT TIME IS USUALLY LOOKED AT, LIKE SIX TO SEVEN, UH, PM AND THE TOTAL, UH, TRIPS IN AND OUT ABOUT THAT TIME OF DAY WOULD BE ABOUT 5,000, UH, TRIP OR SO, IF YOU WANT TO TAKE A LOOK HERE, IF YOU, IN THE, LET'S SEE, THIS , AND THIS IS A LITTLE BIT HARD TO SEE, BUT THIS, THIS IMAGE, UH, IDENTIFIES, UH, OR SHOWS ALL THE, UH, RECOMMENDATIONS THAT ARE IN STAFF RECOMMENDATIONS WHERE THOSE IMPROVEMENTS TO THE INFRASTRUCTURE, UH, ARE RECOMMENDED OR REQUIRED AS PART OF THE, PART OF THE PROJECT AS IT RELATES TO THE PARKING ANALYSIS PER CODE. THIS PROJECT WOULD, UH, REQUIRE 14,004 50, UH, SPACES WITH, WITH FULL EVENTS WITHOUT AN EVENT THAT WOULD BE 8,850. SO THAT'S JUST, THAT'S JUST PURE CODE WITHOUT ANY OTHER CONSIDERATIONS FOR SHARED PARKING OR SOME OF THE OTHER, UH, UNIQUE QUALITIES THAT COME WITH A MIXED, WITH A MIXED USE DEVELOPMENT. AND THE APPLICANT DID PREPARE A SHARED PARKING ANALYSIS THAT, UH, LOOKED AT, LOOKED AT ALL OF THESE THINGS. AND, AND THE BEST WAY TO THINK ABOUT THIS IS YOU'VE GOT MULTIPLE LAND USES AND EACH LAND USE HAS ITS PARKING DEMAND. BUT WE ALL KNOW THAT, YOU KNOW, THE PARKING DEMAND FOR A PARTICULAR LAND USE IS NOT A HUNDRED PERCENT ALL THE TIME. UH, A RETAIL BUSINESS HAS VERY LITTLE PARKING IN THE MORNING. IT'S PARKING IS PEAKS LATER IN THE DAY. AN OFFICE BUILDING MAY PEAK, PEAK IN THE MORNING ALL THROUGH THE DAY, AND IT, AND IT MAY BE LOWER IN THE EVENING. SO IF YOU DON'T LOOK AT SHARED PARKING AND YOU JUST LOOK AT THE COMBINED PARKING REQUIREMENTS FOR EACH LAND USE WITHOUT CONSIDERING THE FACT THAT THEY CAN SHARE PARKING, THEN YOU'RE GOING TO OVER PARK THE SITE. AND THAT'S WHAT THEIR PARKING STUDY LOOKED AT. SO THE FINDINGS OF THEIR, UH, STUDY FOUND THAT IF THERE WAS NO EVENT, UH, IN THE ARENA, SO IT'S JUST, UH, A REGULAR NON-EVENT DAY, IT WOULD PEAK AT A LITTLE OVER 7,000 SPACES, 7,375 TO BE EXACT, WHERE THE NUMBER OF SPACES THAT THEY IDENTIFIED WOULD BE NEEDED. AND THAT'S WITHIN THE NUMBER OF SPACES THAT ARE BEING, UH, PROPOSED ON THE SITE. UH, BUT WHEN YOU HAVE AN EVENT, THAT NUMBER CLIMBS TO A LITTLE OVER 12,000, 12,302 SPACES. UH, AND THAT WOULD REQUIRE, OBVIOUSLY OFFSITE PARKING. SO IF, TO GIVE YOU AN IDEA OF VISUAL, THIS IS, THIS MAY BE HARD TO, IS THERE A WAY THAT I CAN MAKE THAT FOCUS? THERE WE GO. WHAT, WHAT THIS STUDY IS WHAT THIS, UH, IMAGE IS SHOWING. SO THIS, THIS FIRST, UH, GRAPH HERE IS A 7,000 SPACES IN A NON-EVENT DAY. THE, UH, THE OTHER IS WITH AN EVENT, A LITTLE OVER 12,000. EACH OF THESE COLOR BARS SHOWS EACH LAND USE. AND SO EACH LAND USE, YOU STACK THEM, THEY, THEY EBB AND FLOW THROUGHOUT THE DAY, AND THAT'S, THIS IS HOW A SHARED PARKING STUDY WORKS AND HOW THE APPLICANT CAME UP WITH, UM, THE, THE NUMBERS FOR BOTH EVENTS. BUT YOU'LL SEE IN YELLOW, YOU'LL SEE THAT THOSE, THAT BAR DOES NOT MOVE, THAT IS THE RESIDENTIAL AND THE HOTEL. THE, THE STUDY MADE THE ASSUMPTION THAT THOSE PARKING SPACES WOULD BE NESTED. IN OTHER WORDS, THEY WOULD NOT BE SHARED BECAUSE OF THE TYPE OF LANES THAT THEY'RE WITH. SO THOSE ARE, THOSE ARE FIXED SO THAT SOMEONE THAT'S IN THE HOTEL OR SOMEONE THAT'S, YOU KNOW, IN ONE OF THE RESIDENTIAL UNITS WOULD NOT FIND THEMSELVES WITHOUT A PARKING SPACE. THANK YOU. [00:55:06] THANK YOU, SIR. MR. WOODMAN, YOU'VE GOT THE FLOOR. THANK YOU, MAYOR. AND COUNSEL. I'LL TRY TO WRAP IT UP HERE. SO, WITH EVERY PUBLIC HEARING, WE ALWAYS LOOK AT THE REVIEW CRITERIA. IN THIS CASE, THE REVIEW CRITERIA FOR A MASTER PLAN AMENDMENT, REZONING, CONDITIONAL USE, AND VARIANCE. WHAT WE FOUND WAS THE PROPOSED APPLICANT'S PROPOSED MIXED USE SPORTS AND ENTERTAINMENT DISTRICT IS CONSISTENT WITH THE VISION AND THE NORTH POINT LCI AND THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN. UH, THE PROPOSAL SPECIFICALLY ADDRESSES OBJECTIVES IN THE NORTH POINT LCI, SUCH AS CREATE A PARK ONCE, WALK EVERYWHERE, WALKABLE ENVIRONMENT, INDUCE REDEVELOPMENT OF LARGE AREAS OF SURFACE PARKING AND IMPROVE THE AREAS RETAIL BALANCE, THE OPEN SPACE AND CONNECTIVITY BETWEEN THE MODES OF TRANSPORTATION AND THE ARE KEY COMPONENTS OF THE APPLICANT'S PROPOSAL AND SUPPORTED BY THE LCI. THE MIXED USE DISTRICT IS IDEALLY LOCATED AT THE, UH, NORTH POINT MALL PROPERTY, UM, WITH THE INFRASTRUCTURE, UM, IT, IT BEING SITUATED, UH, BETWEEN THE TWO GEORGIA 400 INTERCHANGES, AND IT WAS DEVELOPED WITH THE INFRASTRUCTURE TO SUPPORT A REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT OF THIS MAGNITUDE. COMPREHENSIVE PLAN IDENTIFIES NORTH POINT AS THE SINGLE MOST IMPORTANT REDEVELOPMENT OPPORTUNITY IN THE CITY. AND AS I MENTIONED EARLIER, THE PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT CONFIRMED THAT 77% OF THE RESPONSE SURVEY RESPONSES DIRECTING FUTURE INVESTMENT TO THE NORTH POINT AREA COMMUNITY EMPHASIZED THE NEED FOR ENTERTAINMENT, PLACEMAKING, PUBLIC SPACES, AND MIXED USE DEVELOPMENT WITHIN THE DISTRICT AS IT RELATES TO THE CONDITIONAL USE TO ALLOW FOR FORE RUN USE AND INCREASE DENSITY. SO WE MENTIONED THAT IT'S CONSISTENT WITH THE COMPREHENSIVE LAND USE PLAN DESIGNATION OF THE PROPERTY, WHICH IS MIXED USE, AND IT'S LOCATED IN THAT OVERLAY PRIORITY AREA, WHICH IS APPROPRIATE FOR HIGHER DENSITIES AS IT RELATES TO, TO THE INCREASED BUILDING HEIGHT. UM, WE DID NOTE THAT THE SURROUNDING PROPERTIES ALLOWED UP TO 20 AND 30 STORIES, AND THE PROJECT SITE WAS DEVELOPED AS A REGIONAL MALL. IT'S SUPPORTED BY EXISTING TRANSPORTATION INFRASTRUCTURE THAT HAS THE CAPACITY TO, TO SUPPORT THE MALL'S PEAK DEMAND DURING THE WINTER HOLIDAY SEASON. AND AS IT RELATES TO THE VARIANCES, PROPERTY HAS EXCEPTIONAL AND PECULIAR CONDITIONS RELATED TO ITS SIZE, SHAPE, AND TOPOGRAPHY. AGAIN, NOTING THAT THE BUILDING HEIGHTS OF UP TO 20 AND 30 STORIES ARE APPROVED ON THE ADJACENT PROPERTIES. THERE IS APPROXIMATELY JUST UNDER, UH, ABOUT 560 HUN UH, THOUSAND SQUARE FEET OF OFFICE ON THE ADJACENT PROPERTIES, WHICH SUPPORTS THE VARIANCE REQUEST TO REDUCE THE MU UH, OFFICE PERCENTAGE AND PARKING DEMAND WILL BE MET ON SITE DURING THE TYPICAL MIXED USE OPERATIONS. THE MAJOR EVENTS AT THE ARENA WILL GENERATE HIGHER PARKING DEMAND FOR APPROXIMATELY 96 EVENTS PER YEAR, ACCORDING TO OUR SPORTS, UM, AND ENTERTAINMENT, UM, CONSULTANT. THEREFORE, THE ARENA PARKING WILL BE MANAGED WITH A COMBINATION OF ON AND OFFSITE PARKING AGREEMENTS, EMPLOYEE PARKING MANAGEMENT, AND SHUTTLE OPERATIONS. AND AS THE APPLICANT NOTED, THERE ARE APPROXIMATELY 10,000 PARKING SPACES AVAILABLE WITHIN A 15 MINUTE WALK OF THE ARENA. AS IT RELATES TO THE APPLICANT'S CITIZEN PARTICIPATION PLAN, THEY PROVIDED A REPORT INDICATING THAT THEY HAD A MEETING WITH THE ECHO PARK RESIDENCE IN APRIL. THEY RECEIVED QUESTIONS REGARDING TRAFFIC, PARKING, RENTAL RATES, GAME DAY, OVERFLOW PARKING, AND ALPHA LOOP EXTENSION. THE APPLICANT ALSO NOTED QUESTIONS AND CONCERNS RECEIVED AT THE TWO CZIM MEETINGS, UH, INDICATED, UH, QUESTIONS AND CONCERNS OVER TRAFFIC PARKING. WILL THE, UH, MALL REMAIN OR BE DEMOLISHED, OR QUESTIONS ABOUT THE NHL HEIGHT AND DENSITY IMPACT TO TAXPAYERS? WILL OFFICE HURT OTHER OFFICE IN THE CITY? UM, HAVE YOU, HAS THE APPLICANT CONSIDERED CONDOS GREEN SPACE AND HOW THE EVENT, UH, EVENT PARKING WILL FUNCTION? AND THE CITY STAFF ALSO RECEIVED SIMILAR, UH, PUBLIC FEEDBACK, BOTH IN SUPPORT AND IN OPPOSITION WITH SIMILAR, UH, QUESTIONS AND CONCERNS. AND THEN THE ITEM, THE APPLICANT SHOWED THEIR REQUEST TO THE PUBLIC AT BOTH THE JUNE 10TH AND JULY 8TH. COMMUNITY ZONING INFORMATION MEETINGS. TYPICALLY, UH, PUBLIC HEARING REQUESTS WOULD GO TO ONE, BUT DUE TO THE SIZE OF THIS DEVELOPMENT, WE FELT IT WAS IMPORTANT TO HAVE TWO COMMUNITY MEETINGS. PUBLIC COMMENTS WERE MADE BOTH IN SUPPORT AND IN OPPOSITION. COMMENTS AND CONCERNS, UH, THAT WERE RAISED DURING THOSE MEETINGS INCLUDED WHETHER OR NOT THE NHL WAS ON BOARD. UH, THERE WAS SUPPORT FOR DESIRE TO BRING HOCKEY BACK TO GEORGIA. [01:00:01] COMMENTS ABOUT AFFORDABLE HOUSING, GREEN SPACE, KEEP THE CAROUSEL AT THE MALL. LOOKING FORWARD TO THE REVITALIZATION OF THE AREA, COMMENTS ABOUT REMOVING SURFACE PARKING. UM, PROPERTY SHOULD BE DEVELOPED WITH SOMETHING UNIQUE. QUESTIONS ABOUT WHEN THE DEVELOPMENT WOULD BEGIN, A DESIRE FOR BICYCLE FACILITIES THROUGH, UM, THE DISTRICT, BUT LIMITS ON E-BIKES, UM, ENCOURAGING SUFFICIENT PARKING AND ROAD CAPACITY, UH, CONSIDERING CONDOMINIUMS, UM, ASK, THERE WERE QUESTIONS ABOUT A FINANCIAL ASK OF THE CITY IMPACT TO TAXPAYERS, TRAFFIC BUILDING HEIGHT AND WHETHER THERE WAS A BACKUP PLAN. AND FINALLY, THE ITEM WAS CONSIDERED AT THE PLANNING COMMISSION. AT THEIR AUGUST 6TH, UH, MEETING, THERE WERE PUB EIGHT PUBLIC COMMENTS IN FAVOR AND ONE PUBLIC COMMENT IN OPPOSITION. THOSE IN FAVOR, UH, INDICATED THAT THE MALL WAS OUTDATED IN NEED OF REDEVELOPMENT, UH, PROPOSAL ALIGNED WITH THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN NEED FOR ENTERTAINMENT IN THE AREA. WE'LL ADD TO FOOT TRAFFIC IN THE AREA, INCREASE THE TAX DIGEST, UH, ALPHARETTA WILL BE JUST BE A PASS THROUGH COMMUNITY WITH A DISTRESSED MALL IF HOCKEY GOES TO FORSYTH. UH, NO CONCERN OVER RETAIL COMPETITION. UM, FOLKS THOUGHT THAT IT WAS A THOUGHTFUL DEVELOPMENT OPPORTUNITY FOR THE CITY. UH, OFFICE MAN IS STRONG IN AND AROUND MIXED USE DEVELOPMENTS, UH, WILL BRING JOBS TO THE CITY. UH, AND, UH, JUST A PLACE TO MAKE, UH, FAMILY, UM, MEMORIES. THOSE IN OPPOSITION. THERE WAS ONE IN OPPOSITION. HE DID STATE THAT HE WAS ON THE FENCE, BUT HE HAD CONCERNS THAT THE PROPOSAL WAS MOVING TOO FAST. HE HAD FEARS OF AN EMPTY ARENA, UH, FELT THAT RETAILERS COULD BE CANNIBALIZED FROM OTHER LOCATIONS. UH, ASKED QUESTIONS ABOUT WHY TEARING DOWN THE MOVIE THEATER AND WHY MORE OFFICE WAS NEEDED AND FELT THAT THE DEVELOPMENT WAS TOO FAR FROM THE AIR, UH, AIRPORT. ULTIMATELY PLANNING COMMISSION RECOMMENDED APPROVAL SUBJECT TO THE 74 CONDITIONS IN THE STAFF REPORT IN YOUR PACKETS. AND THE VOTE AT THE PLANNING COMMISSION WAS FOUR TO THREE. AND THERE ARE 74 CONDITIONS. UH, YOUR TYPICAL, UH, SITE PLAN, UM, ARCHITECTURAL CONDITIONS, YOUR USE CONDITIONS, DESIGN CONDITIONS, UH, TRANSPORTATION CONDITIONS. THERE IS A SECTION OF TRANSPORTATION CONDITIONS THAT START WITH KITCHEN NUMBER 26. THOSE ARE IN ADDITION TO THE DEVELOPMENT OF REGIONAL IMPACT REVIEW TRAFFIC STUDY CONDITIONS AT THE VERY END OF, OF THE, UH, 74 CONDITIONS. AS KATHY MENTIONED, THERE ARE ALSO, UH, CONDITIONS RELATED TO PUBLIC SAFETY, FIRE AND POLICE, UM, JUST MISCELLANEOUS CONDITIONS. AND THEN OF COURSE, AT THE VERY END IS THE NOTICE OF DECISION FROM THE STATE'S REVIEW OF THE, UH, DEVELOPMENT OF REGIONAL IMPACT. AND THAT CONCLUDES OUR PRESENTATION. IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, WE'D BE HA HAPPY TO ANSWER THOSE. DO YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS FOR MR. WOODMAN? I DON'T THINK SO. UM, I DIDN'T SEE, WE KEEP TALKING ABOUT IT BEING, YOU KNOW, UM, LESS AUTOCENTRIC AND I DID NOT SEE A SIDEWALK AROUND THE RING ROAD. RING ROAD CURRENTLY ALREADY EXISTS AND THERE'S BEEN OBVIOUSLY A LOT OF CONVERSATION ABOUT BECOMING MORE PEDESTRIAN FRIENDLY, AND I DID NOT SEE THE ADDITION OF A SIDEWALK ALONG THE RING ROAD. IT SEEMS LIKE IF I DID I MISS THAT? DID I? IS IT, DO I HAVE, I DON'T THINK THAT IT IS ON THE SITE PLAN. I, I WOULD DEFER TO THE APPLICANT TO, UM, ADDRESS THAT QUESTION. THIS IS THE SITE PLAN HERE. THANK YOU MR. WOODMAN. AND, UM, REGARDING THE BIKES ON THE PROMENADE, UM, SO AM I, IS IT CORRECT, UM, DIRECTOR COOK, IS IT CORRECT THAT THE, THAT THE PLAN RIGHT NOW WOULD ANTICIPATE, UM, ALLOWING BIKES TO TRAVERSE THAT, THAT PEDESTRIAN PROMENADE THAT GOES THROUGH THE CENTER? IT WOULD ALLOW BIKES ON THE ALPHA LOOP AND OF COURSE THE ALPHA LOOP OR THIS LOCATION, UM, THE CONDITION IS RECOMMENDED THAT IT'S 15 FEET WIDE. IT'S TYPICALLY 12, SO IT IS WIDER, BUT YES, IT, IT WOULD ALLOW BIKES. I KNOW THAT ONE POINT THERE WAS A DISCUSSION ABOUT MAKING SURE THAT IT DID NOT HAVE BIKES ON IT. MUCH LIKE, UM, AVALON DOES NOT HAVE BIKES. [01:05:01] IT'D BE TERRIFYING TO COME OUT ONE OF THE FANCY SHOPS AT AVALON AND GET RUN OVER. I WALK, WALK ON THE GREENWAY AND THE, UH, THE SCOOTERS AND THE E-BIKES THAT ALL THE KIDS GOT ARE TERRIFYING. AND I THINK THAT WOULD, I DON'T THINK EVERYBODY FOLLOWS WHATEVER THE POST SPEED LIMIT IS. YEAH. AND IT SEEMS LIKE THAT WOULD BE SETTING UP A REALLY DANGEROUS, UM, REALLY SOMETHING REALLY DANGEROUS FOR PEDESTRIANS. UM, SO THE DIFFERENCE HERE IS IT'S SEPARATED. UM, SO AVALON DOES NOT HAVE AN ALPHA LOOP THAT'S GOING. SO IF YOU'RE BIKING AT AVALON, YOU'RE IN A TRAVEL LANE, THIS APPLICATION WILL HAVE A TRAVEL LANE PLUS THE ALPHA LOOP, WHICH IS SEPARATED WITH CURB AND LANDSCAPING FROM THE SIDEWALKS THAT THEY HAVE. SO RIGHT NOW, IF YOU'RE AT AVALON, YOU ONLY HAVE THE SIDEWALK IN FRONT OF GOING INTO THE STORES, THE RETAILERS, AND THEN YOU HAVE THE, THE TRAFFIC LANES. AND OF COURSE, YOU REALLY CAN'T GO FAST IF YOU'RE ON A BIKE BEHIND A CAR IN THE TRAFFIC LANE SET AT AVALON BECAUSE THEY'RE NOT SPEEDING FROM POINT A TO POINT B. UM, BUT ONE OF THE CONCERNS, AND WE HAD HEARD THAT CONCERN IS IF WE DIDN'T PUT A SEPARATION. SO THERE IS A REQUIREMENT IN THERE, NOT ONLY THAT, IT'S WIDER THAN THE, THE TYPICAL ALPHA LOOP, BUT IT ALSO HAS SEPARATION WITH CURB AND LANDSCAPING. SO YOU WON'T HAVE THAT ISSUE, WE HOPE. COUNCILMAN, HES, UH, DI DIRECTOR COOK. MR. WOODMAN, ARE THERE ANY, UH, LAST MINUTE REVISIONS OR UPDATES TO ANY OF THE CONDITIONS, SPECIFICALLY CONDITION NUMBER ONE, IF SO? I DID NOT HEAR THAT THERE IS, AND I THINK WE PUT A COPY, UM, THEY HAD SENT THAT TODAY, BUT WE'LL ALSO PUT A COPY HERE SO EVERYBODY CAN SEE WHAT THE, THE REVISION IS. UH, AND THE REVISION WOULD TIE ALL THE DEVELOPMENT TO THE AWARD OF A AND IF I MAY, I, YOU ARE RESPONDING TO MY QUESTION, BUT I WANTED TO SEE IF WE COULD GET THAT UP FOR THE BIG SCREEN. YES. UH, AS YOU'RE COMMENTING ON IT. THANK YOU. YES. YEAH, SO, SO THE, THE CONDITION PROPOSED BY THE APPLICANT IS THAT ALL OF THE ENTITLEMENTS WOULD BE, UM, SUBJECT TO AWARD OF FRANCHISE, UH, BY THE NHL. SO PREVIOUSLY WE HAD WRITTEN IT, SO IT WAS ONLY THE RENTAL THAT WAS CONTINGENT. WE HAD HEARD, HEARD SOME FEEDBACK THAT THE, THE OFFICE, UM, AS WELL AS THE HOTEL, UH, BECAUSE THE HOTEL MAY NOT BE NEEDED IF YOU DON'T HAVE A SPORTS AND ENTERTAINMENT DISTRICT. SO THE APPLICANT ACTUALLY GAVE US, UM, THIS PROPOSED RED LINE, WHICH MEANS THAT THEY ACCEPT IT AND THIS IS SOMETHING THAT THEY'RE, UM, OKAY WITH. AND, AND I THINK THAT WAS TO ADDRESS A LOT OF THOSE CONCERNS. THAT GREAT. YEAH. I WAS JUST, UH, YOU DON'T MIND, I'M GONNA GO BACK TO THE PIKES, THE BIKES PIECE. 'CAUSE I KNOW WE'VE, WE'VE TALKED ABOUT IT A LITTLE BIT. SO NOW WE HAVE LANDSCAPING ON BOTH SIDES OF THE LOOP, RIGHT? SO IF I'M PARKING, PARALLEL PARKING, GET OUT IN MY FAMILY, I CAN'T GO STRAIGHT IN 'CAUSE THE LOOP WILL BE RESTRICTED RIGHT THERE. SO I GOTTA WALK DOWN THE STREET WHERE, WHERE OTHER CARS ARE COMING RIGHT AT ME AND THEN GO DOWN TO A PEDESTRIAN CROSSWAY TO GET INTO THE SHOPS. I'M TRYING TO UNDERSTAND, BECAUSE WE'RE GOING BACK TO THE BIKES, RIGHT? SO IF THAT'S WHIZZING BY NOW, WE'RE LIMITING PEOPLE ON THE STREET FROM GETTING IN. SO THEY GOTTA WALK DOWN THE STREET TO ACCESS INTO IT. WHY DON'T WE JUST SAY NO TO BIKES AND MAKE THEM GO ROUND OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT. JUST PEDESTRIAN COME THROUGH THE LOOP AND THE, THE APPLICANT CAN ANSWER THAT AS TO WHETHER THE BIKES, UM, WHAT, YOU KNOW, BECAUSE THEY ALSO OF COURSE DEVELOP, MANAGE AVALON. SO I DON'T KNOW WHAT TYPE OF BIKE TRAFFIC THAT THEY'RE SEEING THERE. OKAY. UM, BUT I WILL TELL YOU THIS, THIS, WHAT WE'RE PROPOSING IS, IS VERY SIMILAR. UH, AVALON FOR EXAMPLE, YOU KNOW, SOMETIMES YOU HAVE TO CROSS THAT ROADWAY. AND SO THERE'S, THERE'S CROSSINGS. SO IT IS TRUE THAT, THAT WHEN YOU, IF YOU PARK YOUR CAR, YOU MAY HAVE TO LOOK BEFORE YOU WALK OVER THE ALPHA LOOP. BUT IT'S ALSO VERY IMPORTANT, UM, FROM WHAT WE'VE SEEN, JUST LIKE WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT, UH, PONDS MARKET, UM, HAVING THAT ACTIVITY WHERE PEOPLE ARE ACTUALLY TRAVELING THROUGH AND THEY ARE GOING THROUGH THE DEVELOPMENT. AND, AND THAT HELPS OF COURSE WITH BIKES IF THEY ARE TRAVELING AND USING BIKES TO SOME OF THESE, UM, SHOPS AS WELL AS THE OFFICE OR HOME. UM, SO WE DO BELIEVE IT'S MANAGEABLE. I THINK THAT YOU HAVE TO HAVE THE LANDSCAPE IN PLACE. YOU HAVE TO HAVE THE, THE TREES, YOU HAVE TO HAVE, UM, THE CURB TO MAKE SURE THAT PEOPLE FEEL PROTECTED. AND DON'T MIND. I'M GONNA GO TO PARKING REAL QUICK JUST TO, IF YOU DON'T MIND THE PARKING YEAH. ON THE, UH, THE SITE PLAN WITH PARKING. I JUST, I, I KNOW WE, YOU WENT THROUGH ALL THE DIFFERENT PIECES, BUT IN HERE, I THINK WE HAVE, UH, THE HOUSING COMPONENT OR THE, THE FOUR RENT HAS A CERTAIN AMOUNT OF PARKING SPACES. THINK IS [01:10:01] 2,839, BUT THEY BE RESTRICTED FOR THE PUBLIC TO PARK THERE. IS THAT CORRECT? YES. AND THE HOTEL WOULD BE RESTRICTED, RIGHT? AND THE OFFICE WOULD BE RESTRICTED. SO THOSE PIECES ARE RESTRICTED, BUT THEY HAVE A 20% REDUCTION AT THE HIGH PEAK TIME. SO MY QUESTION KIND OF GOES BACK TO THE TWO STRUCTURAL PARKING DECKS THAT WE HAVE. AND THEN THE SURFACE ONE'S ON, I GUESS THE WESTERN BOUNDARY ONE'S ON THE EASTERN BOUNDARY, AND THEN THE SURFACE IS ON THE SOUTHERN BOUNDARY, RIGHT? SO IF THERE IS AT THE HIGH STRESS TIME WHERE LET'S JUST SAY ALL THE STARS ALIGN, WE GOT SOMETHING GOING ON, THE AMPHITHEATER, THE, THE, UH, ARENA, UM, HOTELS, UM, PEOPLE ARE OBVIOUSLY GOING HOME. UM, AND THEN THE MUSIC HALL, YOU KNOW, JUST IN THAT POINT, AND I WANT TO GO SEE SOMETHING AT THE ARENA AND I DRIVE OVER THERE OR I GET DROPPED OFF WHERE THERE'S TWO KIND OF PIECES THERE. 'CAUSE IT COULD BE MULTIMODE. I'M TRYING TO FIGURE OUT HOW MANY SPACES WE CAN GET WITHOUT THE TAXATION OF THOSE ADDITIONAL PIECES AROUND. AND I GUESS SHANE, THERE, THERE IS 10,000 SPACES AROUND THE AREA. WE COULD OH YEAH. SUPPLEMENT INTO IT, RIGHT? BUT WE DON'T WANNA HAVE PEOPLE RUNNING ACROSS NORTH POINT AND ALL THAT. WHAT, WHAT IS THOSE LIMITATIONS? IF WE, IF WE DON'T RESTRICT THE, YOU KNOW, THE, THE APARTMENTS, YOU CAN'T GET IN THERE. SO I CAN'T PARK THERE, I CAN'T PARK IN THE OFFICE. WE WON'T BE ABLE TO PARK IN THE HOTEL. I'M UNLIMITED TO CERTAIN AREAS. I'M JUST TRYING TO UNDERSTAND THAT CAPACITY IN THAT POINT. IF YOU DON'T MIND. DO I'M, I'M SORRY. IT'S, IT'S NOT THE OFFICE, IT'S THE HOTEL THAT, AND THE RESIDENTIAL NEST OF THE OFFICE IS OPEN. THE, THE OFFICE WOULD BE OPEN. OH YEAH, THE OPEN, THE OFFICE IS OPEN. IT WAS THE RESIDENTIAL AND THE HOTEL THAT WAS PROTECTED WOULD NOT BE, WELL, MY OFFICE BUILDING RESTRICTS US AND THE YOU I GET YOU. BUT SO THE OFFICE WOULD BE OPEN AND THEN THE, THE TWO STRUCTURED PARKING, AND THAT'S OPEN. SO HOW MANY SPACES DO YOU THINK, DO WE HAVE ENOUGH SPACES AT PEAK TIMES BA BASED ON THE STUDY? YES, WE DO. I WOULD DEFER BASED ON THE STUDY, YES, I WOULD DEFER TO THE APPLICANT OF HOW THEY'RE GONNA OPERATE THAT. BUT, UH, THE NUMBERS SUGGEST THAT YES, THE THE PEAK TIMES ARE, ARE FINE EXCEPT WITH EVENTS WHERE YOU HAVE THE OVERFLOW PARKING. OKAY. I JUST GOT ONE MORE QUESTION BECAUSE I'LL, I'LL LEAVE THAT. JUST, I'M, I'M SORRY. AND SINCE YOU'RE UP HERE WITH TRAFFIC, YOU PULLED UP THAT, THAT PICTURE OF ALL THE, THE, THE INTERSECTIONS AROUND HERE WITH THE TRAFFIC AND ALL THAT KIND OF PIECE. AND IF YOU DON'T MIND WITH TRAFFIC, YOU COULD, UM, THE MULTIFAMILY KIND OF COMPONENT WHERE THAT'S CONCENTRATED, I THINK THAT'S WHERE THE 1,385 UNITS ARE. I THINK IT'S A INTERSECTION A IS THAT CORRECT ON THERE? I'M NOT SURE. YEAH, A RIGHT, THAT'S WHERE, THAT WOULD BE, I GUESS WHERE CALIFORNIA PIZZA KITCHEN IS TODAY. THAT WOULD BE KIND OF TO GIVE YOU A, A LOCATION. YES, CORRECT. RIGHT THERE. UM, IS, IS THAT AN AREA? I DON'T, I DON'T SEE ANY, IS THAT SITE IMPROVEMENTS THERE? AM I MISSING THAT ONE DOES NOT HAVE ANY SITE IMPROVEMENTS, BUT THAT'S EXACTLY WHERE 1,385 UNITS ARE GONNA GO. AM I RIGHT THAT THAT DIAGRAM REPRESENTS WHERE THE, THE IMPROVEMENTS ARE? SO THAT INTERSECTION, UH, FROM THE STUDY OPERATED WITHOUT ANY, ANY ADDITIONAL TURN LANE TO IT. THERE PROBABLY WILL BE SIGNAL TIMINGS AS IS ALWAYS DONE AS, AS TRAFFIC CHANGES. BUT THERE'S NO, UH, BUT THERE'S NO IMPROVEMENTS TO THAT INTERSECTION WITH THE ADDITIONAL DENSITY COMING IN. CORRECT. OKAY. THANK YOU. COUNCILMAN . THANK YOU MAYOR. AND BRIAN, IF YOU COULD STAY UP THERE A SECOND SINCE WE'RE ON TRAFFIC TOPIC. AND MAYOR, IF I MAY, WE HAVE HAD A COUPLE OF COMMENTS ABOUT SOUND. IF I COULD JUST ASK MAYOR AND COUNCIL TO BRING THE MICS JUST A LITTLE BIT CLOSER TO YOU THIS EVENING. I KNOW YOU HAVE A LOT OF MATERIALS ON THE DAIS, BUT I KNOW THE PEOPLE IN OUR AUDIENCE WOULD REALLY APPRECIATE IT. I COULD BE PRETTY LOUD. , WE'LL START YOU OFF. UM, THANK YOU BRIAN, FOR YOUR PRESENTATION ON THE TRAFFIC STUDY, UM, THAT I'M SURE THE APPLICANT WILL GET MORE INTO DETAIL. I SAID THANK YOU FOR YOUR PRESENTATION ON THE TRAFFIC STUDY ON BEHALF OF THE CITY. UM, SO I'M, I'M, I'M ASSUMING FROM YOUR PRESENTATION THAT YOU'RE AGREEING WITH KIMBERLY HORNE'S TRAFFIC STUDY ON BEHALF OF THE APPLICANT AS FAR AS THEIR FINDINGS AND THEIR PROJECTIONS OF TRAFFIC FLOW AND PEAK TIMES AND OFF PEAK TIMES AND YEAH. YES, I, I COMPLETELY AGREE WITH THEIR METHODOLOGY, HOW THEY DEVELOPED IT. UH, ASWELL DID THE GEORGIA TRANSPORTATION EFFICIENCY AUTHORITY, WHICH USED TO BE GRETA, UH, AND THEIR REVIEW AS WELL AGREED WITH THEIR FINDINGS. SO BRIAN MAY HAVE TO CLOSER. I'M SORRY. CAN YOU HEAR? YES. AND BRIAN, WHAT I WANT TO ASK YOU THEN IS WHEN I LOOKED AT THIS STUDY I HAVE IN FRONT OF ME HERE, UM, THE, YOU REFERENCED THE ARENA EVENT CONDITION WHEN IT'S FULL THAT THE PROJECTED PARKING DEMAND IS ABOUT 12,302 [01:15:02] SPACES. RIGHT? UM, AND THEN THERE'LL ALSO BE 7,000 3 75 PRETTY MUCH THROUGHOUT THE DAY AT MM-HMM . AT THE, UH, MIXED USE LIVE MUSIC MENU. UM, HOW MUCH OF THIS PARKING WILL RELY UPON OFFSITE AGREEMENTS FOR THE OVERFLOW PARKING? I, I WOULD ASSUME THAT THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE, AND I'LL LET THE APPLICANT, YOU KNOW, THEY WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK TO THAT. OKAY. THEY, THEY HAVE A, A SPECIALIST IN THAT AREA. BUT GIVEN THE FACT THAT I BELIEVE THERE'S AROUND 8,000 SPACES ON SITE AND THAT PEAK DEMAND OF 12,000 IS, IS THE ENTIRE SITE, THAT'S THE ARENA AND, AND EVERYTHING. SO THAT, THAT DELTA IS WHAT, 4,000, 5,000 SPACES OR SO I BELIEVE IT WAS WHAT, 9 96, 9 6 EVENTS PER YEAR, I BELIEVE IS WHAT WAS PROJECTED 41 NHL IF THEY COME AND, AND OTHER REST IS OTHER THINGS, OTHER EVENTS THAT WILL HAPPEN AT THE VENUE, UM, I'M A LITTLE CONCERNED THAT YOU'RE NOT EXPRESSING THE IMPACT OF THE OVERFLOW PARKING, THE LACK OF AGREEMENTS POTENTIALLY, WHO, WHO KNOWS WHO'S GONNA SIGN UP FOR ALLOWING THEIR, THEIR PARKING TO BE UTILIZED. AND I'D LIKE TO KIND OF UNDERSTAND THAT IMPACT. BUT WE DON'T NEED TO DO THAT TONIGHT. 'CAUSE I DON'T, I THINK YOU'VE LOOKED AT BASICALLY THE KIMBERLY HORN STUDY, WHICH IS FINE. AND, AND I APPRECIATE COMMENTS ON THAT. I DO HAVE ONE MORE QUESTION ON THE TRAFFIC, AND IT HAS TO DO WITH, WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE KIMBERLY HORNE STUDY, IT REALLY CONFINES ITS TRAFFIC STUDY TO BASICALLY THE MALL AREA. OKAY. HOLD ON. THE, THE STUDY DOESN'T SEEM TO, I'M USED TO BEING HOME WITH MY WIFE. I CAN'T TALK THAT LOUD . UM, THE STUDY DOESN'T SEEM TO, UH, ADDRESS THE IMPACT OF THE OTHER AREAS OF THE CITY. IF THIS WAS IN FULL SWING, THIS, THIS PROPOSAL, AND I'D LIKE YOUR OPINION, EXCUSE ME, I DIDN'T REALIZE I NEEDED TO ANNOUNCE THIS, BUT WE DIDN'T ALLOW CHEERING AND BOOING AND THINGS LIKE THAT. THIS IS A HEARING. WE APPRECIATE YOUR ENTHUSIASM, BUT WE WILL NOT TOLERATE DISRUPTIONS. AND, AND, AND THE REASON WHY I ASK THAT, 'CAUSE I THINK IT'S CRITICALLY IMPORTANT FOR AN APPLICATION OF THIS MAGNITUDE THAT WE ADDRESS THAT. BECAUSE IF YOU DRIVE AROUND OUR CITY OUTSIDE OF THIS AREA, IT'S PRETTY OBVIOUS. KIND OF LIKE PEOPLE, THE ECONOMY'S DOING GREAT. SOME PEOPLE IN THE GOVERNMENT SAYS, THE ECONOMY'S GREAT, THE ECONOMY'S GREAT, BUT THE PEOPLE IN THEIR POCKETBOOKS ARE FEELING QUITE DIFFERENT. IT'S A SIMILAR SITUATION. HERE YOU GO OUTSIDE THIS AREA, I I, I WENT UP NEAR CITY CENTER ON A FRIDAY AFTERNOON AT FOUR O'CLOCK. THE TRAFFIC WAS BACK WHILE ON WHEELS ROAD. IT TOOK ME A WHILE TO GET OVER TO MY DAUGHTER'S HOUSE AND, AND I SAID, WHAT IF THERE WAS A, AN HL GAME TONIGHT? RIGHT? SO I THINK, AND MAY, AND MAYBE THE APPLICANT WILL ADDRESS THIS, BUT I'D LIKE TO UNDERSTAND, YOU KNOW, THE TOTALITY OF THE TRAFFIC STUDY, IF THIS IS IN FULL SWING, WHAT, HOW IT'S GONNA IMPACT THE OVERALL CITY AND THE ABILITY FOR PEOPLE TO TRANSFER THROUGH THE CITY ON TOP OF CONSTRUCTION GOING ON OUTSIDE OF THE CITY. IT'S A MAJOR THOROUGHFARE FOR OTHER CITIES AS WELL. SO WE, WE NEED TO BE REALLY CAUTIOUS ON MAKE SURE THAT WE DON'T APPROVE A DENSITY HERE THAT IS GOING TO PUT A NOOSE AROUND THE CITY. AND THAT'S WHY I, I WOULD LOVE FOR THE CITY, UH, UH, TRAFFIC ENGINEER TO KIND OF ADDRESS THAT FOR US. UM, AND UNFORTUNATELY THAT WASN'T DONE. SO, UM, KATHY, I THINK I'LL ASK YOU THE NEXT QUESTION BECAUSE I THINK YOU SPOKE ABOUT THIS. UM, I GET THE MIC HERE, THE APARTMENTS, I THINK YOU SPOKE ABOUT THE APARTMENT. YEAH. YES. SO IN THE, IN, IN YOUR PRESENTATION, I FORGET WHICH SLIDE IT WAS, BUT IT TALKED ABOUT THE APARTMENTS WHERE 600 WAS GOING TO BE ALLOWED, UH, IN THE FIRST YEAR OR IN 2029, RIGHT. IF I HAVE THAT RIGHT. AND THEN ANOTHER, UH, UM, WAS GONNA BE ALLOWED 185 IN 2030, BUT THEN THE CONCURRENCY TALKS ABOUT HOW EVERYTHING'S GONNA BE TIED TO THE NHLS DECISION WITH THE APPLICANT TO PROVIDE THAT PROOF. BUT IT SOUNDS LIKE THEY'RE GONNA BE ALLOWED TO BUILD AT LEAST 600 APARTMENTS BEFORE THAT HAPPENS. IS THAT THE WAY? NO. OKAY. NO. SO EVERYTHING IS CONTINGENT UPON [01:20:01] AN AWARD OF THE NHL FRANCHISE AND, UM, THE, THE APPLICANT ACTUALLY, UM, SUBMITTED A CONDITION BECAUSE CAN YOU GO BACK TO THAT SLIDE WHERE YOU HAD THE 600? YEAH. OH, TO WHERE WE, YOU, YOU TALKED ABOUT THE APARTMENTS OR RENT. OKAY. THERE WAS A, THERE WAS A, IT IS LIKE A BLUE, A BLUE SLIDE YOU, YOU BROUGHT UP. YEAH. SO THERE'S A, THERE'S ACTUALLY A CHART. IT'S THE, IT'S THE, I'LL FIND IT, THE CHART YOU SHOWED THAT HAS EACH YEAR HOW MANY APARTMENTS WHEN YOU WERE TALKING ABOUT THE, THE RENTAL RATIO IN THE CITY. YEAH. AND THAT'S ALL STILL TIED TO THE NHL, BUT IT'S ALSO, THE CHART HAS DIFFERENT TIMELINES. NO, NOT THAT CHART. IT WAS A, IT WAS A POWER, IT WAS LIKE A BLUE POWERPOINT. IT'S, YEAH, WE'RE, I'M LOOKING FOR THAT. APOLOGIES. OKAY. MAYBE YOU CAN LOOK FOR THAT. UM, BUT THE REASON THEY WERE, THEY WERE, YOU KNOW, SET OFF BY DIFFERENT YEARS WAS BECAUSE IN ORDER TO KEEP THE 68, 32, BECAUSE WE WANTED TO MAKE SURE, AND I, I, I GET THAT. I'M, I'M, I'M TRYING TO UNDERSTAND, WHEN I READ THE SLIDE THAT YOU PUT UP, IT SEEMED TO IMPLY THAT THEY WERE GONNA BE ABLE TO GO AHEAD AND BUILD 600 APARTMENTS BY 2029. HERE IT IS. SORRY ABOUT THAT. NO, AND, AND I DIDN'T PUT THE ENTIRE CONDITIONS ON THE SLIDE. OKAY. I JUST, THAT'S PROBABLY WHY. OKAY. SO IT, IT'S MISLEADING BECAUSE IN THE CONDITIONS, AS THEY STAND NOW BEFORE THE COUNCIL, THE CONDITION OF THE CONCURRENCY TO TIE THIS TO A DECISION BY THE NHL TO ADVISE THE APPLICANT THAT THEY ARE GOING INTO AGREEMENT TO SELECT ALPHARETTA TO BRING IN THE NHL HERE, IT SAYS THAT THEY HAVE UP UNTIL THE END OF 30, 31, I THINK IS WHAT I, I READ 2031. I'M SORRY. SO, SO IT SEEMS TO BE IN CONFLICT WITH THAT WHEN YOU SAY THEY CAN BUILD 600 APARTMENTS IN 29 AND 185 AND 30, SO THAT, THAT'S WHAT'S WHAT I'M CONFUSED ABOUT. SURE. AND SO THE RECOMMENDATION BY STAFF UNDER THREE E SAYS FOR RENT RESIDENTIAL, IF THE NATIONAL HOCKEY LEAGUE AWARDS A FRANCHISE TEAM TO THE NORTH POINT SITE, ALSO CONDITION NUMBER ONE, WHICH IS ACTUALLY SUBMITTED, UH, BY THE APPLICANT. LET ME SEE THAT ONE UP ON, UP ON THE SCREEN. IT ALSO TIES ALL ENTITLEMENTS TO THE AWARD OF A FRANCHISE. SO, AND IT'S ACTUALLY, AND IT'S NOT TIED TO THE NHL, IT'S TIED TO THE DEVELOPER GIVING US OKAY. I, I'LL MOVE ON BECAUSE I JUST WANTED TO GET THAT ON RECORD TO SOME CLARITY AROUND THAT. 'CAUSE THERE IS CONFUSION. ABSOLUTELY. UM, AS FAR AS THE, UM, STORMWATER PARK, YOU MADE REFERENCE THAT, UM, UH, THE DEVELOPER'S GONNA PAY FOR THAT, CORRECT? NO, THERE, THERE WOULD BE IMPACT FEE CREDITS GIVEN FOR THAT. WHAT IS THE AMOUNT OF THE IMPACT FEES, WHICH FOR THE AUDIENCE'S PURPOSES, IMPACT FEES ARE CHARGED TO EVERY DEVELOPER COMING INTO THE CITY TO HELP SUB, UH, SUBSIDIZE INCREASED PUBLIC SAFETY, INCREASE INFRASTRUCTURE, WHAT HAVE YOU. RIGHT. SO HOW MUCH OF THE IMPACT FEES ON THIS PROJECT, IF IT'S APPROVED AS PROPOSED, WOULD GO TO SUPPORTING THE BUILD OUT OF THE STORMWATER PARK? UM, SO WE DON'T HAVE THE PLANS IN PLACE, UH, FOR THE STORMWATER PARK. THERE'S 11 MILLION, UM, AND IMPACT FEES THAT THE DEVELOPER WOULD BE CHARGED. AND THE REASON IT'S ONLY 11 MILLION IS BECAUSE IT, OBVIOUSLY, IT WAS BUILT AS A REGIONAL DESTINATION, 1.3 MILLION SQUARE FEET. SO OUR CODE REQUIRES THAT YOU HAVE TO DEDUCT THE CURRENT IMPACT. SO THE CURRENT IMPACT, AND, AND, UM, BRIAN, UM, THE ENGINEER SAID THAT BASICALLY IT'S THE SAME IMPACT EVERY DAY WITH THE NEW DEVELOPMENT VERSUS WHAT'S THERE TODAY, UNLESS THERE'S AN EVENT. AND THEN OBVIOUSLY, UM, THERE'S MORE. UM, SO WHAT WILL HAPPEN, UM, THE WAY THAT IT'S SET UP, JUST LIKE WE GIVE IMPACT FEE CREDITS FOR THOMPSON STREET PARK, WE DIDN'T HAVE A DESIGN WHEN IT WENT TO COUNCIL, BUT WHAT HAPPENED AFTER IS THEY SUBMITTED A DESIGN, WE HAVE TO GET ALL THE PRICING FOR IT, AND THEN IT GOES TO, UM, OUR PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT BECAUSE THEY ARE MORE INVOLVED IN GETTING PUBLIC BIDS. SO THEY CHECK THE PRICES TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE GETTING A GOOD DEAL FOR THE CITY. I GUESS THE POINT I'M MAKING IS THE DEVELOPER'S NOT PAYING FOR THESE IMPROVEMENTS TO THE STORMWATER [01:25:01] PARK. IF IT GETS APPROVED, IT'S COMING OUTTA THE IMPACT FEES, WHICH IS COMING FROM THE CITY. THAT'S, THAT'S, THAT'S WHAT I WANT TO PUT ON THE RECORD. OKAY. YEAH, JUST LIKE THE THOMPSON STREET. UM, MR. WOODMAN, UM, ON YOUR, ON, ON SOME OF YOUR PRESENTATION, UM, YOU REFERENCED A COMPREHENSIVE LAND USE PLAN, MIXED USE, THE NORTH POINT OVERLAY, THE NORTH POINT LCI STUDY, ALL WHICH I'M VERY FAMILIAR WITH. THESE ARE STUDIES AND BLUEPRINTS, CORRECT? YES. AND YOU, YOU REFERENCED TWICE IN YOUR PRESENTATION, YOUR COMMENTS ABOUT, UH, NORTH POINT MALL BEING THE NUMBER ONE AREA THROUGH THE COMPREHENSIVE LAND USE PLAN STUDY AND THE, THE PUBLIC INPUT AND THE ONLINE SURVEYS, THAT WAS THE NUMBER ONE PLACE FOR GROWTH? YES. OKAY. DOES IT MEAN, DOES COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT STAFF INTERPRET THAT AS WE CAN PUT AS MUCH DENSITY AS WE WANT THERE? I DON'T THINK THAT THAT'S, WE MAKE A RECOMMENDATION. OKAY. UM, AND THIS, AND TONIGHT'S THE PLANNING COMMISSION RECOMMENDATION, WHICH WAS OKAY, BASED ON STAFF'S. OKAY. RECOMMENDATION, PLANNING COMMISSION COMMENTS ON THE, YOU, YOU PUT A SLIDE UP, IF YOU WANNA PULL IT OUT AND PUT IT OUT, UP FOR THE AUDIENCE, THAT WOULD BE GREAT. YOU, YOU SHOWED, I THINK THERE WAS FIVE OFFICE BUILDINGS APPROVED. UH, 1991, THE COUSINS MASTER PLAN WAS APPROVED. 2003 COUSINS WEST WAS APPROVED WITHIN THE 20 19 91 MASTER PLAN FOR THE COUSINS. IT DID INCLUDE, UM, UH, HEIGHT VARIANCES. AND IF YOU READ THE MINUTES FROM THOSE MEETINGS, WHICH I DID AND WENT BACK TO, UM, IT TALKED ABOUT THAT THESE WERE BEING DEVELOPED OUT AS CORPORATE CENTERS TO ATTRACT, UH, UH, FORTUNE 100 CORPORATIONS TO COME AND MAKE ALFRED OF THEIR HOME AT THEIR CORPORATE HEADQUARTERS. SO IT WAS AN INCENTIVE BY THE GOVERNMENT BACK THEN WHO WAS ON CITY COUNCIL PLANNING COMMISSION AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT SET TIME TO BUILD OUT A CORPORATE CENTER IN THIS AREA. HAS THOSE BUILDINGS BEEN BUILT YET? WE JUST HAVE THE OFFICE BUILDINGS AT ESSO, WHICH WERE ADJACENT TO THE SITE. ARE YOU SAYING HAVE 20 STORIES BEEN BUILT? NO. THE 20 STORY BUILDINGS, NO. AND THERE'S A 32 30 STORIES, I THINK. CORRECT. AND WE HAVE THAT THROUGHOUT THE, HAVE THOSE BEEN BUILT? NO, NOT AT THIS LOCATION. OKAY. NO. OKAY. UM, THE OTHER QUESTION I HAVE, SAME TOPIC. THE MALL WAS APPROVED IN WHAT YEAR? THAT WAS IN 90 19 90, YES. AND THEN 91, THE BUSINESS CENTER. NOW, WASN'T THERE SOME, AND I MAY BE WRONG ON THIS, BUT I'M GONNA ASK YOU, WASN'T THERE SOME CHANGES TO THE MALL MASTER PLAN, UH, THAT ALLOWED FOR INCREASED RETAIL DENSITY TO REMOVE SOME OF THE HEIGHT ON THE OFFICE BUILDINGS OR REMOVE SOME OF THE OFFICE BUILDINGS IN EXCHANGE FOR DOING 2030 STORIES? I DON'T, ARE YOU AWARE OF THAT? NO. I WOULD HAVE TO PULL THAT DOCUMENT. OKAY. BUT WE COULD, I MEAN, WE COULD CERTAINLY LOOK, UM, THE MARTA STOP, MR. WHEN YOU TALK, YOU REFER TO THE, UH, THE PLATFORM. UM, AND EVEN IN THE, UM, UH, THE DRI STUDY, UH, UH, THAT WAS DONE. IT, IT SPOKE ABOUT THAT ONE OF THE, UM, ONE OF THE, UM, CONDITIONS IN THAT STUDY WAS TO REQUIRE THE CITY MARTYR AND THE APPLICANT TO NEGOTIATE, UM, I'LL CALL IT THE WALKWAY, THE PATHWAY, THE BRIDGE FROM CENTER 400 WITH THE CURRENT, UH, GEORGIA 400 IMPROVEMENTS THAT ARE GOING ON WITH THE TWO SERVICE LANES ON EACH SIDE RIGHT AROUND THE MALL. THEY'RE, THEY'RE, THEY'RE PLANNING TO PUT A, A PLATFORM, I GUESS, CORRECT. TRANSIT PLATFORM. RIGHT. UM, MY UNDERSTANDING OF THAT AGREEMENT TODAY FOR THE GEORGIA 400 PROJECT, IT DOES NOT INCLUDE THE RAISED PLATFORM, BUT IT INCLUDES THE FOUNDATION OF THE PLATFORM. SO DOES THE PLATFORM AND THE BRIDGES FROM EACH SIDE OF 400 TO CONNECT TO THIS POTENTIAL PROJECT HAS TO BE NEGOTIATED AND DETERMINED THE COST. AND WHO WOULD PAY FOR THAT? IS THAT A FAIR STATEMENT? I HAVEN'T BEEN INVOLVED IN THE MEETINGS WITH MARTA, SO, UM, THE APPLICANT MAY HAVE MORE INFORMATION, BUT OF COURSE, THIS PROJECT IS NOT DEPENDENT UPON, UM, HAVING, UH, THE STATION IN 400 AND NOR WAS THE, THE TRAFFIC DEPENDENT UPON IT. UM, OF COURSE THAT'S BEEN SOMETHING THAT'S BEEN PROPOSED FOR YEARS. IT WAS PREVIOUSLY MARTA RAIL, WHICH IS NOW THE BRT, WHICH IT'S SWITCHED TO. SO AS FAR AS FUNDING, UH, I'M NOT FAMILIAR WITH THE FUND WHERE THE FUNDING IS RIGHT NOW BASED UPON DRG. [01:30:01] IT'S, IT NEEDS TO BE NEGOTIATED, RIGHT? SOMEONE HAS TO PAY. SOUNDS REASONABLE. YES. UM, OFFSITE PARKING, AND I'LL, THIS IS MY LAST QUESTION FOR NOW. UM, HAVE WE EVER APPROVED THIS LEVEL OF OFFSITE PARKING AND NOT REQUIRE AN APPLICANT TO PROVIDE THEIR OWN LEVEL OF PARKING WITHIN THEIR PROPOSED PROJECT IN THE CITY? MM-HMM. UH, THE AMPHITHEATER, THE AMERIS AMPHITHEATER, AND THEN ALSO THERE'S, UM, THEY DON'T HAVE ALL THEIR PARKING OF COURSE, ON SITE. UM, AND THEN THEY HAVE THE OFFSITE AGREEMENTS. UM, WAS, WAS THAT, WAS THAT PART OF THE CONDITIONS OF APPROVING THE AMPHITHEATER? IT WAS, BUT WE DIDN'T REQUIRE THEM TO GIVE THE PARKING AGREEMENTS PRIOR TO GETTING A LAND DISTURBANCE PERMIT. WE HAVE CONDITIONS IN HERE BECAUSE AGAIN, FROM WHAT WE LEARNED WITH THE, UM, THE AMPHITHEATER, WE DIDN'T HAVE THOSE. AND THEY'VE BEEN GREAT. I MEAN, IT'S NOT LIKE THEY HAVEN'T WORKED WITH US. UM, BUT WE DO HAVE A CONDITION IN HERE TO MAKE SURE THAT WE GET THE OFFSITE PARKING AGREEMENTS PRIOR TO GETTING A LAND DISTURBANCE PERMIT. SO WE HAVE THOSE. AND THE REASON FOR THAT TOO, IS WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE KNOW THOSE LOCATIONS AND THAT FIRE AND POLICE ARE OKAY WITH THAT, AND THAT THEY'VE, UM, THE DEVELOPER HAS OFF, YOU KNOW, PAYING OFF-DUTY OFFICERS TO MAN THOSE LOCATIONS. OKAY. THANK YOU COUNCILWOMAN REEVES, I WILL JUST ASK A FEW ITEMS. CAN Y'ALL HEAR ME? I HAVE NEVER HAD SOMEBODY TELL ME THEY COULD NOT HEAR ME. I'VE LIKE HAD THE OPPOSITE HAPPEN TO ME, UM, REGARDING THE NHL APPROVAL ON THE CONDITION NUMBER ONE. SO, SO MY CONCERN IS THAT WE DEFINE THAT A LITTLE BIT MORE CLOSELY. WHAT DOES THAT MEAN? FOR EXAMPLE, DID IT MEAN THERE IS AN OWNER IDENTIFIED AND THAT THAT OWNER HAS A SIGNED AGREEMENT WITH THE NHL TO PUT A FRANCHISE HERE IN IT AT THIS LOCATION? WE CAN'T SAY ALPHARETTA 'CAUSE IT'S ANOTHER 'CAUSE THE ALPHARETTA ADDRESSES AT HALON. BUT, UM, SO I, I WOULD LIKE SOME DEFINITION AROUND WHAT DOES THAT MEAN? I WOULD HATE TO HAVE THE NHL OR THE APPLICANT TELL US, HEY, NHLS PICKED Y'ALL'S SITE AND WE SAY, HEY, BRING THE BULLDOZER IN, LET'S ROCK AND ROLL ON THOSE APARTMENTS. AND, YOU KNOW, AND, AND MONEY DOESN'T MATERIALIZE OR, UM, VARIOUS, VARIOUS BUILDING BLOCKS THAT WILL MAKE UP WHAT THAT LOOKS LIKE FALL APART. AND I WOULD NOT WANT THAT TO HAPPEN. SO I WOULD LIKE FOR THERE TO BE JUST CLARITY ON THAT. SURE. AND, AND COUNCILWOMAN, I THINK THAT, UM, UH, DAVID DOVE COULD ANSWER THAT OR MAYBE TAKE TIME AND LOOK AT THAT. THAT WOULD, THAT WOULD BE SUPER HELPFUL. OKAY. MOVING RIGHT ALONG. UM, ON, I THINK, I THINK HE WAS GONNA ACTUALLY, OH, YOU, HE ALREADY HAS. YOU'RE READY TO GO NOW. THAT'S AWESOME. YOU MUST HAVE BEEN READY TO, I CAN HELP RESPOND TO THAT. UM, SO THE CONDITION CURRENTLY PROVIDES THAT SATISFACTORY, SATISFACTORY WRITTEN EVIDENCE BE PROVIDED TO THE CITY. SO OBVIOUSLY THERE'S A LOT OF DIFFERENT ELEMENTS THAT GO INTO THE CREATION OF A SPORTS FRANCHISE, BUT THAT SATISFACTORY WRITTEN EVIDENCE WOULD REQUIRE, UH, THE CITY TO AGREE TO THAT SATISFACTION. AND, AND THE, THE, UM, LAND DISTURBANCE PERMITS, THE COS ALL THE OTHER PERMITS THAT ARE TIED TO THAT CONDITION, UH, WOULD OBVIOUSLY HAVE TO BE GRANTED BY THE CITY BEFORE ANY ACTION COULD BE TAKEN ON THE SITE. AND THE APPLICANT UNDERSTANDS THAT IT WILL BE THE CITY COUNCIL'S JOB TO DETERMINE WHAT IS ACCEPTABLE PROOF OF THAT. CORRECT. OKAY. I JUST WANTED TO MAKE SURE OF THAT. ON THE OFFSITE PARKING, BEATING A DEAD HORSE. 'CAUSE THAT'S, I'M GOOD AT THAT. UM, 12,000, UM, 302 FOR AN EVENT IS AN AWFUL LOT MORE THAN WE ARE GIVING. AND I GUESS MY QUESTION IS, THEY'RE GETTING THE 20% REDUCTION FOR THE NORTH POINT AREA. AND THAT CONCERNS ME HERE BECAUSE OF COURSE I'M GOING, I, I'M A MOM, I GO ZERO TO DISASTER IN ABOUT 3.5 SECONDS. AND I THINK ABOUT AN EVENT AT AMERIS AND AN EVENT AT THE 2000 SEAT COMMUNITY ICE, AN EVENT AT THE 4,000 SEAT MUSIC HALL AND AN EVENT AT THE, UM, AT THE ARENA. AND THAT, THAT GIVES ME, THAT GIVES ME HEART PALPITATIONS BECAUSE I WOULD FEEL, I WOULD FEEL INCREDIBLY RESPONSIBLE FOR SETTING THIS UP. AND AS FAR AS OFFSITE PARKING GOES, I'M GONNA GO BACK TO MY RING ROAD, UM, SIDEWALK, WE ARE MISSING THE RING ROAD SIDEWALK, WHICH I HOPE THE DEVELOPER HEAR IS LOUD AND CLEAR. UM, [01:35:01] BUT AS YOU LOOK AT OFFSITE PARKING, PART OF WHAT THEY'RE INCLUDING IS PLACES LIKE TARGET AND PLACES LIKE THAT. AND, AND I DON'T KNOW THAT WE'VE GOT ADEQUATE SIDEWALKS TO GET PEOPLE SAFELY UP, NOT ONLY OVER TO THE ARENA, BUT OVER TO THE OTHER LOCATION. RIGHT. THAT THIS, THIS COOL, YOU KNOW, DEVELOPMENT IS GONNA HAVE. AND I THINK THAT, I THINK THAT THERE NEEDS TO BE SOMETHING THAT ADDRESSES, THERE NEEDS TO BE APPROPRIATE PUBLIC. YEAH. PEDESTRIAN WALKWAYS. UM, SO THAT'S, THAT'S WHY WE PUT CONDITION 33 33 SAYS PRIOR TO THE ISSUANCE OF THE LDP, PRELIMINARY, ONSITE AND OFFSITE PARKING AGREEMENTS SHALL BE SUBMITTED, REVIEWED AND APPROVED BY STAFF. SO WHEN, AND IT SAYS STAFF, THAT'S US WORKING WITH PUBLIC SAFETY, PUBLIC WORKS TO MAKE SURE THAT THESE ROUTES ARE ACCEPTABLE AND THAT THEY HAVE THE PEOPLE THEY NEED TO GET PEOPLE SAFELY ACROSS. I MEAN, THERE'S ALREADY, UM, THERE'S A, A REDUCTION IN PARKING ALLOWED, UH, BY RIGHT THROUGH NORTH POINT. THAT'S WHY THERE'S A BIG EXPENDITURE, YOU KNOW, TO THE CONNECTIONS TO THE GREENWAY WAS THAT 9 MILLION AND THEN ON THE 17TH, THE 17 MILLION FOR THE DESIGN BUILD. SO THERE'S ALREADY A 20% REDUCTION THAT'S ALLOWED BECAUSE OF ALL OF THESE INVESTMENTS AND THE HOPE TO SEE ADDITIONAL, UM, INVESTMENTS. BUT WE ALSO PUT CONDITIONS 'CAUSE 'CAUSE YOU'RE RIGHT, WE WANNA MAKE SURE WE SEE THAT AND WE APPROVE IT PRIOR TO THE LDP AND THERE'S MORE THAN JUST COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT THAT WOULD LOOK AT THOSE STUDIES. THANK YOU. AND THE LAST ONE, AND I'LL HAND OFF TO SOMEBODY ELSE, AT LEAST THAT LAST ONE FOR NOW, BACK TO STORMWATER, UM, STORMWATER PARK. SO, UM, COUNCILMAN DORITO WAS CORRECT SO THAT STORMWATER, SEE I THINK, I THINK OF STORM WATER WHEN MY NEIGHBORS AND PEOPLE THAT LIKE TEAR DOWN A HOUSE AND BUILD A BIG HOUSE. TELL ME, YOU KNOW, WHAT CITY MADE ME SPEND A HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS TO PUT A STORM WATER MANAGEMENT SYSTEM IN. IT NEEDS A BETTER NAME FOR SURE. I'M JUST SAYING. UM, AND, AND I KNOW THAT THAT'S SOMETHING WE TYPICALLY ASK ANYBODY TO DO, WHETHER THEY'RE BUILDING A HOUSE OR, OR WHETHER THEY'RE AN APPLICANT FOR A LARGER DEVELOPMENT. AND SO IT SEEMS LIKE USING IMPACT FEES FOR STORM WATER IS A LITTLE BACKWARDS. YEAH. WELL I'M GLAD YOU BROUGHT THAT UP. 'CAUSE MAYBE THAT IS CONFUSING. THEY'RE, THEY, THEY DON'T, THEY DON'T HAVE TO, THEY DON'T HAVE TO BUILD ANY STORMWATER. SO I'M CALLING IT THE STORMWATER PARK, BUT THEIR STORMWATER IS COMPLETE. UM, OUR CODES HAVE CHANGED SINCE THE NINETIES, SO THE ONLY THING THEY HAVE TO DO IS TREAT THAT, UH, FIRST, UM, HALF INCH OF RUNOFF FROM A RAINFALL. YOU CAN DO THAT WITH LANDSCAPING. THEY'VE GOT PLENTY OF LANDSCAPING THEY'RE ADDING, UM, IT'S ACTUALLY A BETTER STORM WATER, UM, SITUATION DEVELOPMENT IF THE NEW PLAN IS BUILT BECAUSE YOU'RE ADDING, YOU KNOW, 26 ACRES OF GREEN SPACE, WHICH DOESN'T EXIST. SO, UH, WE WERE CALLING IT POINT PARK, BUT IT'S REALLY TAKING SOMETHING THAT EXISTS. THEY'VE ALREADY BUILT IT AND TURNING IT INTO SOMETHING LIKE A CANOPY WALK OR SOMETHING THAT CAN ACTUALLY BE USED JUST LIKE THEY DID AT, UM, THE DIFFERENCE IS THOUGH, AT FOURTH WARD THEY DID HAVE TO CREATE THE STORM WATER AND THEN THEY TURNED IT INTO THE PARK. SO THIS EXISTS. SO JUST FOLLOWING UP ON THAT, I SAW THAT, UM, THERE'S A WILLINGNESS TO MAINTAIN THE STORMWATER PARK FOR A SHORT PERIOD OF TIME, BUT I THINK PROBABLY OUR PARKS AND REC DIRECTOR JUST HAS HEART PALPITATIONS HIMSELF AS HE LOOKS AT LIKE MORE, UM, PARK, UM, TO DEAL WITH AND, AND TO MAINTAIN FIVE, FIVE YEARS IS OKAY. BUT I MEAN, IT, IT, IT CONCERNS ME THAT WE ARE ADDING BANDWIDTH TO A DEPARTMENT THAT IS ALREADY ABSORBED ALL THE MAINTENANCE OF THE ALPHA LOOP AND THE GREENWAY AND ALL OF OUR LOVELY PARKS FROM OUR PARK BOND. AND I AM CONCERNED THAT THE KIND OF INCREASE IN SCOPE THAT SURE AND, AND BANDWIDTH AND PEOPLE THAT WE'LL NEED, WE WON'T HAVE THE MONEY FOR BECAUSE THIS IS IN A TAD. AND SO THAT MONEY'S ALL GONNA GET FOCUSED THERE. YEAH. SO THIS COULD IT, YOU KNOW, IF IT'S COUNCIL'S WISH YOU COULD REMOVE THE CONDITION AND THEY WOULD NOT MAKE ANY IMPROVEMENTS TO THE STORMWATER PARK. THEY MEET THEIR REQUIREMENTS ON SITE WITHOUT HAVING TO GIVE IMPACT FEES. AND THE REASON IT WOULD ONLY BE, UM, WHERE THEY MAINTAIN IT FOR FIVE YEARS IS BECAUSE THEY DON'T OWN ALL OF IT. YOU KNOW, RIGHT NOW IT WOULD JUST BE NOT A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE GONNA GO USE IT EXCEPT FOR PEOPLE THAT ARE AT THAT PARK, THE PUBLIC YOU WON'T SEE THAT MUCH, UM, USING IT. BUT ONCE IT BECOMES THIS LARGER 14 ACRE PARK, IT'S GONNA BE A DRAW. VERY SIMILAR. LIKE, UH, LAKEVIEW, WE GAVE IMPACT FEE CREDITS GO AROUND THE LAKE, UM, THE NOR UH, STORMWATER PARK AT THOMPSON STREET. IT DOES TAKE A WHILE FOR CONNECTIONS TO HAPPEN FOR PEOPLE TO USE IT, BUT YOU CAN SEE IT'S A MUCH BIGGER PARK IF YOU KIND OF GO THROUGH THE OUTLINE. APPLICANT DOESN'T OWN ALL [01:40:01] THAT LAND. SO THAT'S, THAT'S THE REASON COUNCILMAN HIES, UH, DIRECTOR COOK, WHILE YOU HAVE THAT, UH, SLIDE UP, UH, IF I UNDERSTAND CORRECTLY, UH, THIS IS ONE OF THE AMENITIES AND WE'RE NOT GIVING IMPACT FEES. THEY QUALIFY FOR IMPACT FEES IS THAT THEY QUALIFY BECAUSE IT'S, IT WAS ALWAYS, IT WAS SHOWN IN THE CREATIVE PLACEMAKING PLAN, UM, THE LCI, UM, THE ALPHA LINK PROJECT, THAT THIS WAS THE MAIN PARK DRAW FOR THE ENTIRE NORTH POINT AREA OVER TIME. SO QUALIFYING FOR IMPACT FEES, THEY CAN ROLL IT BACK INTO THEIR OWN PROJECT WHERE IT CAN GO INTO THE SILO OF, OF CITY IMPACT FEES. BUT WE DON'T GIVE THEM, THEY QUALIFY FOR THEM. IS THAT CORRECT? THAT'S IT'S IMPACT FEE CREDITS. CORRECT? CORRECT. CORRECT. THEY WOULD PAY THOSE, UM, ALL OF THE ALPHA LOOP, WELL THE MAJORITY OF THE ALPHA LOOP, UM, THE SECTION, THE ONE MILE SECTION FROM DOWNTOWN OVER TO AVALON, IMPACT FEE CREDITS TO DEVELOPERS, THEY TYPICALLY BUILD IT A LOT CHEAPER. WELL, NOT TYPICALLY ALWAYS 'CAUSE PUBLIC WORKS CHECKS TO MAKE SURE, UM, OR IT'S NOT A DEAL FOR THE CITY. AND, UH, LAST THING, IF YOU WOULD PUT UP CONDITION NUMBER ONE ON THE SCREEN AGAIN PLEASE. UH, I MADE NO BONES ABOUT IT. THIS IS SORT OF A THRESHOLD ISSUE FOR ME AND, UH, UH, MIGHT HAVE HAD SOMETHING TO DO WITH, UH, UH, THIS BEING SATISFACTORY, AT LEAST FROM MY POINT OF VIEW ON BEHALF OF THE CITY. IT WAS SUGGESTED, UH, UH, AND LEFT OUT THERE THAT THERE MIGHT BE SOME CONFUSION REGARDING THE APPLICATION OF CONDITION ONE AND THE FOLLOWING 74, UH, CONDITIONS. BUT AS WRITTEN, DO YOU HAVE ANY CONCERN IF THERE'S ANY CONFUSION SPECIFICALLY WHERE IT ENDS? UH, AND IT SAYS, UH, IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS LISTED TWO THROUGH 74, WHICH CONDITIONS SHALL BE SUBJECT TO THE CONDITIONS SET FORTH HEREIN? EVERY CONDITION AFTER NUMBER ONE IS SUBJECT TO CONDITION NUMBER ONE, CORRECT? CORRECT. AND, UH, JUST SO THE PUBLIC IS CLEAR, UH, IT WAS SUGGESTED THAT THERE MIGHT BE SOME CONFUSION BETWEEN NUMBER ONE AND THE SUBSEQUENT UH, CONDITIONS. DOES STAFF THINK THERE'S ANY CONFUSION? NO. OKAY. DOES COUNSEL THINK THERE'S ANY CONFUSION? NO. THANK YOU. DIRECTOR COOK. I HAVE ONE QUESTION FOR YOU. 'CAUSE AS WE WERE SEARCHING THE HISTORY OF THE COUSIN'S WEST SIDE PLAN, I REMEMBER SEEING A MAP, UM, IT SHOWED ALL THE HIGH BUILDINGS THAT WERE APPROVED IN IN THAT TIME AND IN THAT ZONING DECISION. AND I REMEMBER SEEING ON THERE THAT THERE WERE ACTUALLY PLANS BRING HEAVY RAIL TRAILS FOR MARTA UP TO THIS SITE. IS THAT CORRECT? UH, THAT'S CORRECT. THAT WAS IN THE 2003. 2003. OKAY. IT WAS IN THE 2003 COUSINS WEST SIDE. DO YOU MIND SHOWING THAT FOR PHOTO? YEAH, WE'RE GONNA, WE'LL HAVE TO BLOW IT UP A LITTLE THERE. IT'S COMING INTO, SO IF MICHAEL CAN POINT, POINT TO WHERE THE, THE RAIL AND SHOW WHERE NORTH POINT MALL IS LOCATED NOW, UM, OF COURSE THIS IS, THIS IS PRETTY, SO THAT WAS A HEAVY RAIL STATION RIGHT THERE ABOVE WHERE YOUR PIN IS? YES. OKAY. AND, AND IF I REMEMBER RIGHT, IT CUT ACROSS 400 FROM THE MALL PAD. IS THAT CORRECT? UM, THAT'S CORRECT. I'M NOT CONFUSED ABOUT THAT. OH NO, I'M SORRY. ON THIS PARTICULAR PLAN, IT WAS JUST THE STATION. THEY DIDN'T, THEY HADN'T PLANNED YET FOR A PEDESTRIAN BRIDGE OVER 400. SEE, AND I REMEMBER WHEN WE WERE LOOKING AT THAT BEFORE, AT ONE POINT, IT, IT SHOWED IT EXTENDING FURTHER NORTH FROM THAT SIDE WHERE ENDED UP BEING THE METLIFE OR WHATEVER IT WAS IN THAT ITERATION. UH, YEAH, I MEAN, AND THIS WAS ABSOLUTELY, YOU KNOW, THAT 2003 WHERE THE AMPHITHEATER, IT'S PART OF THAT MASTER PLAN. THIS WAS 15. YEAH. I JUST WANTED THE PEOPLE IN THE AUDIENCE TO UNDERSTAND THAT WHEN THIS WAS APPROVED, THE COUNCIL MEMBERS, THE MAYORS AND THE COMMUNITY LEADERS WHO ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR THIS ZONING, ACTUALLY WERE TRYING TO BRING MARTA TRAINS YES. TO THIS PROPERTY AND EXTEND IT TO WINDWARD PARKWAY FOR WHERE THE PARK AND RIDE WAS. CORRECT. THAT'S MY UNDERSTANDING. I JUST WANTED TO MAKE SURE PEOPLE WERE CLEAR ON THIS. 'CAUSE I, I'VE GOTTEN A LOT OF COMPLAINTS ABOUT PEOPLE THINKING THAT THIS WAS, YOU KNOW, ALWAYS A QUAINT LITTLE TOWN AND THERE ARE BEAUTIFUL AREAS OF ALPHARETTA, BUT THERE WAS A REALLY DEDICATED GROUP OF [01:45:01] ELECTED OFFICIALS BACK THEN THAT WERE TRYING TO TURN THIS INTO THE NEXT BUCKHEAD. AND, AND SO THE FACT THAT WE'RE BEING ABLE TO REMOVE SOME OF THOSE THINGS THAT WERE GRANTED BACK AT 2003, I THINK IS A POSITIVE THING. COUNCILMAN REEVES, I'VE LIVED HERE SINCE 89 AND I REMEMBER THOSE ROCKY DAYS AND I REMEMBER ALL THOSE ELECTED OFFICIALS WHO THOUGHT THAT WAS A GRAND IDEA. UM, IT WAS ABOUT AS CONTROVERSIAL A THING AS YOU COULD POSSIBLY IMAGINE. AND THEN THEY FOUND OUT IT WAS SO EXPENSIVE TO CROSS. LIKE EVERY MILE EVERY FOOT WAS SO EXPENSIVE IN GETTING ACROSS THE CHATTAHOOCHEE WAS JUST ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE. AND I DO THINK THIS WAS A COMPROMISE. THE, THE ELT THEY CALL IT NOW WAS A COMPROMISE, BUT, UM, AND THAT IS WHERE THE ORIGINAL STATION WAS ON THE OTHER SIDE OF 400. UM, SO, SO YES, IT'S, IT'S COMING. AND THAT WAS ACTUALLY NEGOTIATED GOOD GRACIOUS, MAYBE 10 YEARS AGO NOW. LONG TIME. YEAH, LONG TIME. THE CHANGE BUS, THE MOVIE, PUTTING THE BUS STATION TO GO FROM RAIL TO BUS. I THINK THAT HAPPENED A LONG TIME AGO. COUNCILMAN DORITO. THANK YOU, MAYOR. UH, I NEED TO RESPOND TO MAYOR'S COMMENTS BECAUSE HE'S ALLUDING TO ME. I WAS ON THE CITY COUNCIL IN 2003 , AND I'M GONNA DEFEND MYSELF WHEN THAT HAPPENED. I JOINED THE COUNCIL IN 2001. ALL RIGHT. THAT WAS THE COUSIN'S WEST PLAN. I ADAMANTLY OPPOSED RAIL COMING UP TO ALPHARETTA. YOU COULD TAKE THAT TO THE BANK. I DUNNO HOW THAT VOTE WENT BECAUSE YOU'RE, YOU KNOW, IT'S COMING OUT TONIGHT AND IT'S, AND IT'S UNFORTUNATE THAT WE'RE FOCUSING ON, ON THE POLITICS OF THE PAST TO TRY TO IMPLY TO THE PUBLIC THAT WAS IN SOME SORT OF SITUATION TO APPROVE A RAIL COMING UP THROUGH ALPHARETTA. THAT IS A ROUTE, UH, AN OUTRIGHT MISSTATEMENT. I WON'T CALL IT A LIE. I'LL CALL IT A MISSTATEMENT. I WAS ON THE COUNCIL IN 2003. UH, UH, UH, KATHY, UH, I'M SORRY. UM, YOUR PREDECESSOR, UM, OH, DIANA, DIANE WHEELER. MARIE GARRETT BEFORE THAT IN THE 1991 PLAN, EVERYONE KNOWS THAT'S BEEN IN ALPHARETTA SINCE I'VE LIVED HERE FOR 30 SOMETHING YEARS, RIGHT. KNOWS MY POSITIONS ON THESE APPLICATIONS. I WOULD'VE NEVER SUPPORTED RAIL COMING UP THROUGH ALPHARETTA. AND I REMEMBER, AND I WON'T MENTION THE PERSON'S NAME, WHO WAS PUSHING IT WITH G DDOT OR, OR WITH, I'M SORRY, WITH, UM, THE, THE RAIL, THE TRANSPORTATION, UH, GEORGIA TRANSPORTATION. WE WERE OPPOSED TO IT. AND, AND MISS COUNCILMAN REEVES WRIGHT, THERE WAS TREMENDOUS OUTCRY AGAINST IT AT THE TIME. SO LET'S NOT MUDDY UP THE WATERS ON A VERY IMPORTANT MATTER TONIGHT. THAT'S BEFORE US. THAT HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH SOMETHING THAT HAPPENED 35 YEARS AGO. THERE'S NO OTHER QUESTIONS. WOULD THE APPLICANT LIKE TO COME FORWARD? GOOD EVENING, MAYOR COUNCIL MEMBERS. I'M JULIE SELLERS WITH DILLARD SELLERS, 1776 IN ATLANTA, AND IT'S A PLEASURE TO BE HERE TONIGHT ON BEHALF OF NEW YORK LIFE, THE OWNER OF THE PROPERTY AS WELL AS JAMESTOWN. UM, BEFORE WE GET INTO THE DETAILS, JUST ONE BRIEF HOUSEKEEPING, I JUST WANNA MAKE SURE THAT I'M CLEAR ON PROCESS. IT SOUNDS LIKE, UM, THE TYPICAL TIME CONSTRAINTS HAVE BEEN, UM, EXTENDED. WE WERE PLANNING ON ASKING FOR THEM TO BE EXTENDED, UM, BUT I JUST WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT, THAT WE'RE ABIDING WITH THE REGULATIONS. I WOULD ANTICIPATE OUR PRESENTATION WOULD PROBABLY BE LESS, LESS THAN 20 MINUTES. UM, AND THEN WE WOULD REQUEST TIME FOR REBUTTAL, BUT I JUST WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE PROCEEDING PROPERLY. WELL, AND, AND I'D LIKE TO CHECK WITH OUR COUNCIL BECAUSE I, IN PREVIOUS HEARINGS WE'VE HAD, OUR COUNCIL ADVISED US THAT STATE LAW REQUIRES AN EQUAL TIME FOR THE PRESENTATION IN AN EQUAL TIME FOR PUBLIC COMMENT. SO I DON'T THINK, IF I'M CORRECT, THAT THE MOTION THAT WAS PASSED IS LEGAL BASED IN THE STATE OF GEORGIA. SO THE WAY THAT I UNDERSTOOD THE MOTION WAS THAT THE, [01:50:02] UH, THAT THE LIMITS WOULD BE LIFTED FOR ALL SPEAKERS MOVING FORWARD. THERE IS THE REQUIREMENT THAT THERE BE PARODY BETWEEN BOTH THE, UH, THE STATEMENTS IN SUPPORT AND THE STATEMENTS IN OPPOSITION. WE DON'T NECESSARILY HAVE A, UH, AN IDEA TONIGHT OF HOW MANY PUBLIC COMMENTS WE'RE GOING TO HAVE AND HOW LONG THAT PERIOD IS GOING TO GO. RIGHT. SO THE WAY TO, I THINK, PRACTICALLY RESOLVE THAT WE HAVE A TIMER THAT'S SET, UM, TO THE EXTENT THAT THERE'S COMMENTS IN OPPOSITION, THE BOUNCE CAN BE RESERVED BACK FOR REBUTTAL FROM THE APPLICANT AND THAT, THAT WOULD BALANCE THE TIME. SO THANK YOU. I JUST WANNA MAKE SURE WE DON'T END UP IN THE NEXT FEW DAYS GETTING A, A LAWSUIT SERVED TO THE CITY OF ALPHARETTA BECAUSE WE DIDN'T FOLLOW TECHNICAL PROCEDURES. SO, AND IN MY, MY UNDERSTANDING IS THAT THE TIME IS BEING KEPT. SO, AND CORRECT ME IF WE'RE BALANCE, THAT'S WHY YOU MAKE THE BIG BUCKS AND I JUST GET MAYOR'S PAY. OKAY, GREAT. WELL THANK YOU. I'M SORRY TO INTERRUPT. THANK YOU. BUT I DID WANT TO CLARIFY THAT TO MAKE SURE. OKAY, SO THANK YOU. WE APPRECIATE THAT AND ARE VERY EXCITED, UM, TO BE HERE TONIGHT. THIS IS A SIGNIFICANT APPLICATION. IT'S A SIGNIFICANT DECISION FOR THE CITY AND IT'S A PLEASURE TO BE HERE. UM, YOU HAD THE STATE GOAL IN THE CITY'S COMPREHENSIVE PLANS OVER THE DECADES, AND LIKE COUNCILMAN DORITO, I WENT BACK AND READ ALL THOSE OLD MEETING MINUTES AND, UM, ALL THESE COMPREHENSIVE PLANS AND THE LANGUAGE USED HAS BEEN TO PRESERVE NORTH POINT AS A REGIONAL DESTINATION. THAT IS HOW NORTH POINT WAS ORIGINALLY ENVISIONED AND DESIGNED. AND THE PLAN WE HAVE BEFORE YOU TONIGHT IS IN FACT THAT IT IS TO PRESERVE AND REIMAGINE THE NORTH POINT MALL PROPERTY AS A REGIONAL DESTINATION. IT'S AN OPPORTUNITY TO OPEN THE CITY'S DOOR TO A NATIONAL SPORTS FRANCHISE, BUT NOT JUST SPORTS. ALSO A PLACE FOR PEOPLE TO HAVE ENTERTAINMENT, TO HAVE PERFORMING ARTS, TO HAVE SHOPPING, EMPLOYMENT, PARKS AND TRAILS OFFICES, HOUSING AND HOSPITALITY. WE HAVE ASSEMBLED, NOT ME, UM, BUT THE PROPERTY OWNER HAS ASSEMBLED A BEST IN CLASS TEAM TO REALLY COME TO THE CITY WITH AN INCREDIBLE PLAN THAT HAS BEEN WELL THOUGHT OUT. JAMESTOWN IS A GLOBAL REAL ESTATE INVESTMENT AND MANAGEMENT COMPANY. HKS IS THE ARCHITECT. UM, I WAS REALLY, UM, SURPRISED QUITE FRANKLY AS I WAS READING UP TO RECOGNIZE HOW MANY AWARDS HKS HAS WON FOR SPORTS ADJACENT SPORTS ANCHORED MIXED USE. KIMLEY HORN IS THE ENGINEER AND TRAFFIC ENGINEER, AND WE HAVE MACHETE GROUP WHO IS A LEADING ADVISORY AND DEVELOPMENT FIRM FOR COMPLEX SPORTS ADJACENT MIXED USE DISTRICTS. WE HAVE OUR TEAM HERE AND WE ARE PREPARED AND READY TO ANSWER QUESTIONS THAT YOU MAY HAVE. I'M GONNA TURN IT OVER TO TIM PERRY. TIM IS THE MANAGING DIRECTOR AND CHIEF INVESTMENT OFFICER AT JAMESTOWN, AND HE'S GONNA WALK YOU THROUGH THE PLANS. AND THEN WE KNOW THAT WE HAVE FOLKS HERE IN SUPPORT. WE KNOW THAT THERE WERE SOME PEOPLE, UM, WHO, UM, WERE NOT ABLE TO COME, BUT DID EMAIL IN SOME COMMENT CARDS IN SUPPORT, AND THEN WE WOULD LIKE TO RESERVE TIME FOR REBUTTAL AT THE END. AND DURING THAT REBUTTAL TIME, I'M SURE THAT WE'LL HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO ADDRESS SOME OF THE QUESTIONS THAT WE JUST HEARD FROM COUNCIL MEMBERS AS WELL AS ANY QUESTIONS RAISED, UM, IN THE PUBLIC COMMENTS. SO I'M GONNA TURN IT OVER TO TIM AND THANK YOU. GOOD EVENING, MAYOR AND COUNCIL MEMBERS AND THANK YOU STAFF FOR THAT WONDERFUL PRESENTATION. IT SAVES US FROM, I MAKE SURE I TALK CLOSELY, SAVES US FROM, UH, REITERATING AND REHASHING SOME OF THE, THE DETAILS THAT WE'VE GONE OVER THE PAST FEW MONTHS, BUT REALLY FOUR YEARS. THE LAST FOUR YEARS HAVE BROUGHT US HERE SINCE MY FIRST INTERVIEW WITH THE SPORTS CONSULTANT THAT THE CITY HAD HIRED ABOUT THE FEASIBILITY OF PROFESSIONAL SPORTS AND NORTH IN, UH, IN ALPHARETTA IN NORTH FULTON COUNTY. UM, TONIGHT WE'RE BRINGING YOU FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION, THE BIGGEST ECONOMIC AND MAYBE SOCIAL INVESTMENT IN THE HISTORY OF ALPHARETTA NEW PROSPECT, WHICH YOU HAVE ON YOUR SEAL THERE BECAME ALPHARETTA IN 1858 AND AS RECENTLY AS 1980, WHICH ISN'T FAR [01:55:01] ALONG FOR ME, THERE WERE STILL ONLY 3000 PEOPLE. GEORGIA FOUR HUNDRED AND NINETEEN SEVENTY ONE ORIGINALLY, AND THEN EXPANDED IN 1993, MADE THIS FARM TOWN A COMMUTABLE SUBURB. AND STILL IN 1993 THERE WERE 13,000 RESIDENTS. IF YOU GO BACK TO THE MINUTES FROM THE ORIGINAL ZONING FOR NORTH POINT MALL, THE ANTICIPATED TRAFFIC WAS ABOUT 48,000 PEOPLE PER DAY. SO THAT'S FOUR TIMES THE POPULATION OF ALPHARETTA, ABOUT 16 MILLION PEOPLE A YEAR. THAT'S WHAT IT WAS DESIGNED FOR. THAT'S WHAT THE INFRASTRUCTURE IS THERE FOR TODAY. ALONG WITH ALL THE IMPROVEMENTS THAT ARE PLANNED OR ARE COMING OR ARE UNDERWAY, WE FIND OURSELVES TODAY IN A CONVERGENCE THAT IS, UM, SOME WAYS A HOUSE OF CARDS AND IN SOME WAYS AN ALIGNMENT OF STARS WHERE WE HAVE RELEVANT RETAIL EXPANSION, ROAD EXPANSION, TRAILS, TRAINS, AND, UH, PROFESSIONAL SPORTS EXPANSION. WE HAVE MIGRATION AND DEMOGRAPHIC EDUCATIONAL TRENDS THAT ARE NEW TO THIS MARKET. WE HAVE EVENT, LIVE EVENT, LIVE MUSIC OWNERSHIP GROWING. AND FOR THE NEXT 25 YEARS, WHETHER WE LIKE IT OR NOT, 1.5 MILLION PEOPLE ARE GONNA MOVE TO ATLANTA, 52% OF THAT NORTH AND OF THAT 25%, SO 25% MILLION EIGHT WILL MOVE NORTH OF FULTON COUNTY. WE'RE IN THE WAY OR WE ARE THE BENEF BENEFACTOR OF THIS MIGRATION AND THIS GROWTH IN ATLANTA. AND IT'S BECAUSE OF THE INVESTMENTS THAT ARE BEING MADE, NOT NECESSARILY ALL BY THE CITY, BETWEEN THE $2 BILLION FOR NORTH POINT MALL, UH, THE REAL ESTATE SIDE, A $2 BILLION FRANCHISE FEE, A BILLION AND A HALF FOR THE ARENA, EIGHT TO $10 BILLION OF PUBLIC PRIVATE PARTNERSHIP FUNDS, $400 MILLION OF MARTA EXPANSION. YOU ADD ALL OF IT UP AND THERE'S AROUND $15 BILLION OF INVESTMENT THAT IS COMING TO YOU, THAT IS COMING TO THIS AREA THAT IS CONVERGING AT ONE POINT IN TIME. AND THE CITY OF ALPHARETTA IS GONNA BE THE BENEFACTOR AS WELL AS NORTH FULTON, BUT YOU GOTTA DRIVE THROUGH HERE TO GET THERE. I'M SUPPOSED TO BE TURNING THESE, THERE YOU GO. I'LL GET THAT RIGHT. UM, SO FAST FORWARDING INTO 20 20, 50 7,000 RESIDENTS IN CALLED ALPHARETTA HOME. NOW 67 PROJECTED TO BE 72. UM, HOME VALUES HAVE DOUBLED IN THE PAST 10 YEARS. IT'S NO LONGER A GREENFIELD CITY, IT'S A REDEVELOPMENT CITY. AS SOMEONE TOLD ME ONCE, I THINK THEY'RE PROBABLY WATCHING OVER THE PAST. YOU SPEND THE FIRST 30 YEARS OF YOUR LIFE GROWING UP IN THE NEXT 30 YEARS, MATURING PERSONALLY, PROFESSIONALLY, FAMILIALLY, AND IN THE LAST 30 YEARS ENJOYING WHAT YOU'VE DONE. OUR ALPHARETTA GREW UP OVER THE PAST 30 YEARS SINCE NORTH POINT, UH, MALL OPENED, AND NOW WE HAVE TO MAKE GROWNUP DECISIONS FOR THE NEXT 30 YEARS. UH, LIKE GEORGIA 400 AND NORTH POINT, DID WE NOW BRING A VISION? WE NOW BRING A VISION FOR A NEW RELEVANCE, UM, IRONICALLY ALONGSIDE THE EXPANSION OF THE SAME ROAD BROUGHT PEOPLE HERE. I RAISED MY FAMILY HERE, MOVING UP HERE IN 2003 WHERE I'VE RIDDEN THE CAROUSEL, I'VE DINED AT AMERICAN GIRL, UH, SHOPPED FOR PROMS. AND, YOU KNOW, AND WORK AND FEEL THE BURDEN JUST AS ALL OF YOU DO, TO NOT ONLY LISTEN TO THE NOSTALGIC DREAMS OF WHAT WAS ONCE, WHAT ONCE WAS, BUT ALSO TO DO WHAT IS JUST AND FEEL JUST AND WHAT WE NEED TO DELIVER FOR ALPHARETTA OVER THE NEXT 30 YEARS. LET'S DO IT TOGETHER WITH GUSTO. NOTHING SAYS THAT. LIKE JOINING ONLY 152 OTHER CITIES IN THE UNITED STATES AND CANADA. CANADA WITH A PROFESSIONAL SPORTS FRANCHISE OF 25,000 CITIES IN THE US AND CANADA. THAT PUTS US IN THE TOP 0.8% OF CITIES. IT PUTS US IN THE TOP 0.1% OF TEAMS WITH, OF, UH, CITIES WITH NHL FRANCHISE. VERY RARE AND PUTS ALPHARETTA, NOT META, BUT ALPHARETTA INTO THE GLOBAL CONVERSATION ANYWHERE YOU GO. THIS UNIQUE SET OF CIRCUMSTANCES IS THE PROVI, IS WHAT PROVIDES THIS MASSIVE ANCHOR FOR THIS ONE OPPORTUNITY. WHILE WE HAVE THE STARS ALIGNED, THINK ABOUT OUR DEMOGRAPHICS. UH, THE DAYS OF SPORTS HAVE CHANGED. I REMEMBER GOING TO FULTON COUNTY STADIUM AND YOU COULD TAKE YOUR CHICK-FIL-A WITH YOU. NOW, OF COURSE YOU CAN'T DO THAT. BUT VIEWERSHIP FOR THE FIRST TIME AND ATTENDEES FOR THE FIRST TIME IS CONTINUING [02:00:01] TO DROP OVER THE LAST FIVE YEARS. MLB FOR INSTANCE, HAS DROPPED FROM AGE OF 51 TO 45. 40% OF ALL N HL FANS ARE UNDER 50. 80% OF ONLINE STREAMING IS BETWEEN 18 AND 34. FEMALE FANDOM IS UP 20%. AND STANLEY CUP 25, UM, VIEWERSHIP WAS UP 76% AND UP AGAIN IN 26. THIS WILL HOST ANOTHER ROUGHLY A HUNDRED EVENTS A YEAR. SO I WANT TO CLEAN SOME MIS UH, UH, I'M SORRY, KEEPING YOUR FAMILY HERE FOR CONCERTS AND WHETHER IT'S MONSTER JAM OR MONSTER ROCK. SO LET'S CLEAR UP SOME CONVERSATIONS AS WE GO THROUGH THE VARIOUS USES. THIS IS NOT AN OPERATING BURDEN ON THE CITY OF ALPHARETTA, IT IS NOT. THAT IS WHAT THE SPORTS TEAM OWNERSHIP BRINGS. THIS IS NOT AN IMPETUS FOR RAISING TAXES ON RESIDENCES. THE INCENTIVES THAT ARE, THAT ARE, UM, GIVEN OR GRANTED HERE ARE FUELED BY THE INCREMENTAL TAXES GENERATED BY THIS DEVELOPMENT ITSELF AS A, THE, UH, CITY OF ALPHARETTA, ACCORDING TO, UH, YOUR 25 REPORT HAS AROUND $37 MILLION OF PROPERTY TAX REVENUE. THIS BRINGS ALMOST THAT MUCH. AGAIN, THAT'S THAT RIGHT? 43 MILLION. THIS BRINGS ABOUT $30 MILLION TO THAT, ABOUT A $10 MILLION INCREMENT, UH, WITH THE CITY. UH, I'VE GOT THAT REPORT OVER HERE BEFORE YOU CAN, IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS. UM, THIS ISN'T NEW TRAFFIC. NORTH POINT MALLS INFRASTRUCTURE WAS BUILT FOR 16 AND A HALF MILLION PEOPLE. AND I WANNA FRAME THIS. AVALON HAS ABOUT 8 MILLION PEOPLE A YEAR. THERE ARE LESS THAN A HUNDRED. THERE ARE LESS THAN A MILLION PEOPLE A YEAR AT THE HIGHEST ATTENDANCE IN HL STADIUM. ANOTHER A HUNDRED, ANOTHER MILLION PEOPLE A YEAR ATTENDING EVENTS THAT AREN'T 20,000 SEATS. THEY'RE LIKE 13, RIGHT? NO ONE SITS BEHIND THE STAGE. THEN YOU ADD IN THE RETAIL, YOU ADD IN THE ADDITIONAL UNITS. WE ARE MILLIONS OF PEOPLE BELOW WHAT THIS INFRASTRUCTURE WAS BUILT FOR 33 YEARS AGO. AND STILL THE APPLICANT HAS AGREED TO ALL OF THE DRISS SUGGESTIONS, KIMBERLY HORN AND TRITON CITY STAFF, UH, SUGGESTIONS FOR IMPROVEMENTS WHICH EASED TRAFFIC FLOW AROUND THE PROPERTY, INCLUDING, AND THERE WAS A QUESTION ABOUT GETTING FURTHER OFF, UH, WORKING WITH THE DOT AND STATE ROUTE 400 FOR DEDICATED EXPRESS LANE TRANSIT ACCESS INTO AND OFF OF 400. IF YOU LIVE FURTHER AWAY NORTH THAN NORTH THAN MANSELL OR HAINES BRIDGE, THERE'S YOUR EXITS TO GET YOU OFF OF THE CITY STREETS. SO IF ONE ROAD IN ONE MALL COULD HAVE HAD THIS AFFECTED PAST, HERE'S WHAT THE NEXT 30 YEARS CAN DO. I'M SUPPOSED TO HIT WHERE EVERY DAY IS GAME DAY. AS YOU CAN TELL, WE HAVE, AS YOU CAN TELL, WE HAVE GRAND VISIONS AND SEEK TO WORK WITH YOU TO BRING THIS TO BEAR BEARING WHILE EVERYTHING IS LINED UP. [02:05:02] FEW ELEMENTS AS WE TALK THROUGH ACTIVE GREEN SPACE. THIS IS LIFE IN MOTION. WHAT IS TODAY? A CONCRETE JUNGLE WILL BE THE CONNECTIVITY AND FIBER FOR THE ALPHA LINK CONNECTING THE VARIOUS VILLAGES DOWNTOWN AND AVALON. NOT ALONG ENHANCED SIDEWALKS, BUT ALONG DEDICATED TRAILS AND ACCESS, INCLUDING THAT TO PUBLIC TRANSIT, BATCH TRANSPORTATION, UH, BRING INTO FRUITION THE INVESTMENT BY THE CITY AND ITS INTENTION. EXECUTION MEANS LISTENING. AND WE'VE LISTENED TO YOUR COMMENTS. WE'VE HEARD ABOUT, WE'VE HEARD THE E-BIKES AND THE PEDESTRIANS ADDING ENHANCED CROSSWALKS, ADDING THE LANDSCAPE BARRIERS, CREATING A DEDICATED SPACE SO THAT, UNLIKE AVALON, YOU COULD DON'T WALK OUT, WALK ACROSS THE SIDEWALK AND GET BY A BIKE, WHICH DOESN'T MAKE THAT MUCH SENSE BECAUSE THAT'S WHERE THE CARS ARE. YOU COULD ALSO GET HIT BY A CAR. UM, INCREASED. WE INCREASED THE WIDTH TO 15 FEET FROM 12 AND WE CREATED POROUS CONNECTIVITY THROUGH THE SITE SO THAT YOU DIDN'T HAVE TO GO AROUND IT SO THAT YOU DIDN'T HAVE TO GO DOWN TO ENCORE, TAKE GATEWAY. YOU WERE ABLE TO COME THROUGH THE SITE, HAVE ACCESS TO MULTIPLE TRAILHEAD, AND DO SO IN A WAY THAT WAS ENGAGING WITH THE, WITH THE, UH, WITH THE PEOPLE WE LISTENED TO. CONCERNS ABOUT SOCIAL IMPACT AND THE COMFORT OF THE EXPERIENCE, THE NOSTALGIA WITH THE CAROUSEL, PUBLIC SAFETY WITH THE SUBSTATION. AND EVERYONE TALKS ABOUT TAKEOVERS. SO NOTE PRIVATE PROPERTY, WE CAN ENFORCE SECURITY IN THE STREETS, WE CAN CLOSE IT, WE CAN CLOSE THE PROPERTY. THINGS THAT A CITY CANNOT EVEN DO. AND THAT IS HOW THE LAST 10 YEARS OF STEWARDSHIP AT AVALON HAVE GONE. AS GREAT PARTNERS WITH THE CITY. WE LISTEN TO PEOPLE SAY THE MALL IS DEAD. WE LOVE THE MALL, BUT IT'S SAD. AVALON KILLED THE MALL. ALL THE MALLS AND KILL AVALON. RETAIL IS HAVING ITS DAY RECORD EXPANSION, NOT JUST IN NUMBER OF LOCATIONS, BUT IN THE IMPACT OF THOSE LOCATIONS. AND RIGHT NOW THE MALL HAS VIBRANT, SUCCESSFUL TENANTS. THEY HAVEN'T LEFT BECAUSE THEY HAVE NOWHERE ELSE TO GO. BUT AT THE SAME TIME, WE'RE NOT GETTING NEW TENANTS COMING TO THE MARKET 'CAUSE THEY HAVE NOWHERE TO COME. THAT IS THE INCREASE IN THE RETAIL. THAT IS THE BRENT. WHAT IS BRINGING BACK THE NOSTALGIC AND THE BEAUTY OF WHAT NORTH POINT MALL ONCE WAS. IT'S A FLEETING MOMENT TO EMBRACE THE SUCCESS OF OUR TENANTS OFFICE. UH, WE HEAR, YOU KNOW, THE, WE LISTEN TO TENANTS SAYING CORPORATE, UH, CORPORATE LOCATIONS INSIDE MIXED USE DEVELOPMENTS. WE HEAR PEOPLE ABOUT, THERE'S ALREADY 25% VACANCY GO UP TO 400 SPINE AVALON'S VIRTUALLY FULL. THE OFFICE THAT WAS NOT BUT NOW IS VIRTUALLY FULL ACROSS THE STREET. HALCYON, VIRTUALLY FULL CONTINUUM HAS GONE FROM 53 TO 77% IN THE PAST YEAR. GEORGIA 400 CENTER AT HAINES BRIDGE ANNOUNCED 108,000 SQUARE FEET OF LEASES IN JUNE. THIS IS NOT A VACANT MARKET. THIS HAS SE THIS HAS AREAS OF VACANCY, BUT JUST LIKE YOU'VE SEEN THE HALO AT AVALON, THE HALO EXISTS AROUND NORTH BEND MALL AND THE VACANCY YOU SEE THERE, PARKING HAS IS MORE THAN AMPLE FOR TODAY'S USE IN THE WAY WE WORK. AND YOU HAVE TO KIND OF GO NO FURTHER I THINK THAN THE STUDY THE BATTERY, AND I'LL HIT THE HIGH POINTS HERE. 30% INCREASE IN LEASING. THERE WAS NOT A NEW OFFICE OVER AT CUMBERLAND BEFORE THAT. RENTS WENT UP BY 40% AND THE SUB-MARKET ABSORPTION WAS FOUR TIMES THE AVERAGE. THESE ARE TENANTS, COMCAST REGIONAL HEADQUARTERS, TRUIST, THEIR, UH, NATIONAL INVESTMENT BANK, JOHN PAPA, JOHN'S GAS, SOUTH TK. THESE ARE PEOPLE WHO DIDN'T HAVE A PLACE IN THE MARKET. AND WHILE THERE WILL BE A BUILDING FOR, WHILE THE BUILDING ON THE BOULEVARD, WE'LL SEE MULTI-TENANT BUILDINGS OF CREDIT. THE OTHER PADS ARE FOR YOU AND THEREFORE US. AND THEY'RE A PARTNERSHIP WHERE WE ARE ABLE TO WORK WITH THE STATE, WITH METRO ATLANTA CHAMBER, WITH GEORGIA ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT TO SIT TO NOT BRING TENANTS HERE THAT COULD GO ELSEWHERE IN THE MARKET. BUT TO BRING TENANTS HERE WHO DO NOT HAVE ANYWHERE ELSE TO GO IN THIS MARKET, I THINK JOBS ARE A GOOD THING. WHEN YOU START TALKING ABOUT POPULATION AND START TALKING ABOUT HEALTH OF A COMMUNITY. UH, FROM A HOSPITALITY, WE'VE STUDIED THIS EXTENSIVELY. WE LOOKED AT THE BATTERY, IT HAD MULTIPLE CONCEPTS. WE LOOKED AT THE STAR, TEXAS LIVE PATRIOT PLACE, THINGS THAT HAVE VERY CONSISTENT PROGRAMS FOR HOSPITALITY. AND WHILE WE, UH, TRIED TO WORK ON THAT AND, AND, AND PROVIDE WHAT WE, WHAT WE FELT WAS NECESSARY, WE ACTUALLY LISTENED TO YOUR CONCERNS. TAKING THREE HOTELS DOWN TO TWO, WE LISTENED TO YOUR CONCERNS ABOUT QUALITY. WE LISTENED TO THE CONCERNS ABOUT HYBRID HOTELS, WHICH WE REMOVED FROM THE PLAN AND REMOVING THUS IN THE PROCESS. WHAT SOME HAVE SAID WAS REALLY MULTIFAMILY, HIDING IN A HOTEL AND OTHERS HAVE SAID WAS AN EXTENDED STAY HIDING IN MULTIFAMILY. SOMETIMES YOU CAN'T WIN. SO IT'S NO LONGER THERE. AND THAT PLAN IS DESPITE WHAT WE SEE NATIONALLY [02:10:01] FROM CORPORATE TENANTS IN THEIR HOUSING NEEDS. RO RESIDENT RESIDENTIAL IS WHAT EVERYONE ELSE WANTS TO TALK ABOUT. AND I THINK YOU'VE PROBABLY HEARD PEOPLE COME UP HERE BEFORE AND HAVE DIFFERENT PIECES, BUT I'LL TELL YOU, ROADS AND SCHOOLS SUPPORT COMMUNITIES, THAT'S HOW YOU GET AROUND. IT'S HOW YOU GET TO YOUR JOB. AFFORDABLE SCHOOLS AND QUALITY EDUCATION LEADS TO AFFORDABLE, OR SHOULD I SAY HOUSING DEMAND AND GROWTH EDUCATION EQUALS OWNERSHIP AND INVESTMENT BY PEOPLE IN YOUR COMMUNITIES. AND I KNOW YOU'VE HAD PEOPLE STAND UP HERE AND I HAVE BEFORE AS WELL AND SAID, OH, YOU KNOW, APARTMENTS DON'T HAVE KIDS. THEY DON'T HAVE A LOT OF KIDS IN 'EM. THEY'RE NOT A STRAIN ON THE SCHOOLS. THEY'RE STILL NOT. BUT OUR PERSPECTIVE ALSO HAS TO CHANGE AVERAGE, FIRST TIME HOME BUYERS ARE 38 YEARS OLD. THE AVERAGE AGE IN ALPHARETTA SINCE 2000, HAS DROPPED FROM, HAS GONE FROM 33 TO 41. THE NUMBER OF 25 TO 34 YEAR OLDS AS A PERCENTAGE OF THE ALPHARETTA POPULATION HAS GONE FROM 19% TO 8%. THOSE ARE NOT BEING ACCEPTABLE. THE FIRST TIME HOME BUYERS IN OUR MARKET, THAT IS PUTTING PEOPLE FURTHER OUT. AND IT IS NOT HAVING, GIVING AN ATTRACTIVE ALTERNATIVE FOR OUR CITY TO GROW IN YOUTH, TO GROW IN TALENT, AND TO GROW IN SCHOOLS. BOOMERS AVERAGED AGE OF MARRIAGE WAS 23, GEN X, MYSELF, 26, MILLENNIALS 30. AND IT'S ONLY MOVING FURTHER THAT WAY. HERE'S THE IMPACT IT HAS ON SCHOOLS. FROM 22 THROUGH PROJECT TO 31, THERE'S A 12.7% DECLINE ON SCHOOLS. AND THESE ARE THE ONES NORTH OF THE CHATTAHOOCHEE RIVER. THESE ARE OUR SCHOOLS. 12% DECLINE, THIRTY THREE HUNDRED AND SEVENTY SIX STUDENTS. LET'S TAKE IT TO ELEMENTARY. THERE ARE 231 EXCESS CLASSROOMS IN NORTH FULTON COUNTY ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS. ARE WE GONNA SOLVE THAT BY GETTING OLDER OR IS WE GONNA SOLVE BY THAT? MAKE IT BY NOT OFFERING HOUSING OPTIONS THAT ARE ATTRACTIVE TO PEOPLE TO MOVE HERE? IT DOESN'T MEAN THEY'RE COMING HERE TO HAVE KIDS. IT MEANS THEY'RE COMING HERE TO PLANT A FLAG AND TO GROW ROOTS AND INVEST THEIR TIME AND PERSONALITY AND TALENTS IN A MARKET WITH THEIR JOBS AND THEIR DOLLARS. AND THEN THEY'RE GONNA BUY A HOME AND THEY'RE GONNA PUT DOWN ROOTS AND THEY'RE GONNA CREATE AND CONTINUE TO STEWARD THIS GREAT CITY THAT WE'VE, THAT WE'VE ALL LIVED IN. RESIDENTIAL IS HOME NORTH POINT ON A PER ACRE BASIS OR BREAK EVEN TO EVEN GET CLOSE TO ABSORBING THE COST OF THIS GRAND PLAN. WE HAD ORIGINALLY DISCUSSED MORE LIKE 2200 UNITS. WE WERE TOLD THAT THAT'S NOT GONNA WORK. WE LISTENED TO THE CITY'S RENTAL STUDY WHEN IT INFORMED OUR ANALYSIS OVER THE NEXT, THE ENTIRE PROJECT, WITHIN A HUNDRED PROJECTS OF YOUR OWN RECOMMENDATION, UNITS, WE LISTEN TO A DESIGN STYLE, WE'RE WILLING TO ACCEPT DRI CONDITIONS, UM, UH, US WILLING TO LISTEN TO SAFETY CONCERNS, CONNECTIVITY, PARKING THAT WE WILL NEST FOR RESIDENTS. UM, WE'RE WITHIN 108 UNITS OF WHAT THE CITY'S OWN RENTAL SURVEY CAME UP WITH. AND THE RESULT FROM THAT. AND ALL OF THIS IS AN APPLICATION THAT IS SUPPORTED BY STAFF, SUPPORTED BY PLANNING COMMISSION, REFLECTS VERY OWN ROCK SOLID VERIFICATION OF THE ASK AND THE MINIMUM REQUIRED FOR INVESTMENT IN THE TEAM. AND THE STEEL SPORTS ADJACENT DISTRICT IS A BIG, IS ALSO A BIG PART OF THIS WHERE EVERYTHING COMES TOGETHER. THIS IS A $2 BILLION TEAM, A BILLION AND A HALF DOLLAR ARENA TO ALIGN THAT PERFECTION. YOU TAKE EVERYTHING ELSE, PEOPLE MOVE HERE, SCHOOLS NEED MORE KIDS, WE CAN SAVE OUR MALL. AND THEN YOU LINE THAT UP WITH SOMETHING SO RARE, SO FLEETING AS PROFESSIONAL SPORTS. SPORTS EXPANSION, 98, 99. IT WAS NATIONAL IN, UH, ATLANTA, 2000 WAS COLUMBUS AND MINNESOTA, 2017 LAS VEGAS, SEATTLE 2021. IF THIS IS NOT SOMETHING THAT IS PURSUED TODAY OR IS THIS NOT SOMETHING THAT YOU WANT TODAY AND WANNA SUPPORT TODAY? IT'S NOT THAT IT WON'T BE AROUND IN A FEW MONTHS OR WITH A DEFERRAL, IT'S THAT IT WON'T BE AROUND POTENTIALLY EVER RELEGATING NORTH POINT TO SOMETHING SIMILAR TO THE 2022 APPLICATION TOWN HOMES AROUND A COMMERCIAL CORE. SO THE CONVERGENCE IS REAL. IF MARTA DOESN'T EXPAND AT 400 NOW WHILE IT'S UNDER CONSTRUCTION, IT WON'T HAPPEN. IF THE RAMPS FOR ACCESS OUTTA THE LUX EXPRESS LANES DON'T GET APPROVED AND FUNDED INTO THEM ALL NOW, IT WON'T HAPPEN. THE PEDESTRIAN BRIDGE AT MARTA IS SUPPOSED TO GO HALFWAY WHEN YOU LOOK AT THEIR PLANS, NOT ALL THE WAY ACROSS. IF YOU DON'T GET IT DONE WHILE WE HAVE THIS ECONOMIC ENGINE, WHILE THERE ARE FUNDS THERE, IT WON'T HAPPEN BABY EVER. [02:15:03] WE'VE CONCEDED TO TWO HOTELS, NOT THREE. WE'VE CONCEDED FROM 850 KEYS TO SIX 50. WE'VE REMOVED THE HYBRID HOTEL. WE REDUCED CONFERENCE CENTER SIZES TO KEEP THE COMPETITION WE'VE CREATED. WE'VE FUNDED MORE GREEN SPACE THAN WE'RE EVEN REQUIRED TO HAVE. WE INSISTED ON THE TRAIL COMING THROUGH THE PROPERTY TO MAKE SURE EVERYBODY GOT TO EXPERIENCE SOCIAL ACTIVITY IN THE CENTER. WE EXPANDED AND WIDENED THE AWFUL LOOP, REDUCED UNITS AND AGREED TO, UH, TAKE CARE OF THE STORMWATER PARK UNTIL SUCH TIME AS THE CITY WAS ABLE TO COMPLETE THEIRS. AND AT THE END, THE COMMUNITY BENEFITS. PROPERTY TAX BASE TODAY IS ABOUT SEVEN AND A HALF BILLION. GONNA ADD 2 BILLION TO IT. PROPERTY TAX REVENUE TODAY IS ABOUT 43 MILLION. SALES AND USE TAX IS 37 MILLION AND GROWING. THAT'S NOT MONEY THAT FUNDS ADDS. THAT'S PROPERTY TAX. TAXABLE VALUATION IN TODAY'S IS 51% COMMERCIAL, 49% RESIDENTIAL. AND WITH JUST THE ADDITION OF THIS PRODUCT, THIS PROJECT, WE CAN, WE WILL MOVE TO 61% ESTIMATED 61% COMMERCIAL, 39% RESIDENTIAL, AND REBALANCE THE CITY OF ALPHARETTA'S TAX BASE FOR THE NEXT 30 YEARS. TO REITERATE FOR CLARITY, 'CAUSE I HEARD IT THIS WEEKEND, THIS ISN'T A VOTE FOR HOCKEY, WHICH IS SLIGHTLY CORRECT. WE CAN'T AWARD A TEAM. THE BOARD OF GOVERNORS DOES THAT. BUT IN ORDER FOR THAT TO HAPPEN, THIS IS VERY MUCH A HOME FOR THE POTENTIAL HOME FOR THE POTENTIAL EXPANSION TEAM. VERY MUCH A VOTE FOR THE POTENTIAL HOME TEAM, THE ZONING APPLICATION, THE DENSITY, THE DEVELOPMENT PLAN, THE BUDGET. THESE ARE NOT FEASIBLE. WITHOUT THIS CONCURRENT DEMAND GENERATOR, IT IS NOT AN OPPORTUNITY FOR US TO DEVELOP THE ENTITLEMENTS WE DISCUSSED TONIGHT. WITHOUT SPORTS, IT IS AN OPTION FOR THE LEAGUE AND FOR AN OWNER TO CHOOSE ALPHARETTA AND FOR THE FUTURE OF ALPHARETTA, NOT JUST NORTH POINT. I HOPE WE ULTIMATELY HAVE THAT OPPORTUNITY. THANK YOU. NO, NO, NO. I DIDN'T HAVE TO USE MY MIC ON THAT ONE. SO WE'LL MOVE ON TO ANY QUESTIONS YOU HAVE FOR THE APPLICANT. SURE. WONDERFUL. COUNCILMAN HEIGHTS, COULD I PROVIDE ONE ONE POINT OF CLARITY TO THE PREVIOUS QUESTION ABOUT TIME? SURE. SO TO THE EXTENT THE APPLICANT HAS ALREADY USED 25 52 OF THEIR TIME, THAT WOULD BE ADDED TO ANY COMMENTS IN FAVOR THAT WOULD REPRESENT THE MINIMUM AMOUNT OF TIME FOR ANYONE IN OPPOSITION PRE TO THE EXTENT THAT THERE'S, WE COULD GO FURTHER BECAUSE THEY'LL UNDOUBTEDLY HAVE REBUTTAL, SO. RIGHT. OKAY. I WOULD ASSUME, DO WE HAVE ANY QUESTIONS? COUNCILMAN HYPES? YOU GOT THE FLOOR, UH, MS. SELLERS OR MR. PERRY? EITHER ONE. THERE'S OBVIOUSLY A MYRIAD OF FACETS TO THIS PROJECT, BUT I WANT TO, UH, ASK YOU TO ELABORATE ON ONE, ONE FACET, ONE ASPECT, AND THAT IS THE AMENITIES AND COMMUNITY BENEFITS THAT ARE PART OF THIS PROJECT. UH, I HAVE AS AN EXAMPLE, UH, COMMUNITY ICE PERFORMING ARTS VENUE, UH, THE PARK SPACE AS THREE OF THEM. YOU MAY THINK THERE'S MORE, BUT I'D LIKE YOU TO ELABORATE ON EACH OF THESE BECAUSE I WANT TO KNOW, UH, YOU KNOW, WHAT THIS PROJECT IS GOING TO DO FOR THE CITY IN ADDITION TO THE DOLLARS AND CENTS PART OF IT. YEAH, ABSOLUTELY. I'LL, I'LL TAKE A FIRST CRACK AT IT. UM, YOU KNOW, I THINK WHEN YOU LOOK AT THIS PIECE OF PROPERTY, IT'S ROUGHLY A HUNDRED ACRES. IT IS A SIGNIFICANT PIECE OF LAND IN THE CITY THAT RIGHT NOW IS SIGNIFICANTLY UNDERUTILIZED. IT IS A CONCRETE PARKING LOT AND A MALL, AND THE LAST REGIONAL MALL BUILT IN THE COUNTRY, I THINK WAS MANY, MANY YEARS AGO. SO I THINK THERE'S NO DISPUTE THAT SOMETHING NEEDS TO CHANGE. AND I THINK A FEW OF THE BENEFITS ARE, NUMBER ONE, THE ALPHA LOOP. THE ALPHA LOOP IS A SIGNIFICANT, UM, AMENITY IN THE CITY FOR ALL THE RESIDENTS. IT'S SOMETHING THAT THE CITY HAS PRIORITIZED AND HAS REALLY FOCUSED A LOT OF TIME, EFFORT, AND DOLLARS INTO BECAUSE IT [02:20:01] PROVIDES THE CONNECTIVITY. ALPHA HAS SO MANY DIFFERENT AREAS, AND THE ALPHA LOOP IS BRINGING ALL OF THOSE AREAS TOGETHER IN ADDITION TO BEING AN ALTERNATIVE TRANSPORTATION PATH FOR PEOPLE TO NOT NECESSARILY HAVE TO GET IN THEIR CAR IF THEY WANNA RIDE THEIR BIKE OR WALK. SO I THINK THE ALPHA LOOP IS ONE, AND CONNECTED TO THAT IS A SIGNIFICANT PARK SPACE. WE'VE GOT 28%, I'M GONNA SAY THAT NUMBER AGAIN, , BECAUSE IT'S HUGE. 28% OF THIS SITE IS OPEN SPACE. YOUR, YOUR PLAN SHOWS 27.25, BUT I WON'T QUIBBLE OVER THAT. THREE QUARTERS . UM, SO IT'S, YOU KNOW, I, I THINK CREATING PARKS AND, AND THAT'S PART OF WHAT MAKES THIS DISTRICT SPECIAL AND IT'S WHAT MAKES THE DISTRICT DIFFERENT THAN THE MALL. YOU KNOW, THE MALL BY NATURE, YOU HAD TO DRIVE THERE. THIS IS REALLY TAKING THE PROPERTY INTO THE NEXT SEVERAL DECADES BECAUSE IT IS CREATING A PLACE AND SPACE IN THE MANNER IN WHICH PEOPLE WANT TO ENJOY. SO I THINK THE THIRD IS, UM, PUBLIC AMENITIES THAT DON'T CURRENTLY EXIST IN THE CITY. WE DON'T CURRENTLY HAVE A PLACE IN THE CITY FOR LARGE GRADUATIONS, FOR BALLET RECITALS, FOR PERFORMING ARTS, OPERA, SYMPHONY, ALL OF THOSE THINGS. TO BE ABLE TO HAVE A PLACE FOR A QUALITY PERFORMANCE AND NOT HAVE TO TRAVEL TO A DIFFERENT CITY FOR, UH, CITY BUSINESSES, TO NOT HAVE TO RENT SPACE IN A DIFFERENT CITY, TO BE ABLE TO KEEP IT WITHIN THE CITY. I THINK THAT THAT'S SIGNIFICANT. YEAH, I THINK COMMUNITY ICE MAY BE NEXT, BUT ON, ON THE PERFORMING ARTS VENUE, YOU KNOW, DESCRIBE WHAT THE COMMITMENT IS, UH, FOR THE, THE MUSIC VENUE THAT IS BEING RUN OR OPERATED BY, UH, THE, THE OWNER OF THE PROPERTY VERSUS THE COMMITMENT BY YOU AS APPLICANT OF WHAT THAT VENUE COULD BE USED OR WILL BE USED FOR, FOR THE BENEFIT OF ALPHARETTA. I'M LOOKING, I'M LOOKING FOR SOME ELABORATION ON WHAT YOU ALL ARE WILLING TO DO, UH, TO GIVE BACK TO OUR COMMUNITY. AND, AND LET'S JUST FOCUS ON THE PERFORMING ARTS VENUE AND THEN THE COMMUNITY ICE. I'M, I'M CURIOUS ABOUT THIS AND, AND I WANT TO HEAR ON A RECORDED AUDIO WHERE YOU STAND ON THIS SO I CAN GO PLAY IT BACK IF IT DOESN'T PAN OUT THAT WAY. FAIR. UM, I THINK THAT PART OF THE, A CITY IS, IT MATURES ITSELF, DEVELOPS A, AN APPRECIATION FOR THE ARTS EVEN MORE PROFOUNDLY THAN IT DOES DURING THE GAME DAY YEARS. TAKE THE OTHER SIDE OF THAT, THE COST OF, UH, PRODUCTION FOR WHATEVER SHOW COST OF THE FACILITIES MAKES IT ALMOST INHIBITIVE TO BUILD ANYTHING TODAY THAT IS A SINGLE PURPOSE. YOU HAVE TO FIND WAYS TO AMORTIZE THE INVESTMENT, REGARDLESS OF WHETHER IT'S PUBLIC OR PRIVATE, AS Y'ALL KNOW, OVER MANY EVENTS AND AS MUCH IMPACT, MAYBE TICKETED IMPACT, BUT AS MUCH COMMUNITY BENEFIT AS IT CAN HAVE. UM, MY, MY VISION AND, UH, IF I STAY IN THIS, UH, IS THAT THIS ISN'T A, A LEASE TO LIVE NATION TO HAVE, HAVE CONCERTS AS THEY COME THROUGH TOWN. ALTHOUGH WE WOULD LOVE TO WORK WITH LIVE NATION, IT'S NOTHING AGAINST THEM. UM, THIS IS A STATE, STATE-OF-THE-ART MULTI-USE PERFORMANCE CENTER FOR 2000, 4,000 TO 6,000 WITH, UH, WE'RE ACTUALLY GONNA GO TOUR ONE NEXT WEEK IN DENVER. UM, I'M GOING NEXT WEEK. UH, THAT CAN BE USED FOR ALL SORTS OF D AND STILL GIVE YOU THE INTIMACY. THERE ARE A LOT OF DIFFERENT, I THINK, APPROACHES AND WE HAVEN'T, I MEAN, WE'VE NOT ENGAGED AN ARCHITECT YET IN PERFORMING ARTS, BUT IT'S SOMETHING THAT'S ANOTHER DEMAND GENERATOR. SO IF IT'S NOT ALL GAME, IT'S NOT ALL DINOSAURS OR MONSTER JAM, IT'S ALSO, UM, PLACE TO HAVE DINNER, UH, WITH A GROUP OF FRIENDS BEFORE YOU'RE GOING TO A CONCERT OR SYMPHONY OR A PLAY. AND TO PROVIDE, YOU KNOW, A MIX OF, UH, DIFFERENT SPACES IN THE CITY OF ALPHARETTA. UM, AS JULIE SAID, LIKE I HAD ONE KID, ONE KID, UH, WHO GRADUATED HIGH SCHOOL, UH, SORT OF DURING COVID. WE DID THAT AT AMERIS BANK. IT'S HOT IN MAY. VERY HOT. UH, THE NEXT ONE WE DID THOUGH IN GWINNETT. AND THEN I THINK ALL THE, UM, SUBSEQUENT ONES HAVE BEEN IN GWINNETT ARENA. WHAT A SHAME. I DON'T HAVE MEMORIES OF GWINNETT ARENA. I DON'T LIVE OVER THERE. I HAVE MEMORIES OF COMING TO NORTH POINT MALL. SO WHAT A GREAT WAY TO COME AND STILL BE PART OF IT AND STACK THOSE DIFFERENT DEMAND GENERATORS, EVEN FOR THOSE WHO WANNA WALK, RIGHT? OR TAKE THEIR BIKE, YOU KNOW, AND WANT [02:25:01] TO GO OUT FOR THE EVENING OF THE WEATHERS. NICE. SO THERE'S TREMENDOUS INTEREST, YOU KNOW, BY OUR COMMUNITY IN THIS PROJECT AND, AND ALL THE MANY DIFFERENT FACETS. BUT AS AN EXAMPLE, JUST TO MAYBE PAINT A PICTURE, I, I, I'M FAMILIAR WITH ONE OUT IN DENVER, UH, THE MISSION BALLROOM AND PEOPLE CAN, YOU KNOW, GOOGLE SEARCH THE MISSION BALLROOM, BUT I MEAN, IT COULD BE A, A 4,000 SEAT VENUE OR IT COULD BE A MORE INTIMATE 2000 SEAT VENUE, WHICH MIGHT BE FACILITATE FOR LOCAL THEATER, LOCAL SYMPHONY, THINGS OF THAT NATURE AS A GIVE BACK TO THE COMMUNITY RIGHT THERE OVER AT NORTH POINT AS A POSSIBILITY. IS THAT RIGHT? THAT'S THAT'S WHAT THAT THAT'S WHAT, THAT'S RIGHT. SO IT DIDN'T SAY MUSIC VENUE, IT SAID MUSIC VENUE SLASH PERFORMING ARTS VENUE. AND, AND I TAKE THAT VERY, VERY SERIOUSLY. AND SO I JUST, YOU KNOW, WANTED TO GO THERE AND NOW EXPLAIN THE COMMUNITY ICE AND HOW YOU SEE THE COMMUNITY ICE. UH, AND FOR THOSE WHO DON'T KNOW WHAT COMMUNITY ICE IS, UH, THEY CAN, IT CAN BE POINTED OUT ON THE PLANS, BUT ELABORATE, PLEASE. UH, IT'S REALLY A, UH, I MEAN, IT'S, IT'S, YEAH, IT'S, YEAH, I THINK, YOU KNOW, I THINK THINKING ABOUT IT, UM, THE, THE TERM COMMUNITY ICE, UM, BUT IT, IT'S NOT LIMITED TO JUST ICE. SO IT IS A, YOU KNOW, IT COULD HOST, UM, VOLLEYBALL TOURNAMENTS, DIFFERENT TYPES OF YOUTH SPORTS, A VARIETY OF DIFFERENT THINGS IN ADDITION TO ICE, YOU KNOW. AND SO WE WOULD CERTAINLY ANTICIPATE AND BE EXCITED ABOUT, UM, THE INTEREST IN HAVING MORE PEOPLE PLAYING ICE HOCKEY IN ALL THE DIFFERENT TYPES OF ICE SPORTS THAT YOU CAN PLAY. BUT IN ADDITION TO THAT, IT'S NOT A SINGLE PURPOSE. SO IT WOULD BE A, UM, MULTIFUNCTIONAL OPPORTUNITY FOR THE COMMUNITY TO BE ABLE TO HAVE DIFFERENT TYPES OF EVENTS AND, AND A COMBINATION OF THE PRACTICE FACILITIES FOR THE POTENTIAL FRANCHISE EXPANSION WITH, UH, FOOD AND BEVERAGE OFFERINGS, SEATING FOR HIGH SCHOOL PLAYOFF GAMES, LEAGUE GAMES AT WHATEVER AGE. UM, GIVEN SOME OF THE OTHER EXAMPLES OF THIS ACROSS THE COUNTRY, MAYBE MOST REPRESENTATIVE BEING THE KRAKEN COMMUNITY ICE FACILITY IN, UH, UM, IN NORTHGATE, IT'S ACTIVE ABOUT 20 HOURS A DAY. YEAH, I THINK, I THINK YOU'RE, I DON'T KNOW HOW TO DO THAT. CAN WE USE THERE? IT'S, YEAH. AND THE LAYOUT OF THE SITE'S VERY INTENTIONAL AS WELL. COUNCILPERSON FOR ACCESS OFF OF ENCORE, OFF OF NORTHSIDE, OR COMING OFF OF HANS BRIDGE TO COME THROUGH THE SITE TO HAVE PARKING, A LARGE PARKING DECK AT THE TOP, PARKING THAT SAT, THAT SERVES CONVENIENCE FOR BOTH THE WHAT RECREATION THAT LOVE THAT PARKING DECK ALONG 400 AND RIGHT INTENTIONAL WOULD BE ALONG 400. THE SITE SITS BELOW 400, SO YOU WON'T SEE AS YOU DRIVE BY, YOU'LL ACTUALLY SEE NONE OF THE BUILDINGS ABOVE THE TREES, ANY OF THE BUILDINGS IN THE OFFICE. BUT THAT SERVES BOTH THE COMMUNITY ICE PRACTICE FACILITIES, SERVES THE PERFORMING ARTS, SERVES THE RETAIL, AND SERVES THE ARENA. THE, UM, MOVING AWAY FROM THE AMENITIES TO SOMETHING THAT'S DIFFERENT ABOUT THIS SPORTS ENTERTAINMENT COMPLEX THAN OTHERS. I HAVE, UH, LOOKED INTO IS EXPLAIN, I'LL, I'LL, I'LL TRY TO KEEP IT OPEN-ENDED. WHAT ARE THE, WHAT ARE THE IMPLICATIONS FOR THIS PROJECT OF HAVING TWO DEPARTMENT STORES AND HOW IS THAT SIMILAR OR DIFFERENT FROM ANY OTHER SPORTS ENTERTAINMENT COMPLEXES? WHAT'S THE VALUE ADDED? WHAT'S, WHAT'S THE DRAWBACKS? WHAT'S THE THINKING BEHIND TWO DEPARTMENT STORES, UH, IN THE MIX? UH, IT'S NOT JUST THE DEPARTMENT STORES, BUT ALL OF THE RETAIL AND LIKE I, UH, MENTIONED EARLIER IS VERY RELEVANT. UM, MANY OF THIS, ITS STORES PERFORM VERY WELL. AVALON TOOK SOME OF THOSE STORES, SOME OF THEM MOVED FURTHER UP, BUT FOR THE MOST PART, THE STORES THAT WERE, THAT ARE STILL BUSY AND STILL RELEVANT AND STILL PERFORM WELL, STILL WANT TO BE THERE. SO IT'S A, I'M A, IT'S ALMOST A BIT BEING SPOILED AS THE DEVELOPER IN THE SENSE THAT WE HAVE SOMETHING THAT'S PROBABLY 75% PRE-LEASE WITH TENANTS THAT ARE PERFORMING THAT CLEARLY RESONATE WITH THE COMMUNITY AND THE REST OF THAT SPACE. I'M TOTALLY MAKING UP THOSE RATIOS. IF THE REST OF THAT SPACE LEAVES IT OPEN FOR US TO ATTRACT CONCEPTS THAT THUS FAR HAVEN'T HAD ANYWHERE ELSE TO GO EITHER. 'CAUSE THEY DIDN'T LINE UP WITH THE MERCHANDISING OR NOT, BUT, BUT THE ANCHORS, [02:30:01] ALL THE ANCHORS PERFORM VERY WELL IN ALPHARETTA. UM, AND YOU KNOW, AGAIN, YOU LOOK, AND I WOULDN'T SAY THE, THE LACK OF COMPETITION, BUT THE LACK OF COMPETITION IN THIS SPACE. IT'S VERY UNIQUE, VERY UNIQUE, UM, TO HAVE SIGNIFICANT SOFT GOODS AS PART OF A SPORTS ANCHORED, UM, DEVELOPMENT. THERE ARE A COUPLE THAT ARE ANNOUNCED IN DALLAS WHERE YOU HAVE THE MAVS AND STARS THAT ARE REALLY, HAVE LOOKED AT FORMER MALLS AND KEEPING PART OF THAT PARKING AND KEEPING PART OF THAT RETAIL. BUT IT'S NOT SOMETHING THAT'S BEEN, BEEN DONE IN ANY REAL SCALE. MOST OF THE TIME IT'S A BRAND NEW BUILD. SOME OF THE BATTERY, IT'S VERY ENTERTAINMENT, F AND B FOCUSED. AND YOU REALLY HAVE TO, UM, BE A BIT MORE INTENTIONAL. IT'S A BIT MORE RISKY HOW YOU STACK THE DEMAND TO ENSURE THAT ALL THE TENANTS PERFORM AND THAT THEY HIT SALES THAT CAN AFFORD FOR THEM TO BE THERE. WE'RE ABLE TO DO THAT THROUGH COMMUNITY ICE THAT BRINGS, UM, PARENTS OR, UH, PEOPLE WHO ARE IN ADULT LEAGUES, WHATEVER, TO THE PROPERTY. WE'RE ABLE TO DO THE RETAIL. AND RETAIL IS NOT JUST A SIGNIFICANT PLACE TO PURCHASE, BUT FOR MANY, IT'S A SIGNIFICANT PLACE TO EXCHANGE OR RETURN. SO YOU CAN, YOU KNOW, IT'S NOT JUST ONE PURPOSE TRIPS. UM, AND THEN THE MIX OF THE RESTAURANTS, SOMETHING FOR GAME DAY, SOMETHING FOR DATE NIGHT, SOMETHING TO SUPPORT PERFORMING ARTS, SOMEWHERE TO GO WITH YOUR GRANDPARENTS AFTER YOU GO TO YOUR, UH, YOU KNOW, DAUGHTER OR GRANDDAUGHTER'S BALLET RECITAL THAT YOU DON'T HAVE TO GO TO, YOU KNOW, ANOTHER CITY FOR IT. IT ALL DOES WORK TOGETHER. AND THEN THE, AS YOU GET OFF OF THE MAIN STREET, YOU PIVOT TO SOCIAL. SO DAILY SERVICE USES, UM, YOU'RE GETTING YOUR HAIR CUT, GETTING NAILS DONE, GETTING GLASSES, DENTIST AND ALL OF THAT. JUST LIKE YOU SEE AT AVALON, WHERE WE'VE GOT TEMPUR-PEDIC, WE'VE GOT DAY WOODHOUSE DAY SPA, YOU'VE GOT, UH, CALLED PILATES, THOSE KIND OF USES. AND ORGANICALLY ALL OF THAT FUNCTIONS IN A PLACE THAT LIFTS ALL OF THOSE DIFFERENT ANTS BETWEEN THE ARENA, THE EVENTS, THE PERFORMING ARTS, THE ATTRACTIVENESS TO PEDESTRIANS, NOT JUST FOR EXERCISE, BUT FOR, YOU KNOW, PET AND MOBILITY, THE ICE, THE CINEMA, THE RETAIL. THIS IS, UH, IT'S, IT'S ONE OF A KIND. OKAY. WELL, TO FOCUS SPECIFICALLY ON THESE DEPARTMENT STORES, UM, UH, I ASK THESE QUESTIONS 'CAUSE UH, OF VARIOUS INPUTS I GET FROM THE PUBLIC AND, UH, YOU KNOW, I HEAR THESE, UH, UH, CONCERNS. SOME OF WHICH IS, WELL, THE MALL'S GOING TO GO AWAY AND IF I NEED TO SHOP AT A DEPARTMENT STORE, I HAVE TO GO DOWN TO PERIMETER. NOW ON THIS PLAN, IT LOOKS LIKE DILLARDS IS COMMITTED 'CAUSE THE NAME DILLARDS IS HERE. IS THERE, UH, WITHOUT NAMING WHO IT IS, IS THERE A COMMITMENT FOR WHERE IT SAYS RETAIL ANCHOR NEXT TO DILLARD'S? WILL THERE BE TWO DEPARTMENT STORES HERE THAT WILL GIVE OUR RESIDENTS AN OPTION TO HAVE DEPARTMENT STORE SHOPPING STILL REMAIN IN THEIR TOWN WITHOUT HAVING TO GO TO PERIMETER? YES. SO, UM, ALRIGHT. THANK YOU. I, I'M GONNA YIELD ANYMORE TO ANY MORE QUESTIONS OVER HERE. COUNCILMAN DORITO. THANK YOU, MAYOR. MOVE THIS OUTTA THE WAY. UM, I, I WANNA FOCUS ON THE NHL FOR A SECOND. UM, WHEN THIS PLAN CAME BEFORE THE CITY, AND I KNOW, UH, IT'S BEEN IN COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT FOR SOME TIME, YOU, YOU, YOU TALKED ABOUT THE, UM, YOU KNOW, THE, UM, REDUCTION IN CONFERENCE SPACE, A REDUCTION IN HOTELS FROM THREE TO TWO, SOME OTHER CHANGES THAT YOU MADE. UM, JUST FOR THE RECORD, I I, I'VE NOT EVEN KNOWN THAT THOSE PRESENTATIONS WERE MADE. OKAY. THE FIRST TIME I HEARD ABOUT THIS PROPOSAL AS, AS FAR AS THE DETAILS OF THE PROPOSAL WAS WHEN THE ATLANTA BUSY CHRONICLE POSTED THAT PICTURE WITH AN ARTICLE THAT YOU SHOWED HERE OF THE ARENA AND THE, ALL THE PICTURES. UH, I DIDN'T REALLY GET THE DETAILS OF THIS UNTIL THE PLANNING COMMISSION PACKET WAS PRESENTED, UH, TWO, TWO WEEKS AGO, 600 SOMETHING PAGES. SO I JUST WANNA, UM, POINT OUT THAT YOU'RE SAYING YOU MADE CONCESSIONS, BUT THIS IS THE FIRST I'M HEARING OF IT. OKAY. SO, SO, SO NOT A QUESTION, JUST A STATEMENT. 'CAUSE I I JUST WANT YOU TO KNOW WHERE I'M COMING FROM UP HERE. OKAY. I'M, I'M SORRY. BUT, BUT TYING BACK TO THE NHL, UM, THIS IS NOT ABOUT THE NHL, BUT IT WAS ALWAYS ABOUT THE NHL AS FAR AS THE PUBLIC PERCEPTION OF THE PRESENTATION UP UNTIL RECENT WEEKS. MY [02:35:01] PERSPECTIVE, MY OPINION, AND I'M ASK, I I WANT TO ASK YOU THE QUESTION AND, AND MR. PERRY, I THINK YOU STATED THIS IN YOUR PRESENTATION, YOU SAID THAT THE NHL IS CRITICAL, UH, I'M PARAPHRASING, I MAY BE MISQUOTING YOU, BUT IS CRITICAL TO THE PLAN THAT'S BEFORE US, OR SOMETHING ALONG THOSE LINES. YES. CAN, CAN YOU EXPLAIN THAT AND WHAT YOU MEAN BY THAT? ABSOLUTELY. I THINK THAT, UM, YOU KNOW, I, I DO, WELL, I'LL ANSWER YOUR QUESTION FIRST AND THEN I WOULD LIKE TO DO ONE FOLLOW UP. UM, I THINK THAT WHAT, YOU KNOW, LET LET YOU KNOW, ME SOMEWHAT, I'M A PRETTY STRAIGHT SHOOTER AND SO I'M JUST GONNA BE, YOU KNOW, DIRECT, WOULD NEW YORK LIFE LOVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO HAVE ALL OF THESE ENTITLEMENTS AND NOT HAVE A REQUIREMENT FOR AN ARENA SO THAT WE COULD GO AHEAD AND BUILD APARTMENTS AND BUILD OFFICE AND REPOSITION RETAIL? A HUNDRED PERCENT. DO WE KNOW THAT THAT HAS BEEN, THE FEEDBACK WE HAVE RECEIVED IS, THAT IS NOT WHAT ALPHARETTA CITY LEADERS ARE GOING TO APPROVE. WHAT WE HAVE HEARD CONSISTENTLY IS WE DON'T WANT ANOTHER AVALON, WE WANT SOMETHING DIFFERENT. AND SO I THINK THAT WHAT THE PROPERTY OWNER DID IS TAKE A ASSET THAT HAS SEVERELY DECREASED IN VALUE, NEEDS TO BE REPOSITIONED, IT IS ZONED FOR A SHOPPING MALL, WHICH HAS TO CHANGE 'CAUSE THERE'S NO REASONABLE ECONOMIC VALUE AND DELIVERED SOMETHING DIFFERENT. AND SO THE, THE DIFFERENCE IS THIS IS A SPORTS AND ENTERTAINMENT DISTRICT. SO THE HOCKEY ARENA IS A VERY KEY COMPONENT OF THIS OVERALL MIXTURE OF USES. AND THE BALANCE OF THOSE USES IS SOMETHING THAT THE TEAM SPENT A LOT OF TIME AND EFFORT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE WERE NOT COMING IN HERE ASKING FOR THE MOON AND HOPING TO MAYBE LAND, YOU KNOW, SOMEWHERE CLOSE TO THE HORIZON. SO I, I THINK THAT THE NHL PIECE OF IT, IF THE NHL DOES NOT AWARD A TEAM THAT CAN LOCATE IN THE CITY OF ALPHARETTA, THIS DEVELOPMENT DOES NOT HAPPEN. AND, AND, AND THAT HAS BEEN CLEAR FROM WHAT WE HAVE HEARD MM-HMM . UM, AND IT'S CLEAR IN THE CONDITION THAT THE CITY ATTORNEY HAS REVIEWED. AND SO THAT IS A VERY KEY COMPONENT OF IT. AND, AND I ABSOLUTELY AGREE WHAT YOU JUST SAID. AND I, I DON'T WANT TO KEEP DIRECT ANSWERS THIS QUESTIONS. I HAVE OTHERS. I SURE I'S, I, I WANNA TOUCH ON SOMETHING ELSE 'CAUSE I'M NOT SURE IF THIS WAS PART YOUR, IT'S STILL TYING TO THE NHL, BUT I WANNA JUST DO A FOLLOW UP. I MEAN, WHERE WE AT WITH THE NHL OR, OR, OR THE OWNER OF THE PROPERTY OR, OR YOU'RE THE APPLICANT. WHERE, WHERE ARE WE AT ON DISCUSSIONS WITH THE NHL WHERE WE ARE AT IN THE PROCESS? SURE. MY NAME'S DAVID CARLOCK. I'M THE MANAGING PARTNER FOR MACHETE GROUP. WE'RE WORKING WITH THE TEAM HERE ON THE PROJECT. WE SPECIALIZE IN YOU'RE THE SPORTS CONSULTANT, CORRECT. IN A MANNER SPEAKING. SURE. SO, UH, WE HAVE BEEN IN REGULAR CONTACT WITH THE NHL LEAGUE OFFICE, AS YOU MIGHT IMAGINE. WE WERE CAREFUL TO QUALIFY THEIR INTEREST BOTH IN ATLANTA, NORTH ATLANTA, SPECIFICALLY NORTHPORT MALL BEFORE ANY OF US REALLY SPUN UP TOO MUCH ON THIS PROJECT. SINCE YOU'RE THE EXPERT. YES, SIR. I'M GONNA ASK YOU A QUESTION FAR AWAY. MY RESEARCH SHOWED ME FOR THE SEATTLE KRATON, IT TOOK YEARS TO AWARD THAT TEAM TO SEATTLE. I'M TALKING YEARS. UM, RECENTLY WE SAW THE ANNOUNCEMENT THAT, UM, THE NHL DECIDED TO, THEY HAVEN'T AWARDED IT YET, BUT TO GO INTO DUE DILIGENCE WITH AN INVESTMENT GROUP IN HOUSTON FOR THE EXPANSION OF THE CLUB TO GET TO THAT POINT. IF I GO BY THE SCHEDULE, THAT'S PUBLIC RECORD THAT THE SEATTLE KRAKEN FOLLOWED. IT TOOK YEARS FOR THAT TEAM TO GET IN PLACE TO START THE NEGOTIATION PROCESS WITH THE NHL. THEY STILL HAVE A NUMBER OF YEARS TO GO THROUGH FOR THE DUE DILIGENCE, THE AGREEMENT, THE, THE THE TERM SHEET WITH THE INVESTOR, WHICH COULD TAKE UP TO A COUPLE OF YEARS TO PUT IN PLACE. 'CAUSE YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT IN, IN, AT LEAST BASED UPON PUBLIC INFORMATION, A THREE AND A HALF BILLION DOLLAR INVESTMENT IN THE EXPANSION TEAM IF THEY AWARDED TO HOUSTON BY THIS INVESTMENT TEAM. WHERE ARE WE AT IN THE PROCESS? ARE WE EVEN AT THE TABLE WITH THE NHL YET? WE, WE ARE, YES. AND WHAT DOES THAT MEAN? WHAT THAT MEANS IS THAT WE'RE WORKING CLOSELY WITH THE LEAGUE TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY ARE INTIMATELY FAMILIAR WITH THE PROGRESS THAT WE'RE MAKING HERE IN ALPHARETTA. WE'RE ALSO IN TOUCH WITH A NUMBER OF GROUPS THAT HAVE EXPRESSED, HAVE THEY EXPRESSED THAT ALPHARETTA IS ON THEIR RADAR TO BE POTENTIALLY THE, THE, THE CITY THAT THEY COULD SELECT FOR [02:40:01] AN EXPANSION? YES. WHAT ELSE HAVE THEY SAID OTHER THAN AL ALPHARETTA? DO THEY HAVE OTHER, THEY'RE, THEY'RE, THEY'RE GENERALLY BULLISH ON ATLANTA. THEY'RE SPECIFICALLY BULLISH ON NORTH POINT MALL AS A SITE FOR REASONS THAT I THINK HAVE BEEN, I DON'T WANNA BELABOR IT, BUT, UH, THIS IS A HIGHLY DESIRABLE LOCATION FOR THIS FACILITY. OKAY. SO BACK TO THE APPLICANT, MR. PERRY OR MS. SELLER, LET'S SAY YOU'RE IN DISCUSSIONS, YOU'RE AT THE TABLE. FROM MY UNDERSTANDING, IT'S JUST NOTHING SOLID. THEY HAVEN'T ANNOUNCED IT PUBLICLY, THEY HAVEN'T SAID, 'CAUSE FORSYTH COUNTY'S GOING AFTER 'EM AS WELL. RIGHT. UM, THAT WE ALL KNOW. I WANNA UNDERSTAND BECAUSE YOU, YOU REFERENCED THAT THIS PROJECT, THIS PROPOSAL, THIS SITE PLAN THAT YOU PRESENTED TO US IS, IS CRITICAL TO APPROVED TO BE ABLE TO SUSTAIN IF AN NHL TEAM COMES HERE, PARAPHRASING AGAIN. SO IF THIS PROCESS FELL RIGHT, I'M NOT SAYING IT'S GONNA BE THE SAME PROCESS AS SEATTLE KRAKEN. 'CAUSE WHEN YOU GET INTO ATTORNEYS INVOLVED AND A LOT OF MONEY FLYING AROUND, YOU KNOW IT'S GONNA TAKE TIME. AND, AND CONCURRENCY IN THE CONDITION IS TYING EVERYTHING TO THE APPROVAL OF THE NHL ANNOUNCING THAT THEY HAVE SELECTED ALPHARETTA TO COME TO, RIGHT? MM-HMM . WE COULD POSSIBLY BE LOOKING AT SIX TO 10 YEARS DOWN THE ROAD. SO THE, THE BEFORE WE CAN PUT A SHOVEL TO THE GROUND, THE CONDITION, UM, GIVES US FIVE YEARS. SO THIS, NO, NO, NOT THE CONDITION. I'M TALKING ABOUT THE ACTUAL NEGOTIATIONS. IF WE ARE EVEN SELECTED BY THE NHL, THE TIMELINE FOR THAT PROCESS THAT THEN OCCUR, THE DUE DILIGENCE, THE AGREEMENTS BETWEEN THE NHL AND THE, AND THE EQUITY PARTNER OR EQUITY PARTNERS OR THE INVESTMENT GROUP, WHOEVER, AND THE TERM SHEET NEGOTIATIONS AND THEN THE DUE DILIGENCE ON, ON, ON WHETHER THE, THE, THE NHL THAT'S GOTTA GO BEFORE THEIR BOARD OF GOVERNORS AT SOME POINT TO GO THROUGH ALL THAT AND DECIDE TO, AND THEN, THEN YOU GOTTA FILE THE, UH, THE, UH, AWARD APPLICATION. IF THEY SELECT ALPHARETTA, THEN AN AWARD APPLICATION. SO THEY HAVE TO REVIEW IT AND IT TAKES TIME. MY WHOLE POINT HERE NOT TO DRAG THIS OUT ANY FURTHER, IS I WANT THE PUBLIC TO UNDERSTAND THAT IF THIS APPROVED TONIGHT, AND LET'S SAY THAT THE NHL COMMISSIONER CALLS UP THE MAYOR TOMORROW AND SAY, HEY, WE'RE COMING TO ALPHARETTA. RIGHT? IT'S STILL GONNA TAKE YEARS BEFORE WE SEE THAT HAPPEN. AND SO I JUST, I POINT THAT OUT BECAUSE, AND I'D LOVE TO HEAR YOUR, YOUR, YOUR FEEDBACK IN THIS. THE DELAY IN, IN, IN, IN BUILDING OUT THIS PROJECT COULD, COULD CAUSE TWO THINGS. IT COULD CAUSE THE CURRENT OWNER OF THE PROPERTY TO FLIP IT IN SIX TO NINE MONTHS AFTER THEY GET APPROVAL. RIGHT. AND, AND IT'S MUCH MORE VALUABLE PROPERTY BECAUSE OF THE APPROVAL. I JUST WANNA MAKE SURE THAT IF THE COUNCIL'S GONNA APPROVE THIS TONIGHT, THAT THE RISK TO THE CITY IS MITIGATED, IF NOT ZERO. AND, AND, AND, AND I HAVEN'T GOTTEN THE EVIDENCE OF THAT YET. I, UM, I WANNA ANSWER YOUR QUESTION. I'M COMING AT IT FROM THE PERSPECTIVE OF THE RISK TO THE CITY IS WHAT THE CITY IS ALREADY EXPERIENCING WITH THE CURRENT CONDITION OF THE MALL THAT HAS DECREASED 40% IN THE LAST FIVE YEARS. THIS MALL IS, IT'S NOT DOING WELL AND THAT'S NOT GOOD FOR ANYONE INCLUDING THE CITY. AND SO WHERE WE ARE TONIGHT IS ASKING FOR THE CITY TO APPROVE A PLAN THAT WOULD SIGNIFY THAT THE DOORS ARE OPEN FOR A SPORTS AND ENTERTAINMENT DISTRICT ON THIS PROPERTY. UH, AND OUR HOPE IS THAT THAT DOES NOT TAKE FIVE YEARS, BUT NONE OF US HAVE THE CRYSTAL BALL TO BE ABLE TO GIVE GUARANTEE. MS, PLEASE UNDERSTAND. PLEASE DON UNDERSTAND ME. I'M NOT TRYING TO GIVE YOU A HARD TIME. I'M TRYING TO GET INFORMATION SURE. ON A SIGNIFICANT APPLICATION FOR THIS CITY SO I CAN MAKE THE RIGHT DECISION FOR OUR RESIDENTS. ABSOLUTELY. THAT'S ALL I'M TRYING TO DO. MY QUESTIONS. DOESN'T MEAN I'M GONNA VOTE AGAINST IT. MY QUESTIONS DOESN'T MEAN I'M GONNA VOTE FOR IT. I'M STILL LISTENING TO ALL THE DEBATE. BUT THESE ARE CRITICAL QUESTIONS I NEED TO GET ANSWERED TO INFORM ME ON HOW I MAY VOTE ON THIS THIS EVENING. THE NEXT QUESTION I'LL ASK YOU IS YOU TALK ABOUT, WELL, THE MALL ITSELF OKAY. HAS DONE ANY CONSIDERATION BECAUSE I WENT TO THE MALL THIS WEEKEND. IT'S PRETTY ACTIVE. IT'S PRETTY ACTIVE NOW. YEAH. THERE'S A LOT OF CLOSED UP, UH, STORES INSIDE. AND WHY IS THAT? WHY ARE WE SITTING IN, AS YOU POINTED OUT, MR. PERRY, ONE OF THE MOST ECONOMICALLY VIABLE AREAS OF THE COUNTRY, IF NOT THE REGION, WHERE A $15 BILLION INVESTMENTS GONNA BE MADE [02:45:01] AROUND OUR CITY. MOST OF IT ON GEORGIA 400 EXPANSION. RIGHT. AND WHY IS IT THAT OUR MALL IS GOING DOWNHILL? AND I WOULD SAY IT'S STILL SUCCESSFUL BECAUSE WE STILL HAVE THE, THE ANCHOR STORES THERE AND THEY'RE DOING GREAT BUSINESS AND, AND THERE'S PEOPLE IN AND OUTTA THERE. I GO IN OUT OF THERE ALL THE TIME. PEOPLE ARE IN AND OUT THERE. NOW, I'M NOT SAYING IT'S AT THE CAPACITY IT WAS YEARS AGO, MR. PERRY'S RIGHT? IT IS STARTING TO GO DOWNHILL. BUT WHY IS THAT? I, IS IT BECAUSE THE OWNER, I, I'VE GOT AN ANSWER FOR THAT ONE, . IS IT BECAUSE THE OWNER OF THE PROPERTY HAS FAILED TO EXTEND LEASES BECAUSE THEY'VE BEEN HEARING ABOUT THIS WALL BEING TORN DOWN AND REDEVELOPED FOR SEVERAL YEARS SO THAT THEY'RE STARTING TO POSITION SO THAT THEY'RE MAKING OVERCOM COMMITMENTS? NO, SIR. 'CAUSE IF I WAS AN INVESTOR QUESTION, YOU ASKED THE SAME QUESTION. I'M SORRY GENTLEMEN, COME ON. WELL, YOU ARE MAKING COMMENTS ON YOUR QUESTION, SO, ALRIGHT, I'M TRYING TO, SO ANYWAY, BUT LET ME, LET ME ASK THE MORE IMPORTANT QUESTION. OKAY. THE FINANCIAL IMPACT ON THE CITY. WHAT'S THE ASK OF ALPHARETTA'S RESIDENTS? IF THIS PRODUCT'S APPROVED, WHAT DO WE EXPECT TO BE ASKED FOR AS FAR AS OUR CONTRIBUTION TO THIS PROJECT? MAY I ANSWER YOUR MALL QUESTION? BECAUSE I THINK THAT IS A VERY IMPORTANT QUESTION AND I THINK THERE'S A REAL IMPORTANT DISTINGUISHING FACTOR BETWEEN NORTH POINT MALL AND SOME OF THE OTHER MALLS. AND WE'VE HEARD THIS IN SOME OF THE COMMUNITY MEETINGS. WELL, LOOK AT PERIMETER MALL. PERIMETER MALL IS, YOU KNOW, IT, IT'S GOING WELL. THEY HAVEN'T HAD TO TEAR THAT TO, YOU KNOW, WHAT PERIMETER MALL HAS THAT ALPHARETTA HAS NOT ALLOWED APARTMENTS. YOU LOOK AT, AND I'VE GOT A CHART HERE THAT I'M HAPPY TO SHOW YOU BECAUSE I WANTED TO KNOW PERSONALLY THE NUMBER OF APARTMENT UNITS WALKABLE TO PERIMETER MALL. AND IT FAR EXCEEDS THE NUMBER THAT WE'RE EVEN ASKING FOR HERE TODAY. AND WHAT DUNWOODY DID IS THEY APPROVED TWO HOTELS, THEY APPROVED SIGNIFICANT APARTMENTS, AND WHEN THE HIGH STREET PROJECT IS FINISHED, THEY'RE GONNA HAVE 3000 EXTRA RESIDENTIAL UNITS NEXT DOOR TO THAT MALL THAT GIVES THOSE RETAILERS INCENTIVE TO LOCATE THERE BECAUSE THEY'VE GOT SO MANY PEOPLE RIGHT THERE. YOU LOOK AT THE MAP OF ALPHARETTA AND IN THE COMP PLAN, IT VERY CLEARLY SHOWS YOU'VE GOT THE RESIDENTS THAT ARE A MILE AWAY FROM THE GEORGIA 400 CORRIDOR. SO THIS MALL HAS STRUGGLED. IT IS RECOGNIZED BY THE CITY THAT IT'S BEEN STRUGGLING. AND ANOTHER EXAMPLE IS PHIPPS MALL, THEY TORE DOWN A PORTION OF PHIPPS MALL AND BUILT A HOTEL. THEY ALSO ADDED APARTMENTS. AND SO THAT IS SOMETHING THAT HAS BEEN SUCCESSFUL WITH SOME MALLS AND I THINK ABSOLUTELY DIFFERENTIATES THE NORTH POINT POSITION FROM THESE OTHER MALLS THAT HAVE HAD SUCCESS. I I, SO AS FAR AS YOUR SECOND QUESTION ABOUT WHAT IN, YOU KNOW, I THINK YOU'RE PROBABLY GETTING OUT WHAT INCENTIVES ARE GOING TO BE REQUESTED. I AM CONFIDENT THAT THERE WILL BE SOME INCENTIVES THAT ARE REQUESTED, BUT THEY AREN'T REQUESTED AS PART OF THIS APPLICATION. SO THE DETAILS AND THE SCOPE OF WHAT THAT ENTAILS WOULD BE PART OF THAT ASK AT THAT TIME. NOT PART OF THIS APPLICATION. SO IS THE TAD THAT HAS BEEN PUT IN PLACE FOR 600 PLUS ACRES, BY THE WAY, COUNCILMAN DORITO, IF I COULD JUST PAUSE YOU HERE FOR A SECOND. YEAH. MR. ATTORNEY, I RECALL EARLIER WHEN YOU WERE PREPPING US FOR THIS DISCUSSION THAT THE FINANCIALS WERE NOT TO BE DISCUSSED AS PART OF THIS BECAUSE THIS IS A PROPERTY ZONING HEARING. SO CON UH, CONSISTENT WITH MS. SELLER'S POINT, UH, TO THE EXTENT THAT THERE IS ADDITIONAL INCENTIVES THAT WILL BE CONSIDERED BY THE COUNCIL SEPARATELY, UM, THE PURPOSE OF THIS HEARING IS TO, UH, MAKE A DETERMINATION AS IT RELATES TO THE REZONING OF THE PROPERTY. AND THAT STANDS INDEPENDENT OF ANY, UH, ADDITIONAL INCENTIVES THAT, THAT MAY IN THE FUTURE BE REQUESTED AND WOULD SUBSEQUENTLY HAVE TO BE APPROVED BY THE COUNCIL. BRING THAT UP. 'CAUSE ONCE AGAIN, THIS IS A CRITICAL THING WHERE A LOT OF MONEY'S AT STAKE AND IF WE DON'T HANDLE OUR BUSINESS PROPERLY, WE COULD END UP WITH A LAWSUIT. I APPRECIATE THAT MAYOR, AND I APPRECIATE MR. LOVE YOUR COMMENTS, BUT I WILL, HE, HE IS WHERE I NEED YOUR GUIDANCE, A $2 BILLION PLUS INVESTMENT IN THE CITY BY THIS APPLICANT IF THIS THING GETS APPROVED AND THE NHL COMES HERE, RIGHT? A LOT OF IFS IF I CAN'T ASK THE QUESTION ON WHAT THE ASK OF THE CITY IS, 'CAUSE THEY, THEY MUST HAVE PERFORMERS. THIS [02:50:01] IS NOT A SMALL PROJECT AND I WON'T ASK ABOUT THE PERFORMANCE, BUT, BUT IF, IF I'M ASKING TO APPROVE A PROJECT AND I'M GONNA COMMIT MY CITY RESIDENTS TO DEBT, I SHOULD BE ABLE TO ASK THAT QUESTION, SHOULD I NOT? SO I THINK THE DISTINGUISHING FACTOR THERE IS THE FACT THAT THE PROJECT WILL COME TO THE CITY IN MULTIPLE STAGES, RIGHT? THIS IS THE HEARING THAT IS DEALING WITH THE, THE LAND USE QUESTION AND THE REZONING OF THE PROPERTY. AND TO THE EXTENT THAT THERE'S ULTRA VIRUS CONSIDERATIONS MADE AROUND THAT, YOU KNOW, UM, I WON'T GO ANY FURTHER IN A, IN A PUBLIC MEETING, BUT HAPPY TO, HAPPY TO TALK THROUGH THAT, UH, OFFLINE. WHAT, WHAT, UNFORTUNATELY, WE'RE AT THE 12TH HOUR HERE AND THAT'S COUNCILMAN BRADY. YOU'VE BEEN WAITING A VERY LONG TIME. WOULD YOU LIKE TO SPEAK NOW? YES, SIR. UM, THANK YOU FOR YOUR PRESENTATION, MR. PERRY. I KNOW YOU HAD A LOT, LOT OF PASSION COMING BEHIND IT, UH, FELT IT. AND DID THERE, UM, MY REVIEW IS KIND OF A LITTLE BIT MORE ON DETAILS, RIGHT? BECAUSE I LOOK AT THIS AS A LAND PLANNING REVIEW AND A ZONING KIND OF EXERCISE. SO THERE'S, YOU KNOW, AS YOU SAID, YOU KNOW, IN THERE $15 BILLION ON THE TABLE, EIGHT AND A HALF OF THAT'S GEORGIA 400. SO THAT, THAT'S NOT A DE THAT'S NOT ON THE TABLE, RIGHT? IT'S BEING RENOVATED, RIGHT? SO, BUT IT DOES GET ME INTO THOSE DETAILS A LITTLE BIT. SO IF YOU DON'T MIND, UM, CAN YOU PULL UP SITE PLAN AGAIN? I, I, I WANNA LOOK AT, YOU KNOW, SOME PIECES HERE. I'M GONNA FOCUS ON THE MULTIFAMILY CORRIDOR, IF YOU DON'T MIND, KIND OF GET THAT ZOOM THERE FOR A SECOND. AND REALLY WHAT I'M GONNA ASK YOU IS, YOU KNOW, YOU'RE CURATOR, RIGHT? YOU'RE THE DESIGNER IN THIS. YOUR TEAM IS, AND GOES THROUGH THIS. I'VE ALWAYS ASKED, AND I'VE ASKED YOU SEVERAL TIMES, YOU KNOW, WHAT'S THE EXPERIENCE THAT YOU HAVE IN THIS? WHAT KIND OF EXPERIENCE IS EVERYBODY NOW FRED GONNA HAVE IF THE, YOU KNOW, THIS COMES TO, YOU KNOW, TO, TO BUILT AND, AND DEVELOPED, RIGHT? THE SCALE, THE MASSING, ALL THOSE THINGS ARE CRITICAL. HOW YOU FEEL ON THE STREETS, HOW YOU FEEL GOING DOWN THERE. THAT'S THE REASON WHY I TALK ABOUT THE BIKES GOING THROUGH, YOU KNOW, YOUR FIRST PAGE OF YOUR PRESENTATION DIDN'T HAVE THE BIG BLUE HIGHWAY OF THE LOOP, BUT THEN IT DID SHOW ALL THE PEOPLE OUT THERE KIND OF GOING INTO THE SPORTS ARENA. AND THEN THE SECOND ONE SHOWS THAT GOING FLYING BY. ONCE AGAIN, I'M CONCERNED ABOUT SAFETY AND EVERYTHING ELSE, BUT I'M REALLY CONCERNED ABOUT DESIGN, RIGHT? THE DETAILS OF THE DESIGN. SO WHEN YOU TAKE THE MULTIFAMILY KIND OF DIAGONAL TO THE, THE, UH, THE PURPLE ARENA, RIGHT THERE IS THAT MULTIFAMILY BUILDING THERE? IS THAT THE 20 STORY BUILDING? THIS ONE IS A 20 STORY. IT'S THE HOTEL. OH, THAT'S THE HOTEL, YEAH. GO THAT'S, IT'S GO DIAGONAL FROM THE ARENA. YEAH, THAT ONE AND THE OTHER ONE RIGHT THERE. YEAH. THOSE, YES, THOSE WERE 20 STORES. THAT'S THE, THAT'S THE TALLER DENSITY INTENTIONALLY IN THE CENTER OF THE SITE ADJACENT TO THE ARENA AND ITS MASS AND ACROSS FROM THE, UH, FULL SERVICE HOTEL. YOU CAN PICTURE THAT AS LIKE AN OMNI OR A SIGNIA OR SOMETHING YOU WOULD SEE IN ANOTHER BALLPARK. SO IT'S PERFECT. YOU USED A PERFECT VERNACULAR THERE OF INTENTIONAL. I'M SORRY, YOU SAID THE WORD INTENTIONAL. YEAH. IT'S INTENTIONALLY TO BE 20 STORIES. SO YOU'RE HITTING RIGHT ONTO THE DESIGN THAT I WANNA UNDERSTAND BETTER FROM YOU. SO I LOOK AT THAT AND I SEE ALL THE WHITE SPACE IN THE MIDDLE, RIGHT? THAT'S EMPTY SPACE IN THE MIDDLE. YOU GOT YOUR STRUCTURED PARKING DECK THERE AND YOU'RE FAMILIAR WITH WRAP, RIGHT? THE, THE, THE WRAPPING OF MULTIFAMILY, WHICH MEANS YOU BUILD A PARKING DECK IN THE MIDDLE AND YOU COMPLETELY WRAP THE UNITS AROUND THE OUTSIDE. SO ALMOST YOU CAN'T SEE THE PARKING DECK. AND I SEE THAT WHITE OPEN SPACE RIGHT THERE IN THE MIDDLE. IF YOU PUT THE PARKING DECK IN THE MIDDLE, YOU COULD WRAP THAT AROUND, BUT I GUESS IT'D BE SIX OR SEVEN STORIES, RIGHT? PROBABLY THE SAME UNIT COUNT. SO I'M TRYING TO UNDERSTAND, AND ESPECIALLY FOR THE AUDIENCE HERE, IS WHY DO YOU WANT THAT TO BE 20 STORIES? WHAT IN YOUR DESIGN, WHY, WHY DO YOU WANT THOSE TWO BUILDINGS TO BE 20 STORIES WHEN YOU HAVE SPACE TO REDUCE IT? SO YOU SAID IT'S INTENTIONAL. I WANT UNDERSTAND YOUR DESIGN INTENTION BECAUSE THE BLUE, THE HOTEL, THE SMALLER BLUE BUILDING IS THE, UH, UM, THREE STAR, THREE DIAMOND HOTEL. THE LARGE BLUE BUILDING WOULD BE EVERY BIT OF 20 STORIES, ROUGHLY THE SAME NUMBER OF KEYS WOULD BE, YOU KNOW, UM, AS HOTEL AVALON, I WOULD GET ASKED, WHY IS IT NOT THE SAME HEIGHT? UH, IT'S, IT'S TAKING THE VALET OPERATION AND STACKING THAT ON UNDERNEATH THE LOBBY, UNDERNEATH THE RESTAURANT, UNDERNEATH THE CONFERENCE CENTER AND THEN THE HOTEL ON TOP OF IT, RIGHT? AND SO IT, IT JUST, IT FITS ON A SMALLER FOOTPRINT. AND SO JUST FOR SCALE ACROSS THE STREET FROM THAT, YOU WOULD WANT A VISUALLY HEIGHT TO OFFSET THOSE PIECES AND THEY DIDN'T FEEL OUT OF BALANCE. WHAT THAT ALSO DOES IS LET US IN THE MORE ARRIVAL EXPERIENCE PHASES TO THE BOTTOM RIGHT OF THE PLAN, TAKE THOSE BUILDINGS, MAKE THOSE SMALLER AND, AND, AND ADJUST THE SCALE OF THE ARRIVAL SO THAT YOU MIGHT [02:55:01] FEEL AS IF YOU'RE COMING IN FROM THE RING ROAD. THIS, YOU KNOW, UM, MORE HEAVY CIRCULAR TRANSIT COMING IN FROM THE RING ROAD. YOU HAVE, UM, THE NORTH POINT PLAN, WHICH HAS A, UM, NEIGHBORHOOD STREET, I CAN'T REMEMBER THE DESIGNATION. IT HAS A NEIGHBORHOOD STREET, SECTIONAL, STREET SCAPE, UH, THIS MUCH MORE TREE LINED WITH PAVERS OR CONCRETE. YOU, YOU KNOW, YOUR FIRST FLOOR UNITS CAN ACCESS THE STREET WITH PAVER, WITH A BROWNSTONE KIND OF LOOKS, LETS YOU HAVE SOMETHING THAT'S MUCH MORE INVITING AS YOU ARRIVE. AND THEN AS YOU GET INTO THE CENTER, YOU FEEL THE COMMERCIAL ZONE WHERE IT'S VERY ACTIVE, RIGHT? WHERE YOU'RE GONNA HAVE, BY VIRTUE OF HAVING THE LARGE SCALE RESTAURANTS, AND BY VIRTUE OF HAVING THE ARENA, YOU'RE GONNA HAVE SIGNAGE, DIGITAL SIGNAGE, MUSIC, RIGHT? BANDS ON, UH, UH, ON EVENTS OR BEFORE GAMES. SO THAT WAS, THAT WAS INTENTIONAL TO PUT THAT INTO THE CENTER. CAN I ADD SOMETHING TO THAT? SO, SO WITH THAT, I'M, I'M UNDERSTANDING THERE IS PLENTY OF SPACE ON THE FOOTPRINT. IT'S NOT LIKE YOU'RE LIMITED BY SPACE. I SEE THE WHITE OPEN, IT'S INTENTIONAL BECAUSE YOU HAVE A HOTEL, 20 STORIES AND YOU WANT TO MATCH UP THE MASSING OF THE RESIDENTIAL TO THAT HOTEL. IS THAT CORRECT? THAT IS ONE COMPONENT OF IT. FRANCIS BOND WITH JAMESTOWN, SORRY, FRANCIS BOND, JAMESTOWN HAVEN'T SPOKEN YET, Y'ALL. UM, THAT IS ONE COMPONENT OF IT. UM, I WOULD SAY ANOTHER COMPONENT OF IT FROM THE DIFFERENTIATION OF THE RESIDENTIAL OPTIONS THAT WE'RE PROPOSING, A 20 STORY BUILDING ALLOWS US TO GO MORE VERTICAL, ALLOWING MORE OPEN SPACE IN THE HORIZONTAL PLANE. UM, WE TALKED, WE TALKED ABOUT ALL OF THE, UM, 26, 27 ACRES OF OPEN SPACE. PART OF THAT IS THE PLACEMAKING IN THE GROUND PLANE THAT WE WANT. THE OTHER PART OF IT IS FROM A RESIDENTIAL STANDPOINT, IN THOSE TWO TALLER BUILDINGS, THE FIRST FEW FLOORS ARE NOT UNITS. SO YOU HAVE YOUR, WHAT WE'RE PROPOSING HERE IN THIS PARTICULAR AREA, YOU HAVE YOUR LOBBY, YOU HAVE YOUR GROUND FLOOR RETAIL, WHICH IS WHAT IS SO IMPORTANT TO CREATE THE POROSITY IN THE RETAIL THAT WE'VE TALKED ABOUT EARLIER. UM, YOU HAVE AMENITY FLOORS. AND SO REALLY IN A 20 STORY RESIDENTIAL BUILDING, YOUR RESIDENTIAL UNITS ARE PROBABLY THREE THROUGH 20. SO 17 FLOORS, WE ARE LOOKING AT ABOUT 300 UNITS FOR EACH OF THOSE BUILDINGS, WHICH TRANSLATES TO 15 TO 20 UNITS OF FLOOR. ALL OF THAT FACTORS INTO WHAT YOUR CORRIDOR LENGTH IS. UM, A MUCH MORE DESIRABLE LIVING SITUATION. YEAH. OKAY. YEAH. I WOULD JUST WONDER, IT'S MORE DETAILED YOU SAID, BECAUSE I LOOK AT IT THAT SAYS THE HORIZONTAL PLANE CAN, YOU KNOW, CAN, CAN CARRY ADDITIONAL, UH, FLOOR PLATES, RIGHT? SO WE, WE COULD TAKE THESE STORIES DOWN BECAUSE YOU HAVE THE HORIZONTAL SPACE. I JUST WANNA UNDERSTAND YOUR ATTENTION AND JUST KIND OF PEOPLE THAT TALK TO THAT. MY SECOND POINT IS, IS THE FIRST THING I KIND OF LOOKED AT THIS PLAN WAS TO SEE THE, THE, ALL THE MULTIFAMILY KIND OF CORRIDOR IN THAT ONE PART OF THE PARCEL. SO, YOU KNOW, IT, IT'S THOSE PIECES ALL OVER THERE. I DON'T KNOW THE NORTHEAST CORRIDOR, IS THAT RIGHT? ALL THOSE ORANGE ONES UP ON THE TOP, I GUESS. BOTTOM RIGHT. YEAH, THEY'RE ALL RIGHT THERE. SO NOW WE'RE MESSING ALL OF THE 1,385 APARTMENT UNITS IN ONE PARTICULAR AREA. I I I WAS JUST CURIOUS AS AS WHY, 'CAUSE IN THE DESIGN YOU'D FIRST THINK WELL SCATTER IN DIFFERENT AREAS. I LOOK AT INGRESS EGRESS, I LOOK AT MIGRATORY TRAFFIC PATTERNS COMING IN. YOU, YOU KNOW, THE CORRIDORS FROM THE SOUTH TO THE WEST TO THE EAST, YOU CAN BRING TRAFFIC IN IN DIFFERENT AREAS. WHY DO YOU CONCENTRATE THAT MUCH OF ONE PARTICULAR USE INTO ONE PARTICULAR AREA INTO ONE CORRIDOR? AND WE DON'T HAVE ANY IMPROVEMENTS ON THAT ENTRY POINT. JUST CURIOUS. YOU WANTED IT, MAY I TAKE IT? YOU CAN ADD. UM, I THINK IT'S A, A LAYERED ANSWER. UM, THE FIRST PORTION OF IT, UM, GIVEN THAT WE HAD KIND OF THE DIALOGUE WITH THE DIFFERENT DELIVERIES OF THE RESIDENTIAL COMPONENTS FROM A CONSTRUCTION PHASING STANDPOINT, WE NEED TO START PLAN LEFT, UM, IN THE IMPROVEMENTS AND WORK AT THAT PHASED DELIVERY AS WE GO FURTHER DOWN, FOCUSING ON THAT CENTRAL BOULEVARD FIRST AND THEN KIND OF THE OUTER AREAS WITH AN OVERALL SEQUENCING. UM, WE CAN'T DELIVER ALL THAT AT THE SAME TIME. AND THOSE ARE THE NATURAL AREAS WHERE YOU WOULD BE ABLE TO CONTINUE OUT. UM, THE RESIDENTIAL WE ALSO FELT WAS APPROPRIATE ON THAT PLAN, BOTTOM LEFT OR BOTTOM RIGHT. UM, FACING THE STORMWATER PARK IMPROVEMENTS AS WELL. OKAY. I I'M JUST, I WANTED TO JUST, I'M GONNA BE REALLY QUICK, JUST A COUPLE MORE. UM, TWO HOTELS, WHY THEY'RE POSITIONED RIGHT NEXT TO EACH OTHER. I THINK FROM COMPETITIVE ADVANTAGE, YOU KNOW, ONE'S OBVIOUSLY THE THE TOP FOUR CLASS FOUR STAR, RIGHT? AND THE OTHER ONE WOULD PROBABLY BE A MORE AFFORDABLE ONE THAN, THAN THE HIGHER ONE. WHY RIGHT NEXT TO EACH OTHER? I'M JUST KIND OF CURIOUS THAT, THAT THEY WOULDN'T BE FURTHER APART FOR A COMPETITIVE COMPONENT OR JUST EXPLAIN THAT I, UM, IT'S NOT UNCOMMON FOR ME TO BE NEXT TO EACH OTHER. , I GO TO NASHVILLE, YOU HAVE A ONE HOTEL AND AN EMBASSY SUITES THAT ARE ACTUALLY IN ONE BUILDING, RIGHT? OKAY. [03:00:01] TWO DIFFERENT, TWO DIFFERENT, UM, YOU KNOW, LEVELS OF SERVICE IN THOSE TWO. OKAY. BUT YOU NEED SOMEWHERE TO THE EXTENT THAT THE ATHLETES ARE STAYING OR ROAD CREW, WHATEVER IT IS, YOU KNOW, THERE'S MORE OR LESS A REQUIREMENT FOR THAT FULL SERVICE HOTEL, UH, ROOFTOP RESTAURANT, GREAT VIEWS OF THE NORTH GEORGIA MOUNTAINS OR THE, OR THE CITY. BUT THEN SOMETHING AS WELL THAT IS NOT BY ANY MEANS, UH, I MEAN IT'S FULL SERVICE, RIGHT? IT'S STILL HAS FOOD, UM, BUT IT'S DEFINITELY ORIENTED TOWARD LESS CONFERENCE AND MORE FAMILY. YOU'RE COMING FROM BIRMINGHAM FOR A GAME OR YOU'RE COMING FROM SOMEWHERE. YOU SPEND THE WEEKEND, YOU MAKE A WEEKEND OF IT, UM, YOU KNOW, THERE'LL BE A PRICE DIFFERENTIAL. OKAY. I I, I'LL BE ONE MORE. THE STORMWATER PARK, IS THAT TOTAL OF 26 ACRES? IS THAT CORRECT? AND IS THAT GO TO YOUR OPEN SPACE? IS THAT PART OF THE OPEN SPACE CALCULATION UNDER THE 98? I THINK IT'S TOTAL OF 98 ACRES AND INCLUDED THAT 26 ACRES, IS THAT RIGHT? THE TOTAL SITE IS 98. THE STORMWATER PARK. THE STORMWATER PARK COMPONENT OF THE SITE, UM, IS I BELIEVE ONLY THREE ACRES. THREE ACRES, OKAY. POWER PIECE, NOT THE TOTAL. YEAH, I I I WAS WONDERING WAS THAT THE THREE ACRES? 'CAUSE I THINK IT WAS A TOTAL OF 26, BUT OWNED BY OTHER PEOPLE, RIGHT? SORRY, TWO DIFFERENT THINGS. YEP. JUST TO CLARIFY, SO OUR COMPONENT OF THE STORMWATER PARK IS THREE ACRES, I BELIEVE THE LARGER, MORE PERMANENT PARK IS ABOUT 14 ACRES. OUR COMPONENT IS ONLY THREE ACRES. THE 26 ACRES IS ACROSS THE, OUR ENTIRE SITE, WHICH IS JUST ABOUT 99 ACRES, IS A TOTAL ACRES INSIDE THE RING ROADS AT 82 ACRES. 83, OR ARE YOU SAYING IT'S ALL THE WAY UP TO 95? I THOUGHT IT WAS AROUND 84 ACRES INSIDE THE RING ROAD. UM, WE ARE, AND WHAT I'M, I'M TRYING TO GET UP TO, TO 98 ACRES THAT GETS US THE 14 PER ACRE ON YOUR MULTIFAMILY, AND I THOUGHT IT INCLUDED THE STORMWATER PARK OF 26 ACRES, AND THAT'S WHERE I WAS A LITTLE CONFUSED ON CALCULATIONS. SO I'M GOING, IF WE CAN COME BACK, ANSWER THAT, BECAUSE THAT WOULD GO RIGHT BACK TO THE 14 PER ACRES INCORRECT. YEP. I, LET ME CHECK ON SOMETHING. IT'S ABOUT 84 ACRES INSIDE THE RING ROAD. WE, WE, WE KNOW THE PROPERTY. I KNEW THAT THERE WAS, UM, A SLIGHT DIFFERENCE BECAUSE OF SOME PROPERTY THAT HAD ALREADY BEEN CONVEYED TO GOT. AND SO I JUST WANNA CHECK AND WHEN WE COME BACK UP FOR REBUTTAL YEP, I'LL ANSWER THAT SPECIFICALLY. AND I I APPRECIATE IT ALL. SORRY, I JUST, I WANTED TO GET SOME OF THOSE DETAILS, SO THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. BUT THE, THE PLAN THAT YOU SEE THERE, THE BLUE IS THE PLAN THAT IS IN INCLUDED IN OUR OPEN SPACE CALCULATION, AND THAT IS THAT, UM, 2020 8%. UM, AND THERE I, I'M LOOKING AT IT. UM, THERE WAS, LET ME MAKE THAT'S THE TOTAL, THE BLUES, THE TOTAL OPEN SPACE SIX EIGHT. YES. SO THESE BUILDINGS COULD BE SPREAD OUT A LITTLE MORE ON THAT HORIZONTAL PLANE. YOU KNOW, I KIND OF A COUNTER ARGUMENT IN INSIDE OF THE, THE COMPLIMENT, WELL, I, I THINK ONE OF THE THINGS, AND, AND WE CAN CERTAINLY HAVE THE, THE ARCHITECTURE, YOU KNOW, TEAM COME UP, BUT I THINK, AND THIS IS SOMETHING THAT WE'VE STRUGGLED WITH, I THINK AS WE'VE HEARD COMMENTS THROUGHOUT THIS PROCESS, IS IT'S A BIG SITE, RIGHT? AND SO I THINK THERE'S A LOT OF RISK IN NOT LOOKING AT IT HOLISTICALLY AND KIND OF PICKING AND, AND CHOOSING. BECAUSE IF YOU THINK ABOUT WHAT IS THE GOAL OF THIS REDEVELOPMENT, HIGH QUALITY, SUCCESSFUL, YOU KNOW, REALLY MAKING THIS A REGIONAL DESTINATION FOR THE NEXT SEVERAL DECADES. AND SO MAKING SURE THAT THE SCALE FITS. I THINK THE, THE, ONE OF THE WORST THINGS ARGUABLY FOR THE CITY WOULD BE TO HAVE THIS INCREDIBLE SPORTS AND ENTERTAINMENT DISTRICT. AND YOU HAVE THESE, YOU KNOW, AN ARENA AND YOU HAVE THE ICE PLEX AND IT FEELS LIKE THE BUILDING FORMS JUST DON'T FIT WITHIN THAT CHARACTER. AND SO I THINK THINKING ABOUT LOOKING AT IT HOLISTICALLY AND WANTING TO HAVE THAT VISUAL BALANCE IS A REALLY IMPORTANT KEY. AND I THINK THAT THAT'S WHY YOU SEE THE VARIETY OF HEIGHTS INCLUDED, IS TO ACHIEVE THAT VISUAL BALANCE AND NOT TO JUST HAVE, HERE'S SOME SHORT BUILDINGS AND AN ARENA THAT JUST DOESN'T LOOK BALANCED. NO, I'M, I'M, I'M GLAD YOU'RE SAYING THIS 'CAUSE THERE'S DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVES, RIGHT? AND THEN YOU, YOU'RE, WHAT YOU'RE KIND OF DO IS YOU'RE CREATING A VERTICAL KIND OF APPLICATION, RIGHT? TO CREATE THAT HEIGHT MM-HMM . YOU WHERE WE DO HAVE OPEN PIECES TO KIND OF BRING IT DOWN AND STILL HAVE A HORIZONTAL FOOTPRINT TO GIVE KIND OF THE CAPACITY AVAILABLE, LIKE AS A REGIONAL DESTINATION. IT, IT'S JUST DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVES. AND THAT'S WHY I WAS JUST KIND OF GOING THROUGH THE DETAILS OF I'M REALLY WHAT I'M DRIVING IS WHY, WHY, WHY YOU DROVE THIS DESIGN. AND I, I APPRECIATE IT. SO I'M, [03:05:01] I WANT TO YIELD BACK TIME PLEASE. MAYOR PRO TIM. ALL RIGHT. I THINK WE'RE WINDING DOWN ON SOME OF THIS. UM, WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT OPEN SPACE AND PUBLIC SPACE, THERE WAS DISCUSSIONS ABOUT ROOFTOP AMENITIES THAT WOULD BE OPEN TO THE PUBLIC AND NOT JUST RESIDENTS. CAN YOU ELABORATE ON, ON WHAT, WHICH ONES OF THOSE WILL EXIST? SURE. I DON'T BELIEVE THAT OR ANTICIPATED WE HAVE THE, TO BE CLEAR, THE BLUE ON THIS SITE PLAN IS SHOWING THE, AND I WANNA USE THE RIGHT TERM, THAT'S THE CIVIC SPACE. AND SO THAT'S THE SQUARES, THE PLAZAS, POCKET PARKS, MULTI-USE TRAIL. UM, THAT'S THE BLUE. UM, I KNOW THAT WE HAVE, UM, CONDITIONS THAT DO REQUIRE SOME ROOFTOPS. SO I THINK THAT YOU SEE, UM, A PEACH COLOR, I DON'T KNOW WHAT COLOR THIS IS. SO THE, THE, THE, THE PEACH COLOR, UM, SOME OF THOSE, UM, PARTICULARLY ON THE HOTEL WOULD HAVE, UM, YOU KNOW, PUBLICLY AVAILABLE AMENITY SPACE, UM, IN THOSE AREAS. THANK YOU COUNCILWOMAN REEVES. IT'S PROBABLY GONNA SEEM LIKE I'M PICKING AND CHOOSING AND SELECTING ON MY QUESTIONS TOO, BUT I KIND OF FIGURE IF WE DON'T PICK AND CHOOSE AND ASK THE QUESTIONS, WHO WILL. SO, YOU KNOW, WE'RE KIND OF LAST STOP. SO, UM, ONE OF MY QUESTIONS, YOU PROBABLY REMEMBER IT, UM, SIDEWALK AROUND RING ROAD. IS THERE A REASON THAT YOU DID NOT DO THAT? UM, THERE IS, UH, YES, THERE IS A REASON. UM, SO PLEASE SHARE BECAUSE IT SEEMS LIKE A NATURAL TO ME THAT WE SHOULD HAVE A SIDEWALK THERE. SO, YOU KNOW, I THINK THERE A COUPLE OF THINGS WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT THE RING ROAD AND, UM, YOU KNOW, FRANCIS, I THINK, YOU KNOW, IF YOU, YOU WANNA KIND OF POINT OUT, SO LET, LET'S START AT THE BOTTOM QUADRANT WITH THE PARKING LOT. SO ADDING A SIDEWALK AROUND A PARKING LOT DOES NOT REALLY SEEM TO MAKE A LOT OF SENSE WHEN YOU KNOW THAT IS YOUR AREA FOR THE CARS TO BE COMING IN DIRECTLY PARKING THERE. WE HAVE, AND I DON'T WANNA GET THIS NUMBER WRONG BECAUSE I DID ASK OUR ENGINEER TO CALCULATE THIS . YEAH, OKAY. WE HAVE 20,000, UM, LINEAR FEET OF SIDEWALK AND THE ALPHA LOOP ON THIS PROPERTY. SO THAT IS THE SPINE ROAD GOING ALL THROUGH. IT IS THE SIDE ROADS THAT ALSO HAVE SIDEWALKS. IT'S THE ALPHA LOOP THAT DOES, UM, GO ALONG THE STORMWATER PARK. SO WE HAVE SIGNIFICANT SIDEWALKS ON THE PROPERTY AND JUST TO SORT OF ARBITRARILY SAY AT A SIDEWALK EVERYWHERE DID NOT FEEL LIKE AN APPROPRIATE DESIGN, UM, STANDPOINT. IT IS CERTAINLY SOMETHING THAT I KNOW AS WELL AS YOU DO AS WE CONTINUE TO FINE TUNE AND GET INTO PERMITTING. WE'RE ALSO GOING TO THE DESIGN REVIEW BOARD AND WE'RE GONNA BE WORKING WITH STAFF TO BE ABLE TO FINALIZE THE PLANS. AND IT IS PROBABLY LIKELY THAT THERE ARE SOME AREAS THAT IT WOULD MAKE SENSE TO MAYBE ADD SIDEWALKS, BUT IT WAS NOT SOMETHING THAT WE FELT LIKE MADE SENSE TO, UM, OFFER UP A CONDITION TO SAY, HEY, LET'S JUST PUT A SIDEWALK ALL ALONG THE RING ROAD. THAT'S ALL RIGHT. MAYBE WE'LL TALK ABOUT IT TONIGHT. THAT WOULD BE COOL. WE COULD ADD ONE MORE. UM, ALSO ON NUMBER 46, CONDITION NUMBER 46 WHERE WE REFERENCE THE 7,500 SQUARE FEET OF POTENTIAL, UM, FIRE BAY SPACE. IT SEEMS TO ME THAT MAYBE WE SHOULD SAY LIKE WE SHOULD SHALL DO IT, NOT LIKE MAY DO IT, BECAUSE I CAN'T IMAGINE THAT IF WE HAVE 20 STORY BUILDINGS IN ALPHARETTA, WHICH WE DON'T RIGHT NOW, UM, AND WE HAVE FOUR OF THEM, THAT IT WILL REQUIRE MOST CERTAINLY, UH, SPECIALIZED EQUIPMENT. WE KNOW THAT. I MEAN, WE'VE, WE'VE HEARD THAT THERE WILL BE A SPECIAL FIRE TRUCK NEEDED, UM, THAT'LL HAVE TO GO ON ORDER. MY UNDERSTANDING IS THAT DOESN'T NECESSARILY FIT IN OUR BAYS, AND I JUST SEEMS LIKE THAT JUST, WE CAN JUST MAKE THAT LITTLE CHANGE TO SHALL WOULD BE AWESOME. WELL, I, I THINK MY, MY SUSPICION IS THAT IF YOU LOOK AT, I, I THINK THERE'S A REASON FOR THAT TO SAY MAY, BECAUSE MY GUESS IS, YOU KNOW WHAT, WHAT THE OBLIGATION IS, IS THAT THE DEVELOPER SHALL CONDUCT A STANDARDS COVERAGE STUDY THAT EVALUATES THESE ANTICIPATED THINGS. AND SO, [03:10:01] UM, INFORMATION FROM THE FINDINGS MAY ALSO REQUIRE ADDITIONAL DEDICATED FIRE ACCESS LANES AND A MINIMUM OF 7,500 SQUARE FEET WITH PLAN BLAH, BLAH, BLAH. I THINK THAT THE CONDITION REQUIRES THE STUDY AND THE STUDY IS GOING TO INFORM WHAT NEEDS TO BE BUILT. SO I THINK IT'S PREMATURE TO LOCK IN TO SAY SOMETHING HAS TO HAPPEN BECAUSE IT MAY BE THAT THAT'S NOT REALLY WHAT'S NEEDED. SOMETHING A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENT IS, AND I DON'T KNOW THAT, I DON'T THINK YOU CAN KNOW THAT. I DON'T THINK ANY OF US NEED, I DEFINITELY DON'T KNOW THAT. YEAH. BUT I HAVE BEEN TOLD THAT THAT TYPE OF FIRE TRUCK THAT WOULD BE REQUIRED FOR 20 STORY BUILDING TO SERVICE IT SHOULD THERE BE, UM, A NEED, HEAVEN FORBID. UM, I'M NOT SURE IF IT'S IN THE BAYS THAT ARE CLOSEST. SO I MEAN, I, I'LL JUST LEAVE IT AT THAT. I, I THINK THE STUDY IS, UM, CERTAINLY A SIGNIFICANT REQUIREMENT THAT'S NOT, THAT, THAT'S NOT SOMETHING THAT'S JUST, UM, NUMBER ONE, IT'S EXPENSIVE. IT'S VERY EXTENSIVE. SO I THINK THAT, YOU KNOW, THAT'LL INFORM WHAT NEEDS TO HAPPEN TO MAKE SURE THAT, UM, THE PEOPLE IN PROPERTY ARE PROTECTED. JUST ONE OTHER QUICK ONE, IF THE COUNCIL SO DECIDED, WOULD YOU BE WILLING TO CREATE PART OF THAT PROMENADE AS BIKE FREE WHEELS, FREE , NO BIKES, NO SCOOTERS. LET ME, LET ME SHOW YOU JUST BECAUSE I, I REALLY THINK IT'S IMPORTANT FOR US TO MAKE SURE WE'RE ALL TALKING ABOUT THE SAME THING, UM, BECAUSE I KNOW THAT WE HAD A LOT OF ALPHARETTA RESIDENTS THAT ARE CYCLISTS AND WE HAD A LOT OF PEOPLE SUPER EXCITED ABOUT EXTENDING THE ALPHA LOOP AND HAVING THIS ABILITY TO BIKE. AND SO I THINK THAT WHAT WE RECEIVED, THE FEEDBACK OF THE CONCERN ABOUT IF YOU'RE BIKING ON JUST THIS EXTRA WIDE SIDEWALK, BECAUSE WE HAVE OFFERED FOR THE ALPHA LOOP ON THIS PROPERTY TO BE 15 FEET WIDE, NOT 12 FEET WIDE. AND ADMITTEDLY, ON THE FIRST PLANS, IT WAS MORE OF, YOU KNOW, IT WASN'T DIFFERENTIATED FROM THE SIDEWALK. SO NOW WHAT YOU SEE ON THE SCREEN IS IT'S REALLY SEPARATED FROM PEDESTRIANS AND FROM CARS WITH LANDSCAPING AND PLANTING. SO WE WANT TO BE PART OF THE CITY'S CONNECTIVITY. SO I DON'T THINK, AND IT CERTAINLY IS SOMETHING THAT OUR DESIGN TEAM CAN TALK ABOUT, BUT FROM EVERYTHING THAT I'VE HEARD IN CONVERSATIONS, I DON'T THINK THAT WE WOULD WANT TO JUST SAY NO TO THE CYCLISTS WHO ALSO HAVE EXPRESSED AN EXCITEMENT ABOUT, UM, BEING HERE BECAUSE WE HAVE ADDED, UM, BOTH ON THE DRAWINGS TO SHOW YOU AS WELL AS IN THE CONDITIONS THIS REQUIREMENT TO HAVE IT SEPARATE. THANK YOU. I'VE GOT A QUESTION FOR FIRE CHIEF GER, COULD YOU ADDRESS THE CONCERN ABOUT NEEDING SPECIAL FIRE TRUCKS OR EQUIPMENT? UH, YES SIR. EXCUSE ME. UM, OUR, THERE, THERE ARE MULTIPLE DIFFERENT TYPES OF AERIAL APPARATUS, UH, WITH THE STANDARD LADDER BEING SOMEWHERE OVER 100 FEET, THAT'S SOMEWHAT, UH, INDEPENDENT OF THE, THE, THE TYPE OF, UH, FRAME THAT IT'S ATTACHED TO. SO I THINK WHAT YOU MIGHT BE THINKING OF, COUNCILWOMAN REEVES IS THE TILLER TRUCK, WHICH IS THE ARTICULATING BODY, THE TRACTOR DRAWN AERIAL DEVICE. UH, AND THAT'S MORE, UH, UH, APPROPRIATE FOR SMALLER STREETS. THE LADDER ON IT IS NOT NECESSARILY ANY HIGHER THAN, UH, A TRADITIONAL DEVICE. AND WE, UH, OUR, OUR STATION NEARBY CERTAINLY WOULD BE ABLE TO HANDLE THAT. SO ARE YOU SAYING WE NEED ANY SPECIAL EQUIPMENT? UH, I, I, I, I CAN'T SAY THAT WITHOUT KNOWING THE, THE FULL AND SPECIFIC DETAILS. UM, BUT AS FAR AS THE APPARATUS GOES, THE, THE, THE PATH THAT WE'RE ON CURRENTLY SETS US UP WELL FOR, UH, UH, THE MAJORITY OF POSSIBILITIES THAT ARE BEING ENTERTAINED. OKAY. THANK YOU. DO WE HAVE ANY OTHER QUESTIONS FOR THE APPLICANT? COUNCILMAN DRISCOLL? YOU DO SPEAK WAKE . WELL, I SPEAK WHEN, UH, I NEED TO SPEAK THERE. SO FIRST OF ALL, I WANNA THANK Y'ALL FOR, UM, ALL THE EFFORT YOU PUT FORTH AND, UH, YOUR PRESENTATION THIS EVENING. AND ONE THING THAT I NOTICED IN THERE THAT IT, IT WASN'T REALLY SPOKE ABOUT, BUT IT'S FAIRLY SIGNIFICANT. YOU SAID 6,000 PERMANENT JOBS. DO WE HAVE ANY IDEA OF WHAT, WHAT THAT IS MADE UP OF? SO THAT'S, UH, COMBINED BETWEEN [03:15:01] THE NEW OFFICE, UM, 750,000 FEET OF OFFICE AND THE OFFICE TENANTS THAT'LL BRING JOBS THERE. AND THEN ACROSS ALL OF THE SPORTS ENTERTAINMENT, UM, USES, SO THE RETAIL USES RETAIL EMPLOYEES, UM, ALL OF THE HOSPITALITY ACROSS ALL OF THE HOSPITALITY COMPONENTS. UM, AND THOSE ARE, AGAIN, PERMANENT JOBS SEPARATE FROM THE, WHAT WE'RE ESTIMATING TO BE ABOUT 13, OVER 13,000 CONSTRUCTION JOBS DURING, DURING BUILDING, DURING CONSTRUCTION. BUT THOSE ARE 16,000 PERMANENT ALFRED JOBS. THAT'S RIGHT. I JUST WANNA GET THAT JUST TO STAFF ALL OF THE DIFFERENT BUILDINGS. YEAH. THANK YOU. UM, ONE OTHER QUESTION. UH, THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF TALK ABOUT THE GREEN SPACE AND WHETHER IT'S CIVIC OR NOT, BUT IF WE'RE LOOKING AT THE, THE OVERALL PROJECT INSIDE THE LOOP, IT'S PRETTY MUCH OFF PAVEMENT OR STRUCTURE. AND SO OF THAT 28, WHICH, UH, COUNCILMAN HES DID PULL IT UP HERE, IT'S JUST A SHADE OVER 28%. I WAS WRONG, JULIE. I'M SORRY. THAT'S OKAY. NO, YOU WERE RIGHT. SO IT'S, YEAH, SO IT'S, I DON'T CORRECT HIM VERY OFTEN. IT'S 28.04%. UM, IT'S BASICALLY OF THAT, OF THAT 28%. DO Y'ALL HAPPEN TO KNOW WHAT PERCENTAGE OF THAT IS PAVEMENT OR BUILT? I MEAN, MAJORITY OF IT. THERE'S VERY LITTLE OF ANYTHING HERE THAT'S NOT PAVEMENT OR BUILDING, RIGHT? OH, A LOT. A LOT OF IT'S MAYBE THAT ONE, THE GREEN, THE GREEN SPACE ON THE ANSWER IS 80% IS GREEN SPACE. THAT'S WHAT TYLER JUST SAID. YES. 84% OF WHAT YOU'RE TA OF THE 27 OR 28% AND YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT IS GREEN, LIKE THE CARD SPACE IS GREEN. YES. WHEN YOU'RE WITH, WITH THIS PROPOSED DEVELOPMENT PERCENT, SORRY, I'M GONNA LET YOU JUST IN CASE, UH, TYLER ROSS WITH KIMLEY HORN, THERE'S GONNA BE ABOUT APPROXIMATELY 20% A LITTLE BIT. I CAN'T HEAR YOU. THANK YOU. SURE. A MINIMUM OF 20% GREEN SPACE. YEP. YEAH. 20% OF WHAT, AND WOULD YOU MIND TO REPEAT YOUR PERCENT OF THE PROPERTY AREA? WOULD YOU MIND TO REPEAT YOUR NAME FOR THE RECORD? I'M SO SORRY. TYLER ROSSER. KIMLEY HORN. WONDERFUL. WERE YOU ASKING THOUGH, JUST TO CLARIFY, I JUST WAS, I WAS JUST LOOKING TO SAY WE'VE GOT A, LET'S JUST CALL IT EVERYTHING INSIDE THE LOOP IS PREDOMINANTLY RIGHT NOW ALL ASPHALT OR STRUCTURE, AND WE'RE ROUGHLY GONNA HAVE 27 TO 28% OF THAT IS ACTIVATED SPACE FOR GATHERING ENJOYMENT, WHETHER IT'S A SHARED PLAZA OR A PARK THAT YOU'RE WILLING TO CONTRIBUTE WHEN YOU ONLY OWN THREE ACRES OF IT, UM, THE MONEY TO ACTIVATE THAT INTO A PUBLIC GATHERING PLACE. UM, ONE OTHER QUESTION. THIS GO TO MR. PERRY. UM, HAS THERE BEEN ANY TALKS OR ANY THOUGHTS ABOUT, UH, A GROCERY ANCHOR IN THERE WITH THAT MUCH, UH, RESIDENTIAL IN THAT AREA? I WOULD LOVE THAT. UM, YES, WE WOULD LOVE TO HAVE A GROCERY ANCHOR HERE. AND I DO THINK AT ONE POINT WE HAD A MASTER, THIS IS BACK TWO YEARS AGO NOW, HAD MASTER PLANNED THIS WITH THE ADJACENT ENCORE COMMONS AND HAD A PLACE FOR A GROCERY, UM, IN THAT IT'S NOT THE FIRST PHASE, WHICH MEAN KNOW, COMES AS LIKE THE SECOND PHASE. AND HOW DOES THAT INTERACT? THERE'S A REQUIREMENT IN THE CITY FOR A SMALL CONVENIENCE STORE TO SERVE THE PROPERTY, BUT IT'D BE GREAT TO HAVE A GROCER AS SOME WHEN WE GET ENOUGH DENSITY THERE ON SITE. YEAH. THANK YOU. UM, THAT'S, THAT'S ALL THE, THE BIGGEST, BIGGEST, THE BIG PROBLEM IS IT'S NOT, THERE'S NOT A LOT OF RESIDENTIAL YEP. RIGHT. RELATIVE TO NORMAL GROCERY SITE BECAUSE IT'S SUCH A COMMERCIAL CORRIDOR. SO WE'VE GOTTA GET A LOT MORE DENSITY. YEAH. THANK YOU. HAVE WE FINISHED ALL OUR QUESTIONS FOR THE APPLICANT? IF Y'ALL DON'T MIND, I THINK WE COULD PROBABLY TAKE A FEW MINUTE BREAK HERE BEFORE WE BEGIN THE PUBLIC COMMENT. WE'LL BE RIGHT BACK IF EVERYONE COULD START TO GET READY TO, UH, LET'S GET THIS THING ROLLING AGAIN. HELLO. LET'S ROLL. WE GOT BUSINESS TO TAKE CARE OF. LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, IT'S TIME TO HAVE SOME COMMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC. MR. ATTORNEY, ARE YOU GONNA BE KEEPING THE CLOCK ON THIS? OH, MR. LOG. THANK YOU. JUST WANTED TO MAKE SURE. MR. SHAPIRO, WILL YOU BE YES, SIR. ANNOUNCING, YES. OKAY. SO WE'VE COME TO THE PART WHERE MOST OF YOU HAVE BEEN WAITING FOR PUBLIC COMMENT IN FAVOR, MS. SHAPIRO, THIS EVENING. I'M CALLING THREE SPEAKERS AT A TIME. IF YOU WANT TO, UM, ONE UP OVER [03:20:01] AGAINST WALL, UM, AND THEN COME TO THE PODIUM, UM, AND MAKE SURE THAT YOU, UM, STATE YOUR NAME, UM, AND ADDRESS FOR, UH, THE RECORD. UM, AND THEN THE FIRST THREE SPEAKERS ARE GOING TO BE PARKER TON, CAMERON HOOD, AND RICH THOMPSON TO BUILD SOMETHING FOR THE NEXT GENERATION. INSTEAD OF WATCHING THIS SITE CONTINUING TO DECLINE, WHAT'S BEING PROPOSED IS IN A MALL RENOVATION. IT'S A TRUE MIXED USE COMMUNITY, INTERTWINED WITH THE EXCITEMENT OF AN NHL ARENA, THE TRUE YEAR ROUND DATA NIGHT DESTINATION THAT THIS COMMUNITY REALLY WANTS. IT'S WHERE YOU WANNA BE FROM NINE TO FIVE AND FIVE TO NINE. I LOOK AT ALPHARETTA AS HAVING THREE CENTERS OF GRAVITY. AVALON CITY CENTER AND NORTH POINT DISTRICT, ALL CONNECTED BY ALPHA LOOP, AVALON AND DOWNTOWN ALPHARETTA HAVE RECEIVED SIGNIFICANT INVESTMENT IN THOSE COMMUNITIES OVER THE LAST TWO DECADES. THE MISSING PIECE OF THAT TRIFECTA IS NORTH POINT, THE FUTURE REDEVELOPMENT OF NORTH POINT DISTRICT. WOULD IT BE COMPETING WITH AVALON OR DOWNTOWN ALFREDA? IT WOULD BE COMPLETING THEM WITH ITS OWN IDENTITY BUILT AROUND SPORTS, ENTERTAINMENT AND LIVE PERFORMANCE THAT NONE OF THE OTHERS CAN OFFER. NOW I'LL SPEAK TO WHAT I KNOW BEST, WHICH IS OFFICE LEASING, BECAUSE I THINK A LOT OF PEOPLE HAVE UNDERSTANDING ABOUT WHAT'S IN THE HEADLINES. I WOULD LIKE TO ANSWER THAT QUESTION ABOUT OFFICE LEASING, UM, WITH DATA, NOT SENTIMENT. UM, SO YOU GUYS KNOW I LEASE, UM, I'M ON THE LEASING TEAM FOR AVALON CONTINUUM MEDLEY, FOUR PEACHTREE CORNERS, ALL SOME OF THE TOP OF THE MIXED USE, UH, CENTERS WITHIN, UH, THE SUBURBS. BUT ALPHARETTA CLASS A'S OFFICE IS SITTING AROUND 80% LEASED TODAY. VERY HEALTHY COMPARED TO OTHER SUBMARKETS IN THE CITY, BUT CLOSER. BUT TAKE A LOOK CLOSER, LOOK AT WHERE THE ACTUAL LEASING IS FALLING. AVALON IS 99% LEASED. THE SURROUNDING BUILDINGS AROUND AVALON ARE 96% LEASED AND SOME OF THE HIGHEST RENTS THAT NORTH FULTON HAS EVER SEEN. IF YOU SPREAD OUT FURTHER AND LOOK AT THE NEW CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS LIKE SOUTHERN POST AND ROSWELL, KIMBALL PLACE, EDISON HALON, THOSE ARE SITTING AT 97% LEASE. IT'S NOT A COINCIDENCE. IT'S THE MARKET TELLING US EXACTLY WHAT IT WANTS. OFFICE DEMAND HERE, HAS IT DISAPPEARED, IT'S RELOCATING TO THE BUILDINGS WHERE EMPLOYEES CAN. MAYOR, THAT'S THREE MINUTES. ALRIGHT, THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER. CAMERON HOOD IN THE HOT SEAT. RICH JOHNSON AND THEN DALE SIZEMORE. HELLO EVERYONE. GOOD EVENING MAYORS AND MEMBER OF THIS ALPHARETTA CITY COUNCIL. MY NAME IS CAMERON AND I, I'M ACTUALLY LIVE IN ROSWELL AND I'M HERE TO SPEAK BECAUSE THIS IS NOT JUST, ALPHARETTA IS NOT JUST, UM, NORTH POINT MALL IS NOT JUST AN AREA THAT PEOPLE FROM ALPHARETTA GO. IT'S AN AREA THAT'S A, THE, LIKE, LIKE OTHERS SAID, IT'S A REGIONAL HUB FOR, UM, ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT IN THAT, THAT, SO IF, AND IF A STADIUM LIKE THIS, AS YOU'VE SEEN IN COBB COUNTY, WHEN THE BRAVE RELOCATED TO THROUGHS PARK, THE, UM, THAT IT BROUGHT DEVELOPMENT COUNTYWIDE LIKE INTO MARIETTA AND ALL THE, THOSE AREAS. AND IF, IF, UM, IF, UM, IF ALPHARETTA MAKES THIS DECISION, I'M, I'M SUPPORTIVE OF IT, BUT BECAUSE IT'LL BRING ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND, UM, AND IT WON'T JUST AFFECT ALPHARETTA, IT'LL AFFECT ROSWELL, MILTON, JOHNS CREEK, ALL THE SURROUNDING COUNTIES WILL GET DEVELOPMENT FROM IT. AND, UM, AND IT'LL, AND IT'LL BE, UM, VARIES. VERY, IT'LL BE IT. AND, BUT, SO THAT BASICALLY ME REPHRASE THAT. THE, [03:25:01] UM, THAT WOULD MEAN THAT INFRASTRUCTURE WOULD NEED TO BE IMPROVED, LIKE BUS SERVICE AND, UM, AND ALL THE, ALL THAT KIND OF STUFF IN ADDITION TO AND, AND, UM, BUS SERVICE AND, UM, AND, AND, AND IT WILL AND RIDERSHIP WILL GO UP AND EVERYTHING LIKE THAT. SO, UM, I AM SUPPORTIVE OF THIS PROJECT. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, RICH JOHNSON, DALE SIZEMORE, AND NOEL, UH, BERG. THANK YOU, CASTLE. MY NAME IS RICH JOHNSON. I'M WITH THE NORTH FULTON ECONOMIC ALLIANCE. MY ADDRESS IS 10,000 AVALON BOULEVARD, ALFREDA, GEORGIA, 3 0 0 0 9. UM, I WANTED TO COME AND SPEAK WITH YOU TONIGHT BECAUSE ALPHARETTA HAS BUILT ONE OF THE SOUTHEAST GREAT JOB CENTERS, ALMOST NOWHERE. NOBODY HERE UNFORTUNATELY, WORKS IN ALPHARETTA, THAT LIVES IN ALPHARETTA. UM, IN FACT, ABOUT 99,000 PEOPLE CROSS THE CITY LIMITS EVERY SINGLE DAY TO COME TO WORK. FEWER THAN 6,000 OF THOSE FOLKS ACTUALLY LIVE IN THE CITY OF ALPHARETTA. 95% OF ALL THE JOBS THAT ARE HELD HERE ARE HELD BY PEOPLE THAT LIVE OUTSIDE OF CITY OF ALPHARETTA. BUT I WANNA SPEAK SPECIFICALLY TO THE YOUNGER POPULATION. 25 TO 34 YEAR OLDS, MORE THAN 18,000, 25 TO 34 YEAR OLDS COME INTO ALPHARETTA EVERY SINGLE DAY. UH, A WORKFORCE THAT THE CITY AND THIS REGION ARE COMPETING FOR IN EVERY NORTH FULTON CITY. NEARLY TWO THIRDS OF THOSE RESIDENTS ACTUALLY HOLD A COLLEGE DEGREE. AND IN FACT, UH, WHEN YOU LOOK AROUND THE COUNTRY, THAT'S ACTUALLY A FOUR TO 10 NUMBER. SO YOU HAVE WELL-EDUCATED FOLKS THAT ARE COMING TO CITY, COMING TO HERE TO WORK. THE TALENT IS HERE, IT'S HERE EVERY SINGLE DAY. THE QUESTION NOW IS, WHERE DO THESE FOLKS SLEEP AT THAT AGE? PEOPLE RENT, FRANKLY SPEAKING, UH, SEVEN IN 10 OF THE ALFREDA HOUSEHOLDS ARE HELD BY SOMEONE THAT IS A RENTER, 24 TO 35 YEARS OLD, BUT ONLY ABOUT A THIRD OF THOSE ARE ACTUALLY AVAILABLE FOR 'EM TO RENT IN THE CITY. AND BY AND BUYING IS NOT QUITE FRANKLY AN ALTERNATIVE FOR MANY FOLKS. IN FACT, UH, SOMEONE IN THAT AGE GROUP GENERALLY EARNS ROUGHLY A HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS A YEAR. AND THE MEDIAN HOME VALUE IN ALFRED IS ROUGHLY $680,000. WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT, UH, THE HOMES THAT ARE ACTUALLY FOR SALE, THOUGH, UM, THE MEDIAN HOUSEHOLD VALUE IS $760,000, WHICH MEANS THAT THE MEDIAN PRICE HERE, UH, REQUIRES A DOWN PAYMENT OF ALMOST $200,000 FOR SOMEONE TO AFFORD. INDIVIDUALS WITH THIS AGE GROUP, ON AVERAGE, THEY CARRY ABOUT $33,000 IN STUDENT DEBT, COUPLED WITH, UH, THEIR SIX FIGURE SALARIES REALLY LIMIT THEIR ABILITY TO, TO BE ABLE TO, TO PURCHASE A HOME. NORTH POINT HERE TODAY IS TALKING ABOUT 1,385 HOMES ON A CONSERVATIVE ASSUMPTION, ONE WOULD, ONE IN ROUGHLY FOUR OF THOSE HOMES WILL BE HEADED BY SOMEONE IN THE 24 TO 30 5-YEAR-OLD AGE GROUP, MEANING ABOUT 500 RESIDENTS, UM, WILL BE MOVING INTO THIS, THIS DEVELOPMENT THAT WE WERE TALKING ABOUT TONIGHT. WHAT THAT MEANS IS THEY DON'T GO HOME TO ATLANTA. THEY DON'T GO HOME TO PAULDING COUNTY. THEY DON'T GO HOME TO HALL COUNTY EACH NIGHT. THEY STAY HERE IN THE CITY. THEY HAVE THEIR JOBS HERE IN THE CITY. THEY SPEND MONEY IN THE CITY. AND BY EVERY ESTIMATE YOU COULD SPEND, YOU KNOW, JUST FROM THIS DEVELOPMENT ALONE, IN THAT AGE GROUP ALONE, YOU'RE LOOKING AT ROUGHLY $4 MILLION ON GROCERIES, RESTAURANT AND CLOTHING EVERY SINGLE YEAR. SO WHEN WE TALK ABOUT WHO CAN RECRUIT, HOW DO WE GROW BUSINESSES? THESE ARE THE, THE EMPLOYEES. THESE ARE THE TYPE OF FOLKS THAT WE WANT IN THE CITY. THESE ARE THE, UH, WELL-EDUCATED, UM, GOOD PAYING JOBS THAT WILL LIVE NOT ONLY HERE IN THE CITY, BUT BE PART OF THE CITY. THEY'LL INVEST, THEIR FAMILIES WILL INVESTED IN HERE. THEY'LL PARTICIPATE IN THE PARKS AND RECS HERE. THEY'LL BE PART OF THE COMMUNITY AS WE KNOW IT. SO WHEN WE THINK ABOUT WHAT IS, WHAT HOLDS THE FUTURE FOR ALPHARETTA, WE WANT TO BE ABLE TO HAVE THESE HIGHLY QUALIFIED INDIVIDUALS. WE WANNA HAVE THEM LIVING HERE LESS TIME BEING A PART OF THIS REGION. WITH THAT, I TURN MY CHARM. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. NEXT THREE SPEAKERS ARE DALE SIZEMORE, NOELLE BABER, AND MICHAEL CROSS. GOOD EVENING EVERYONE. DALE SIZEMORE, 6 1 3 0 PENN OAK LANE, HERE IN ALPHARETTA IN WINDWARD. ABOUT 40 YEARS IN THIS COMMUNITY. FIRST OF ALL, I WANNA THANK COUNCIL AND THE MAYOR, UH, AND ALL THE CITY STAFF FOR ALL THE HARD WORK THAT YOU PUT INTO IT, THE APPLICANTS AND ALL THE HARD WORK THAT YOU'VE PUT INTO IT. GOOD PRESENTATION. LOVE THE FONT, LOVE THE FONT, AND, UH, THE COMMUNITY FOR THEIR PARTICIPATION. IT SEEMS TO ME THAT THIS, UH, HEARING HAS TWO PURPOSES. ONE IS A REDEVELOPMENT OF THE MALL. DOES THE MALL NEED TO BE REDEVELOPED? ABSOLUTELY, YES. I'M IN COMPLETE AGREEMENT WITH THAT. THE NEXT QUESTION IS WHAT NEEDS TO REPLACE IT? AND, UH, THERE'S A LOT OF, UH, EMPHASIS PUT ON HERE. GREAT STORY, VERY EXCITING STUFF. UM, I APPRECIATE ALL THE ATTENTION TO DETAILS HERE. THIS IS BIG MONEY. UM, I HEAR A, A LOT OF, UH, CONTINGENCIES. UH, IT ACTUALLY DEPENDS UPON A $2 BILLION FRANCHISE FEE AS WELL AS CAPITALIZATION AT THE APPROPRIATE INSTITUTIONAL RATES. UH, THERE'S A LOT OF IFS THAT GO WITH THIS KIND OF STUFF. MY BIGGEST CONCERN IS WHAT HAPPENS IF THEY DO NOT CHOOSE ALPHARETTA FOR THE HOCKEY? AND [03:30:01] I APPRECIATE THE CANDOR SAYING HOW CLOSE THE, UH, HOCKEY, UH, AGREEMENT WOULD BE TO THE SUCCESS OF THIS. THIS IS PASS OR FAIL UNDERSTAND. UH, BUT RIGHT NOW I HAVE TO ZOOM BACK OUT AND SAY, DOES THE MALL NEED TO BE FIXED? YES. DOES IT NEED TO BE REDEVELOPED? YES. IS IT, UH, WHAT NEEDS TO BE DONE? NOT SURE. GREAT STORY HERE, BUT TIME WILL HAVE TO TELL. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THE NEXT THREE SPEAKERS, NOELLE BEAVER, MICHAEL CROSS, AND ADAM SCHLEMAN. HI, GOOD EVENING MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL. UM, MY NAME IS NOEL BER, 40 45 DEVERE STREET. UH, I'VE LIVED IN ATLANTA FOR 20 YEARS. UM, HALF OF THAT TIME HAS BEEN IN THE ALFREDA AREA, EITHER LIVING OR WORKING. UM, WHEN I FIRST MOVED HERE, I WENT TO THRASHER'S GAMES AND THEY WERE GREAT. AND THEN THE THRASHER MOVED, AND, YOU KNOW, WE MOVED ON. BUT NOW WE'RE IN A SPOT WHERE WE HAVE A, A DECAYING MALL WHERE I DON'T GO. I GO TO AVALON OR I GO TO THE FORUM OR SOMEWHERE ELSE. UM, MANY OF MY FRIENDS DON'T GO, BUT WE HAVE THIS OPPORTUNITY AND I SEE YOUNG KIDS, UH, SIX AND SEVEN. THERE'S AN OPPORTUNITY FOR ME TO TAKE THEM TO AN NHL GAME BEFORE THEY GO OFF TO COLLEGE. I DON'T KNOW IF IT'S GONNA TAKE THREE YEARS, FIVE YEARS, SIX YEARS, UH, UNTIL IT HAPPENS, BUT IF IT HAPPENS, I WANT IT HAPPEN HERE IN MY BACKYARD. I THINK IT'S A GREAT OPPORTUNITY. I DON'T WANT US TO MISS IT. THANKS. THE NEXT THREE SPEAKERS, MICHAEL CROSS, ADAM SCHWEGMAN AND MARGARET VER, UH, ADAM SCHWEGMAN. I'M AT 1 2 7 2 2 ROOS FARM. UM, THIS AREA, THIS CITY LOVES ITS SPORTS, RIGHT? I AM VERY EXCITED ABOUT A COMMUNITY HUB THAT'S FOCUSED AROUND SPORTS. AND I REALLY DON'T THINK THERE'S MANY CITIES THIS SIZE THAT CAN CLAIM TO HAVE SOMETHING LIKE THAT. UM, IN FACT, I DON'T THINK THERE'S A CITY IN AMERICA THAT HAS A THRIVING DOWNTOWN, A VERY SUCCESSFUL PREMIER LIFESTYLE SHOPPING COMPLEX, AND A SPORTS ANCHORED DEVELOPMENT IN THEIR DOWNTOWN. AND I THINK THAT'S PRETTY SPECIAL. I'M, I'M EXCITED TO SEE THAT HAPPEN. UM, WHEN, WHEN WE TALK ABOUT SPORTS, I DON'T THINK IT EVEN HAS TO ALL BE ABOUT THE HOCKEY. MY FAMILY, UH, IS A VERY FREQUENT USER OF THE ALPHA GREENWAY. UH, I THINK WHAT YOU GUYS HAVE DONE AT ENCORE, UM, WITH THE NEW BRIDGE IS VERY COOL. WHAT THE TRAIL DOES NOT HAVE IS A TRAIL HEAD WHERE YOU CAN GRAB A BITE TO EAT. YOU CAN GRAB A BEER, YOU CAN SIT IN THE LAWN AND PLAY FOR A WHILE. UM, AND I THINK THAT THIS PROJECT COULD BE A, A VERY GOOD PLACE TO DO THAT. THERE'S A LOT OF TRAIL SYSTEMS AROUND THE COUNTRY THAT DO HAVE THAT, AND THAT'S ONE THING THAT'S MISSING ON THE GREENWAY. UM, WE'RE ALSO VERY BIG LIVE MUSIC FANS AS OF AS ARE A LOT OF OUR FRIENDS. UH, HAVING TWO MORE MUSIC VENUES HERE IN THE CITY IS, IS VERY EXCITING FOR US. AN ARENA AND A MUSIC HALL. THEY WILL BRING ACTS THAT AREN'T COMING UP HERE TODAY. WE'RE HAVING TO DRIVE INTO STATE FARM ARENA, THE EASTERN, THE TABERNACLE TO GO SEE THOSE. WHAT BETTER PLACE TO, TO PUT THOSE THAN NORTH POINT. UM, AND WHEN IT COMES TO DENSITY, THE DENSITY BELONGS AT THIS PROPERTY. THERE'S BEEN YEARS SPENT ON THE COMP PLAN AND THE CITIZENS HAVE ALREADY INVESTED HUNDREDS OF HOURS DEMONSTRATING THIS BY THE PUBLIC FORUMS AND EVERY, YOU KNOW, ALL THE LITTLE DOTS THAT WE'VE PUT ON MAPS OVER THE YEARS. SO, YOU KNOW, IN, IN CLOSING, I THINK, YOU KNOW, THE MALL IS BE COMING INCREASINGLY, LARGELY IRRELEVANT, AND I DON'T WANT IT TO BECOME AN EMBARRASSMENT. THANK YOU. THE FINAL TWO PUBLIC COMMENT CARDS IN FAVOR, MR. MAYOR MARGARET CULVER AND DAVIS MYERS. HELLO, I'M MARGARET CULVER. I LIVE AT 1135 CHASEWOOD TRAIL, AND I'VE BEEN HERE ALMOST 30 YEARS. AND, UM, JUST THRILLED WITH ALL OF THE THINGS THAT YOU'VE DONE TO THIS CITY. I'M JUST EXCITED TO BE A, A RESIDENT HERE IN ALPHARETTA. I, I'M, I'M REALLY NOT IN FAVOR OR AGAINST, I'M KIND OF A TBD . AND THE REASON IS, I THINK THIS IS AN EXCITING PLAN. I REALLY LIKE HAVING SOME TYPE OF PERFORMANCE ARTS OR MUSIC VENUE. [03:35:01] UM, THE HOCKEY WOULD BE FANTASTIC IF IT ENDS UP HAPPENING, BUT WITH EVERYTHING THAT YOU ADD IN THIS CASE, WE'RE GONNA GET RID OF SOME OF THE DEPARTMENT STORES. AND I'M STILL A PROPONENT OF THESE DEPARTMENT STORES. THEY APPARENTLY ARE DOING WELL HERE. UM, SPECIFICALLY MACY'S. I THINK IT PROVIDES AN AFFORDABLE OPTION. WE HAVE THE SPECIALTY STORES IN AVALON, AND EVEN DILLARD'S AND VON MAR ARE A LITTLE BIT MORE EXPENSIVE. SO WE'RE GONNA LOSE SOME OF THE DEPARTMENT STORES THAT ARE MORE AFFORDABLE. IT PROVIDES A SPECIAL EXPERIENCE WHEN YOU HAVE GUESTS IN TOWN TO GO TO THESE DEPARTMENT STORES AND VISIT. UM, IF YOU SHOP ONLINE, IT'S MUCH EASIER TO RETURN THEM. AND SO, UM, YOU'RE GONNA LOSE THAT OPPORTUNITY AND IT'S GONNA REQUIRE PEOPLE LIKE ME AND MAYBE OTHERS THAT I'VE SEEN AT THE STORE, I WAS GONNA HAVE THEM FILL OUT INFORMATION. NEVER GOT AROUND TO DOING THAT. BUT, UM, WE'LL HAVE TO TRAVEL FURTHER. SO, I LIKE THE IDEA THAT WE HAVE TWO DEPARTMENT STORES. I'D LOVE TO KEEP MACY'S AS WELL. AND THAT'S, SO I'M A TBD. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. AND THE LAST CARD IN FAVOR, MR. MAYOR IS DAVIS MYERS. HI, GOOD EVENING. UH, MY NAME'S DAVIS MYERS. I LIVE AT ONE 30 CEDAR TRACE. UM, I WANTED TO STAND IN FAVOR OF THE DEVELOPMENT. UM, I THINK MOST PEOPLE WILL COME UP HERE AND HAVE A LOT OF HEARTFELT LONG TIME MEMORIES OF THE MALL. UM, MY FIRST DATE WAS AT THE MALL. I GREW UP IN GOING TO HIGH SCHOOL HERE, UH, WILLS PARK. I'VE TAKEN MY SON AND NOW COACHED HIM THROUGH THERE. SO ALPHARETTA KIND OF SITS DEEP IN OUR HEARTS, AND WE'RE VERY THANKFUL FOR EVERYTHING THAT Y'ALL HAVE DONE. AND THE COUNCIL OF FOLKS THAT HAVE COME BEFORE YOU. UH, MUCH LIKE THE INVESTMENT FIBER AND THE INFRASTRUCTURE PUSHING EVERYTHING UP INTO, UH, THE WINDWARD PARKWAY AREA, UH, WHERE MY FIRST TWO JOBS WERE OUTTA SCHOOL. SO, UM, THE MALL IS IN A, IN A PLACE, UH, WHERE IT IS FALLING BEHIND IN THE, THE GENERAL MALL OF TODAY IS A CHALLENGE. UH, THE ONLY TIME WE FIND OURSELVES THERE IS IF MY DAUGHTER'S RIDING THOSE LITTLE ANIMALS THROUGH THE, THROUGH THE MALL WHERE THERE'S NOT A LOT OF PEOPLE, UM, WHICH, WHICH CAN BE FUN. BUT, UM, WHAT I WOULD, WOULD ENCOURAGE YOU ALL TO DO IS TO, IS TO THINK BACK TO SOME OF THOSE TIMES WHERE THEY TOOK THOSE RISK AND THOSE CHALLENGING AND MAKING THOSE DECISIONS WHERE THEY DID INVEST IN THAT INFRASTRUCTURE. AND THEY DO, DID DO SOMETHING DIFFERENT. UH, AND THIS IS AT A POINT NOW, UH, I THINK FOR THE CITY OF ALPHARETTA TO REALLY DO SOMETHING THAT'S INCREDIBLE, UM, FOR THE NEXT GENERATION OF PEOPLE TO COME THROUGH. FOR MY DAUGHTER, FOR MY SON WHO WANTS TO COME BACK HERE TO, WANTS TO RAISE THEIR FAMILY AND THEIR KIDS TO BE HERE WITH AN INCREDIBLE DOWNTOWN IN AVALON, THE OFFICE, UH, AND THEN THE PROGRAM THEY'RE TRYING TO PUT FORWARD. AND I THINK SOME OF IT HAS TO BE THAT THERE HAS TO BE A TRUST GOING BOTH WAYS. AND I APPRECIATE THE HEALTHY, UH, BANTER THAT YOU ALL HAVE, 'CAUSE YOU COME FROM DIFFERENT ANGLES. BUT, UH, THE GROUP THAT'S KIND OF IN FRONT OF YOU HERE, I I DO WORK IN THE REAL ESTATE INDUSTRY, AND KIMLEY HORN AND JAMESTOWN, UH, AND THE DESIGN TEAM ARE SECOND TO NONE. AND I WAS A BIG PROPONENT OF NOT THINKING THAT THE EXIT PLAN FOR THE BRAVE STADIUM WAS GONNA WORK, BUT THE INFRASTRUCTURE THAT KIMLEY HORN PUT TOGETHER EXCEEDED ALL EXPECTATIONS. AND THE DEVELOPMENT THAT'S BEEN PUT FORTH THERE HAS EXCEEDED ALL EXPECTATIONS FROM AN ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT STANDPOINT. SO, AS SOMEONE WHO ALSO EMPLOYS A LOT OF FOLKS IN THE GENERAL AREA FROM A BUSINESS PERSPECTIVE, UM, THERE'S JUST SUCH A GREAT OPPORTUNITY HERE, UM, WITH THE PROGRAM THAT THEY'VE PUT FORWARD, UH, AS LONG AS THERE'S, YOU KNOW, A HEALTHY, UH, DEBATE BACK AND FORTH BETWEEN Y'ALL AND THE DEVELOPMENT TEAM. BUT, UM, HUGELY IN FAVOR, UH, AND THAT Y'ALL JUST KIND OF LOOK FORWARD AND TAKE THAT RISK AGAIN, UM, AS YOU LOOK AT, UH, ANOTHER, YOU KNOW, KEY DEVELOPMENT FOR THE CITY AND THE REGION IN GENERAL. THANK YOU, MR. SHAPIRO. DO WE HAVE ANY COMMENT CARDS AND OPPOSITION? WE DO. MR. MAYOR, UM, I DID WANT TO ASK, DID YOU WANT TO OPEN IT TO THE FLOOR, UP TO ANYONE ELSE THAT'S PRESENT THAT WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK IN FAVOR THAT HASN'T SUBMITTED A CARD AT THIS TIME? IS THERE ANYONE THAT IDENTIFIES THEMSELVES AS THAT PERSON? I DON'T THINK WE NEED TO. WONDERFUL. YES, THE FIRST THREE SPEAKERS FOR THOSE IN OPPOSITION OF THIS ITEM. UM, IF YOU'D LIKE TO GO AHEAD AND COME FORWARD AND LINE UP AGAINST THIS WALL, BELINDA KOZINSKI, AMY WITAL, AND TOM MILLER. OH, MS. BELINDA, IF YOU DON'T MIND TO HIT THE BUTTON IN THE BOTTOM RIGHT HAND CORNER. THANK YOU, MICHAEL. OKAY. UM, MY NAME IS BELINDA KAKI AND I'VE LIVED HERE SINCE 1993. I, UM, LIVED HERE BEFORE NORTH POINT MALL OPENED UP AND HAD TO DRIVE TO GWINNETT OR TO PERIMETER TO DO ANY SHOPPING. SO I WAS THRILLED WHEN THEY OPENED UP. AND I WANNA THANK YOU DOUG DORITO FOR SAYING WHAT YOU DID. GOING OUT AND VISITING IT [03:40:01] IS A FAVORITE MALL. IT'S MAYBE RUN DOWN, BUT THERE'S A LOT OF PEOPLE THAT STILL SHOP THERE. THERE'S A LOT OF FAMILIES THAT GO THERE. THEY TAKE THEIR CHILDREN TO DO PLAYGROUNDS. IT'S AN INDOORS MALL SO THAT WHEN IT'S A HUNDRED DEGREES OUTSIDE, PEOPLE CAN GO AND BE COMFORTABLE RATHER THAN SITTING OUTSIDE. SO, UM, I'M NOT TOTALLY, YOU KNOW, AGAINST REDEVELOPMENT, BUT I'D LIKE TO SEE SOMETHING LIKE PERIMETER MALL AT, AT, UM, NORTH POINT WHERE THEY HAVE A BIG HUGE MALL YOU CAN SHOP AND, AND ALL THE DIFFERENT TYPES OF RESTAURANTS THAT ARE AROUND IT IN THE PARKING LOTS AND STUFF. IT'S A VERY GOOD MALL, BUT I DON'T WANNA HAVE TO DRIVE DOWN THERE TO GO TO A MALL. AND, UM, I'M A LITTLE CONCERNED ABOUT THE SPORTS ARENA BECAUSE IF WE DO GET IT, YOU KNOW, THEIR CONTRACTS RUN LIKE SIX TO 10 YEARS. THEY COULD SELL THE, UH, AND DECIDE, YOU KNOW, THAT WE WON'T HAVE A, AN ARENA THAT'S GONNA BE USED BY A SPORTS, UM, AFTER SIX TO 10 YEARS, AND THEN IT'LL BE A DEFUNCT, UM, SPORTS ARENA THAT COULD POSSIBLY BE TORN DOWN. AND THEN, UM, WHAT WAS MY OTHER, I JUST THINK THE DENSITY IS TOO, TOO DENSE. IT'S JUST TOO BIG FOR ALPHARETTA. UM, IT'S, I KNOW EVERYBODY SAYS IT'S A GREAT THING AND EVERYTHING, BUT WE'RE BRINGING IN A LOT OF PEOPLE. BUT THE RESIDENTS ARE THE ONES THAT HAVE TO SUFFER THE TRAFFIC. THEY HAVE TO SUFFER THE, THE CONSTANT, YOU KNOW, UM, UM, REDEVELOPMENT OF THE ROADS AND, AND THERE WILL BE PLENTY OF THAT. THEY'LL, THEY'LL BE DOING, YOU KNOW, HAYNES BRIDGE AND, UM, MANSEL AND, UM, ENCORE. SO I HOPE Y'ALL THINK ABOUT, YOU KNOW, THE ACTUAL RESIDENTS THAT LIVE HERE TOO. THAT THIS IS, YOU KNOW, THIS, WE CAN, Y'ALL HAVE A PRETTY PROJECT, BUT IT'S DENSE AND MAYBE WE COULD LOOK AT THIS A DIFFERENT WAY, OR MAYBE WE COULD SLOW THIS DOWN AND REALLY DECIDE, YOU KNOW, WHAT'S GOOD FOR THE RESIDENTS THAT ACTUALLY LIVE HERE AND, AND USE THOSE EXITS TO GET HOME NOW THAT THEY CAN'T ON MILTON PARKWAY IS A PARKING LOT BECAUSE OF AVALON. SO WE RESIDENTS USE HAYNES BRIDGE TO GET OFF OF, TO GO KIMBALL BRIDGE ON THE EAST SIDE. A LOT OF PEOPLE ON THE EAST SIDE, YOU KNOW, HAVE TO UTILIZE THE OTHER TWO EXITS. SO, I MEAN, I THANK YOU, DOUG, FOR BRINGING IT UP THAT YOU WENT TO THE MALL AND ACTUALLY LOOKED AT IT. AND THANK YOU, KATIE, FOR GOING DOWN THE PERIMETER. AND I DO HAVE TO SAY THAT THE APARTMENTS THAT ARE AT PERIMETER, THEY'RE NOT ON THE A HUNDRED ACRES THERE, THEY'RE LIKE IN THE SURROUNDING AREAS. UH, AND, AND THAT INCLUDES ALL THE 20 STORY BUILDINGS THAT ARE THERE. THEY'RE IN THE SURROUNDING AREAS, THEY'RE NOT IN THE, THE MALL AREA. SO THERE'S MY 33 MINUTES. THANK YOU. THE NEXT THREE SPEAKERS, AMY WITAL, TOM MILLER, AND MARTIN SKA. HI, UM, I'M AMY WHITTLE. I LIVE AT 1 31 MAYFIELD CIRCLE. MY BIG CONCERN WITH THIS PROJECT IS IT NEEDS TO BE A PROJECT THAT'S NOT DEPENDENT ON THE NHL. IT DOESN'T HAVE A GREAT HISTORY IN THE METRO AREA, SO THAT'S REALLY CONCERNING TO ME. I'M CONCERNED ABOUT THE SIZE OF THE ARENA. IT'S VERY URBAN. I DON'T REALLY KNOW ANYONE THAT HAS SAID, GOSH, I WANNA LIVE NEAR THE GAS SOUTH DISTRICT, OR EVEN STATE FARM ARENA . UH, I MEAN, I GUESS THERE ARE PEOPLE, BUT, UM, AND I'M ALSO CONCERNED ABOUT THE LACK OR REALLY THE ABSENCE OF OWNER OCCUPIED UNITS IN THIS PROJECT. UM, I, I DON'T SEE HOW THAT KEEPS THE CITY CONSISTENT WITH THE 68% OWNERSHIP. UM, BUT I APPRECIATE YOUR LISTENING TO ME. I HOPE YOU HEAR ME. THANK YOU. THE NEXT THREE SPEAKERS, TOM MILLER, MARTIN RINKA, AND RON RHODES. HI EVERYONE. UH, MY NAME IS TOM MILLER. I LIVE AT 4 0 2 5 WALL CREEK TRAIL IN ALPHARETTA. I HAVE CONCERNS WITH THIS MASTER PLAN AMENDMENT, AND I ASK YOU TO VOTE NO UNLESS THERE ARE SOME CHANGES. THE NORTH POINT PROJECT WOULD BE TOO LARGE FOR ALPHARETTA TO ABSORB THE CITY'S RESOURCES AND INFRASTRUCTURE WILL NOT SUPPORT SUCH A LARGE PROJECT. THE NORTH POINT TAD WILL NULLIFY THE ADDITIONAL PROPERTY TAXES THAT WILL BE NEEDED TO PROVIDE CITY SERVICES. CURRENT CITY RESIDENTS AND BUSINESSES WILL SEE HIGHER TAXES AND FEWER SERVICES. I ALSO RECOMMEND REDUCING THE APARTMENTS TO 700 TO 800 UNITS. AVALON HAS ONLY 526 APARTMENTS, UH, AND AVALON ALSO HAS OWNER OCCUPIED HOMES. THE BATTERY HAS ONLY 531 APARTMENTS. THE DENSITY IS A PRECEDENT THAT WILL EXPAND TO THE [03:45:01] ENTIRE NORTH POINT RETAIL CORRIDOR, ALL OF WHICH IS IN THE TAD. THERE WOULD BE NO ADDITIONAL PROPERTY TAX REVENUE TO FUND CITY SERVICES DUE TO THE 646 ACRE TAX ALLOCATION DISTRICT. THE PROPOSAL HAS MANY POSITIVE ATTRIBUTES. NEW YORK LIFE HAS THE FINANCIAL RESOURCES AND LONG-TERM VIEW TO MAKE THIS PROJECT VERY SUCCESSFUL. JAMESTOWN HAS SUCCESSFULLY DEVELOPED LARGE SCALE MIXED USE PROJECTS. THE DEVELOPMENT TEAM IS EXCELLENT, UH, COMPARED WITH THAT COMPETITOR UP NORTH. UM, AND THE PLAN IS WELL CONCEIVED, UM, WHICH IS TYPICAL OF ALPHARETTA'S, UH, ABILITY TO ATTRACT QUALITY DEVELOPMENT. UM, I WOULD LIKE TO SEE NORTH POINT REDEVELOPED. HOWEVER, THE DENSITY IN THE APARTMENTS ARE, ARE JUST TOO MUCH. THE STRAIN ON CITY SERVICES WILL COMBINE WITH FLAT PROPERTY TAXES BECAUSE OF THE TAD. PLEASE STEP BACK AND JUST TAKE A LOOK AT WHAT THIS WILL DO IN ALPHARETTA. THANKS. THE NEXT THREE SPEAKERS, MARTIN ZINKA, RON RHODES, AND RENEE LIGHT. THANK YOU. MARTIN RINKA 80 70 WILLOW TREE WAY. UM, FIRST OF ALL, I JUST WANNA THANK THE STAFF AND THE DEVELOPMENT TEAM. IT ACTUALLY, YOU KNOW, I'M ALMOST THERE FROM A DEVELOPMENT PERSPECTIVE. I THINK IT'S GOT A LOT TO OFFER AND I DO THINK THAT THIS AREA, IT DOES NEED TO BE REDEVELOPED. UM, A COUPLE OF CONCERNS I HAVE IS THE TRAFFIC. UM, YOU KNOW, WE REFERENCED THE BATTERY. BATTERY'S GOT SEVERAL MAJOR HIGHWAYS COMING OUT OF IT. WE DO NOT. WE HAVE ONE AND OUR EASTWEST CORRIDORS ARE A LOG JAM, AND I KNOW IT'S A LOT OF, IT'S DUE TO CONSTRUCTION RIGHT NOW. UM, BUT EVEN THEN AFTER THAT, IT'S STILL, UH, A LOT OF, UH, SITTING AND WAITING ON A NORMAL COMMUTE. SO I DON'T THINK THIS PROJECT IS REALLY DISPERSING INTO OUR EAST, WEST CORRIDORS VERY WELL. UM, SECOND IS THE PARKING. YOU TALKED A LOT ABOUT THE, UH, PARKING CONTRACTS THAT WOULD BE ESTABLISHED. MY CONCERN IS HOW PEOPLE ARE GETTING FROM THIS DEVELOPMENT TO THOSE OUTSIDE LOTS SAFELY AND ACROSS NORTH. A FOUR LANE BUSY NORTH POINT PARKWAY, WHICH WILL BE EXTREMELY BUSY ON THESE EVENINGS. UM, AND MAKING SURE ALL THOSE PUBLIC SAFETY THINGS. UM, AS A PARENT, THAT WOULD BE TERRIFYING FOR ME TO WALK MY KID ACROSS THAT ROAD. AND YOU'RE EXPECTING, YOU KNOW, 5,000 PEOPLE TO PARK OVER THERE. JUST, UH, BRINGS A QUESTION OF HOW SAFE THAT REALLY WILL BE. UM, THE THIRD IS APARTMENTS. UM, AGAIN, THE NUMBERS WERE JUST MENTIONED BY TOM. UM, WE ALREADY HAVE 900 APARTMENTS IN THE NORTH PARK REGION TO THREE, 300 UNIT DEVELOPMENTS. UM, AND I SAY 1385 IS JUST A LITTLE STEEP. AND IF WE COULD GET THAT DOWN CLOSER TO A THOUSAND, I THINK THAT WOULD BE MORE APPROPRIATE TO WHAT THE AREA CAN BEAR. UM, AND THEN, YOU KNOW, IT WAS MENTIONED IN THE PRESENTATION THAT IT WAS CONSIDERED WHEN YOU ACTUALLY, WORST CASE SCENARIO, HAD AN AMERIS CONCERT GOING ON WITH AN EVENT AT THE ARENA. IT PRETTY MUCH MEANS THE WHOLE SOUTH OF YOUR CITY IS YOU'RE NOT GONNA BE ABLE TO GET ANYWHERE, AND THAT'S REALLY GONNA BE A SACRIFICE TO OUR EXISTING RESIDENTS. UM, SO IT'S JUST SOMETHING TO THINK ABOUT. IT'S, IT'S A LOT. AND IF YOU'RE COMING OUT OF AMERIS CONCERT NOW, IT DOES FLOW, BUT WHEN YOU HAVE THE OTHER SIDE OF THE HIGHWAY ALSO BLOCKED, IT WILL BE A LOT. UM, AND YOU KNOW, I CAN TELL YOU WHEN I CHOSE TO RAISE MY FAMILY HERE 27 YEARS AGO, UH, WE BYPASSED PERIMETER. THE, THE LUXURY TOWERS THAT WERE THERE WERE NOT FOR US. WE PICKED A SUBURBAN PLACE WHERE WE COULD RAISE OUR FAMILY WITH LOTS OF GREEN SPACE. UM, AND I KNOW THAT THEY'RE BY RIGHT, THE 20 STORIES. BUT IT JUST BRINGS ME A QUESTION, IF I WOULD DO IT AGAIN, IF I WAS AT 20 YEARS AGO, WOULD I BRING MY FAMILY HERE? SO I THINK YOU NEED TO REALLY THINK ABOUT WHAT THAT LOOKS LIKE LONG TERM. AND I, I DO COMMEND THE STAFF AND THE DEVELOPER FOR PUTTING THE TIE IN THE CONDITION ONE TO THE NHL. I'M A PENNS FAN, SO I'D LOVE TO SEE 'EM. BUT, UH, YOU KNOW, HOPEFULLY THAT, UH, THESE OTHER TOPICS WILL BE ADDRESSED BY CITY COUNCIL. THANK YOU. THE NEXT THREE SPEAKERS, RON RHODES, RENEE LIGHT, AND BUDDY STOVALL. GOOD EVENING MAYOR COUNCIL MEMBERS, THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THANK YOU FOR BEING ENGAGED WITH THE CONVERSATION. UH, APPRECIATE ALL OF THE QUESTIONS. I DO HAVE SOME CONCERNS. UH, THE ONE, TWO OF THE CONCERNS ARE, ONE, IF A DEVELOPMENT SIZE NEEDS THIS MANY VARIANCES TO BE APPROVED, THE QUESTION IS, IS THIS RIGHT FOR ALPHARETTA? THERE'S NO QUESTION THAT THE NORTH POINT COMMUNITY AND NORTH POINT PROPERTY NEEDS TO REDEVELOPED AND WHAT THE DEVELOPERS HAVE PUT TOGETHER, IT'S A BEAUTIFUL VISION, BUT IT CHANGES THE SKYLINE OF ALPHARETTA FOREVER. WE'RE TALKING ABOUT A VARIANCE THAT IS GOING FROM FOUR STORIES TO 20. WE'RE NOT ASKING FOR A VARIANCE TO GO FROM FOUR TO FIVE. WE'VE HAD BUSINESSES IN ALPHARETTA HAVE VARIANCES [03:50:01] DECLINED BECAUSE THEIR SIGNED DID NOT MEET THE PRINT STANDARDS OR THE COLOR STANDARDS. BUT YET WE'RE GONNA MAKE EXCEPTIONS, MAJOR EXCEPTIONS FOR THIS DEVELOPMENT. MAYBE THAT'S THE RIGHT THING TO DO. IT SEEMS TO BE A STEP A LITTLE TOO FAR. WHAT I WOULD LIKE TO SEE, AND WHAT I WOULD PROPOSE IS A DEVELOPMENT, VERY MUCH LIKE WHAT WE SAW, BUT SCALE DOWN A LITTLE BIT, WHY GO 20 STORIES? WELL, ONE, THE ECONOMICS DOESN'T WORK PLAIN AND SIMPLE. THAT'S WHAT'S ON THE TABLE. BUT THE QUESTION IS, WE SHOULD ASK THE DEVELOPERS TO MEET ALPHARETTA'S STANDARDS. WE ALREADY HAVE RULES AND REGULATIONS, GUIDELINES THAT THE COUNCIL AND MEMBERS HAVE PUT FORTH IN THE PAST BECAUSE THAT IS WHAT WE AS A COMMUNITY WANT FOR OUR DEVELOPMENT AND OUR GUIDELINES. THEY SHOULD MEET OUR STANDARDS. WE SHOULD NOT LOWER OUR STANDARDS TO THEM. THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION. THE NEXT THREE SPEAKERS, RENEE LIGHT, BUDDY STOVALL, AND DONNA SHAW, MURPHY, RENEE LIGHT BUDDY STOVALL THE GENTLEMAN BEFORE ME, I THINK KIND OF SUMMED UP PRETTY MUCH WHAT I'VE GOTTA SAY. UH, THIS AREA MALL. I THINK, I THINK THE THING THAT MAYBE SOME PEOPLE ARE OVERLOOKING IS THE FACT THAT WE DON'T NEED AN AREA MALL. WE NEED, UH, EXCUSE ME, WE DON'T NEED A REGIONAL MALL. WE NEED AN AREA MALL. IF THIS DEVELOPMENT GOES THROUGH, IT'S GOING TO PUT, IT'S GONNA BE HUGE FOR THIS COMMUNITY. EVERYTHING'S GOING TO CHANGE, TRAFFIC'S GOING TO BE TERRIBLE. UH, ALL KIND OF THINGS. CRIME RATE, THERE'S NO, I DIDN'T HEAR ANY, ANY OF ANYBODY FROM EITHER SIDE SAYING ANYTHING ABOUT WHAT THE CRIME RATE GOES UP WHEN A LARGE COMPLEX LIKE THIS GOES INTO EXISTENCE. ANOTHER THING THAT BOTHERS ME, NOTHING HAS BEEN MENTIONED ABOUT THE RESIDENTS OF ALPHARETTA WHO DO WALK AROUND. ALL OF THESE THINGS THAT THEY'RE SHOWING UP HERE ON THIS THING, ON THIS MONITOR. UH, PEOPLE IN ALPHARETTA MOVED HERE, AND I KNOW ME AND MY WIFE LIVE HERE BECAUSE IT'S A, IT'S A SMALL COMMUNITY THAT IS NOT TRYING TO COMPETE WITH ATLANTA OR ANY OTHER CITY IN THE, IN THE COUNTRY. AND THE FIRST OBLIGATION I THINK OF IIO CITY C CITY COUNCIL IS TO DO WHAT'S IN THE BEST INTEREST OF THEIR CITIZENS, PROTECT THEIR CITIZENS. AND I DON'T THINK THAT, UH, EVEN THOUGH IT'S BEAUTIFUL, I WOULD LOVE IT IF IT WAS IN LOS ANGELES. , THAT'S ALL I GOT. THANK YOU. THE NEXT THREE SPEAKERS, DONNA SHAW MURPHY, DEBBIE WINDGATE, AND JUDY LYON, MAYOR COUNCIL. MY NAME IS HAW MURPHY. I LIVE IN ALPHA ALFREDA, GEORGIA AT 2 0 0 1 COMMERCE STREET. I'M SPEAKING TONIGHT IN OPPOSITION TO THE PROPOSED REDEVELOPMENT OF NORTH POINT MALL. I GREW UP IN ALPHARETTA AND I'VE WATCHED THE CITY EVOLVE FOR MOST OF MY LIFE. I ALSO HAD THE PRIVILEGE OF SERVING FOR FOUR YEARS ON THE BOARD OF ZONING APPEALS. I REMEMBER WHEN GEORGIA 400 WAS CALLED THE HIGHWAY TO NOWHERE. I WATCHED NORTH POINT MALL BEING BUILT, AND I WATCHED WINDWARD TRANSFORM ANOTHER PART OF OUR COMMUNITY. I KNOW THE SOUTHERN GIRL'S GONNA TALK REALLY FAST. I'VE ONLY GOT THREE MINUTES, SO I BETTER SPEED IT UP. I REMEMBER WHEN THE CITY JAIL WAS UNDER CITY HALL AND ALPHARETTA HAD TWO POLICE CARS. I MENTIONED THAT FOR ONE REASON, I AM NOT OPPOSED TO GROWTH OR CHANGE. I'VE SEEN THOUGHTFUL DEVELOPMENT HELP MAKE ALPHARETTA THE EXCEPTIONAL CITY IT IS TODAY. BUT I'VE ALSO LEARNED THAT HOW WE GROW REALLY TRULY MATTERS, NOT JUST WHETHER WE GROW. AND THAT'S WHY I HAVE CONCERNS ABOUT THE PROPOSAL BEFORE YOU TONIGHT. NORTH POINT NEEDS TO [03:55:01] BE REDEVELOPED. I WANT TO SEE IT THRIVE AGAIN, AND I'M FINE WITH IT. I'M FINE WITH THE NHL. I JUST WANT THE PRICE TO NOT BE ON THE BACK OF ALFREDA TAXPAYERS. BUT WE DON'T HAVE TO CHOOSE BETWEEN REVITALIZING NORTH POINT MALL AND PROTECTING THE ALFREDA TAXPAYERS WE SHOULD EXPECT TO ACCOMPLISH BOTH. ALFREDA HAD ESTABLISHED, HAS ESTABLISHED A NORTH POINT TAD, WHICH BY THE WAY, IS MUCH LARGER THAN THE REDEVELOPMENT AREA. WHY IS THAT? AND TONIGHT, YOU'RE BEING ASKED TO APPROVE SIGNIFICANT NEW ENTITLEMENTS, DENSITY, AND CONCESSIONS FROM THE POCKETS OF TAXPAYERS, INCLUDING NEARLY 1400 FOR RENT RESIDENTIAL UNITS. A DEVELOPMENT OF THIS MAGNITUDE WILL CREATE ADDITIONAL DEMANDS ON OUR ROADS, INFRASTRUCTURE, POLICE, FIRE, AND CITY SERVICES. HOWEVER, ALL THE NEW TAX REVENUES, REVENUES WILL HAVE BEEN PLEDGED TO THE DEVELOPER FOR THE PROJECT. SO CURRENT ALFREDA FAMILIES WILL BE FORCED TO PAY. SO MY FIRST QUESTION IS SIMPLE. WHO PAYS? WE KNOW WHO THE PEOPLE CURRENTLY LIVING IN ALPHARETTA, THE ONES THAT ELECTED YOU TO REPRESENT THEM. DEVELOPMENT SHOULD BEAR THE COST OF PROJECT IMPROVEMENTS, AS HAS ALWAYS BEEN THE CASE AND AN APPROPRIATE SHARE OF THE INFRASTRUCTURE AND SERVICE COSTS. IT CREATES NOT SHIFT THOSE COSTS DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY ONTO EXISTING TAXPAYERS. MY SECOND, AND PERHAPS ONE MOST IMPORTANT QUESTION IS, WHAT HAPPENS IF THE NHL NEVER COMES? WOULD YOU EVEN CONSIDER THIS DENSITY WITHOUT IT? AS WE SIT HERE TONIGHT, ALPHARETTA HAS NOT BEEN AWARDED AN NHL FRANCHISE. IF SIGNIFICANT DEVELOPMENT BEGINS BEFORE A FRANCHISE IS SECURED, WHAT CAN BE BUILT OR BECOME VESTED? AND IF THE NHL NEVER MATERIALIZES, WHAT PROTECTION AND RECOURSE WILL ALPHARETTA HAVE AT THAT POINT? TO BE SURE THERE MUST BE NO RECOURSE AGAINST CURRENT ALFREDA FAMILIES. IF THE NHL IS A JUSTIFICATION FOR EXTRA EXTRAORDINARY DENSITY, THEN THE NHL SHOULD ALSO BE THE TRIGGER FOR THE EXTRAORDINARY ENTITLEMENTS THAT COME WITH IT. AND FINALLY, WHY MUST THE RESIDENTIAL COMPONENT BE ENTIRELY RENTAL? WE KNOW THE ANSWER TO THAT AS WELL. THE ANSWER IS MONEY FOR THE DEVELOPER. I RESPECTFULLY REMIND YOU, AGAIN, YOU REPRESENT CURRENT RESIDENTS, NOT DEVELOPERS AND CORPORATIONS. IF WE'RE CREATING A NEW RESIDENTIAL COMMUNITY AT NORTH POINT, I ASK YOU TO REQUIRE MEANINGFUL OPPORTUNITIES FOR HOME OWNERSHIP THAT ALLOW PEOPLE TO PUT DOWN ROOTS, BUILD EQUITY, AND BECOME LONG-TERM STAKEHOLDERS IN ALPHARETTA JUST LIKE WE ALL DID. SO TONIGHT I'M ASKING COUNSEL FOR THREE THINGS. PROTECT OUR TAXPAYERS, TIE SIGNIFICANT DEVELOPMENT AND DENSITY TO CLEAR ENFORCEABLE NHL MILESTONES AND PROVIDE MEANINGFUL OPPORTUNITIES FOR HOME OWNERSHIP. MAYOR AND COUNCIL, I'M NOT ASKING YOU TO WALK AWAY FROM NORTH POINT. I'M ASKING YOU TO NEGOTIATE FROM A, FROM A PO. I NEED SOME WATER FROM A POSITION OF STRENGTH. WE'RE ALPHARETTA NORTH POINT IS TOO IMPORTANT TO GET THIS WRONG. WE NEED THE RIGHT PLAN, THE RIGHT TIMING, AND THE RIGHT PROTECTIONS PROTECTION THAT REMAIN IN PLACE, WHETHER THE NHL COMES OR NOT, LET'S REVITALIZE NORTH POINT. LET'S WELCOME THE NHL IF WE CAN, BUT LET'S MAKE SURE ALPHARETTA TAXPAYERS WIN TOO. THANK YOU. THE NEXT THREE SPEAKERS, DEBBIE WINGATE, JUDY LYON, AND VAN BODE. OH, DEBBIE. HELLO, I'M JUDY LYON. I LIVE AT SIX 20 FLYING SCOTT WAY IN ALPHARETTA. I UNDERSTAND THAT NORTH POINT MALL NEEDS REVITALIZATION, BUT IT'S CRITICAL TO CREATE A PLAN THAT REALLY ENHANCES OUR CITY. SO A FEW POINTS THAT HAVE BEEN MADE BY OTHERS, BUT I'LL JUST STATE, UH, THEM AGAIN, THE ENTIRE PLAN, NOT JUST THE CONSTRUCTION OF APARTMENTS, SHOULD BE CONTINGENT UPON THE AWARDING OF THE NHL TEAM. UH, I ALSO, WE ALSO FEEL THAT [04:00:01] THE, THE TAD REVITALIZATION, UH, DISTRICT, THAT THE, THE TAX REVENUE SHOULD GO BACK, NOT JUST TO THE DISTRICT, BUT TO THE ENTIRE CITY OF ALPHARETTA. BECAUSE AFTER ALL, ALPHARETTA TAXPAYERS, WE WILL BE BURDENED WITH THE EXTRA EXPENSE FROM THE DISTRICT OR THE FIRE DEPARTMENT, THE POLICE DEPARTMENT, UM, THE ROAD AND THE, AND THE ROAD MAINTENANCE AND THE TRAFFIC. SO BECAUSE OF THAT, THE, THE, THE WHOLE BENEFIT SHOULD BE TO THE WHOLE CITY, NOT JUST TO THE TAX DISTRICT. UM, AND THEN FINALLY, AND I THINK VERY IMPORTANTLY IS A POINT THAT FOLKS HAVE MADE. THE NFL TEAMS HAVE FAILED TWICE SINCE IN ATLANTA. METRO NFL ALPHARETTA GETS AN N-F-L-N-H-L TEAM. THERE'S NO ASSURANCE THAT THAT TEAM WILL STAY FOR MORE THAN A FEW YEARS IF THEY EVEN COME. AND SO WE WANNA MAKE SURE THAT WE, THE CITY RESIDENTS OF ALPHARETTA ARE NOT LEFT WITH THE BURDEN OF PAYING OFF THAT BOND. UM, THE BONDS THAT ARE SERVED THAT ARE A RESULT OF, UM, BRINGING THEM IN AND DOING THIS WHOLE BUILDING. SO WE DON'T, WE DON'T WANT TO BE LEFT WITH THAT TYPE OF BURDEN. AND SO WE WANNA BE MADE WHOLE BY THE OWNERS. SO, UH, AGAIN, THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR LOOKING AT THESE EXTRA PROTECTIONS FOR US CITIZENS OF ALPHARETTA. THE NEXT THREE SPEAKERS, NAN BODI, CRAIG JOHNSON, AND DAN HEATH. NAN. OH, NAN, I'M SO SORRY. THANK YOU. THAT'S OKAY. I WRITE MESSY. UM, I'M NAM BODI. THANK YOU FOR LETTING ME SPEAK. UM, I KNOW A LOT OF YOU, AND I KNOW A LOT OF YOU DON'T ALWAYS LIKE WHAT I HAVE TO SAY. I AM GONNA PUT A LITTLE PREAMBLE IN THAT I HADN'T PLANNED. THIS MEETING IS KIND OF ANNOYING BECAUSE IT WAS, THERE WERE TONS OF PEOPLE WHO FELT LIKE THEY WERE GONNA BE HEARD TONIGHT, AND WE HAD TO SIT HERE THREE AND A HALF HOURS BEFORE ANY ONE OF US GOT TO TALK. AND WITH A LOT OF THINGS THAT MAYBE WE, I GUESS, TRUSTED THAT Y'ALL HAD VETTED THOSE QUESTIONS AND THEY WOULD'VE BEEN ON A Q AND A OR SOMETHING THAT WE WOULD'VE PRE-READ BEFORE WE GOT HERE. SO IT DID SEEM LIKE AN ENDURANCE TEST. SO SORRY, I HAVE TO SAY THAT, BUT YOU KNOW WHO I AM. UM, I GUESS I'LL JUST BLURT OUT BECAUSE OF THE THREE MINUTES. I DON'T THINK WE HAVE A LACK OF HOTEL SPACE AND ALFREDA. WE'VE HAD LOTS OF EVENTS HERE AND INVITED FAMILY AND DONE THINGS AND DONE THINGS FOR MY HUSBAND BUSINESS. WE'VE NEVER HAD TROUBLE GETTING A HOTEL, HOTEL SPACE. NO LACK OF OFFICE SPACE, UM, APARTMENTS, IT'S ARE A LOSE, LOSE LOSE. THEY'RE LOSE FOR US. WE ARE FOR, AS THE CITY, WE'RE GONNA HAVE TO PROVIDE SERVICES FOR THEM. AND I REALLY DON'T THINK PEOPLE THINK THAT MUCH ABOUT HOW MUCH EDUCATION AND SCHOOLING COSTS. IT REALLY IS A LOT. LOOK AT YOUR, LOOK AT YOUR TAXES AND SEE HOW MUCH OF IT IS GOING TO EDUCATION. AND IT IS ONE OF THE BIG REASONS WHY PEOPLE MOVE HERE, EITHER FOR THEIR KIDS OR SO THAT THEY CAN ENSURE THE QUALITY AND PRICE POINT OF THEIR HOME. THEY WANT TO BE ABLE TO HAVE THAT. UM, I ALSO DON'T THINK THAT IT'S OUR PROBLEM. I DO THINK THAT THAT NORTH POINT MALL NEEDS TO BE FRESHENED OR CHANGED OR SOMETHING. WE DON'T OWN IT. NEW YORK LIFE DOES LET THEM SIGN IT A LITTLE BIT. LIKE MAYBE THEY CAN BRING IT AROUND A LITTLE. BUT IF, IF ALL THEY CAN DO IS JUST HIRE A DEVELOPER, UM, WHICH DEVELOPMENT COMPANIES ARE A DIME A DOZEN. I UNDERSTAND THEY FEEL LIKE THEY'RE SPECIAL, BUT THIS IS HAPPENING ALL ACROSS THE UNITED STATES WITH MALLS. IT'S, IT'S CHANGED. AND I DO THINK THAT THERE ARE OTHERS OR IF THEY WANNA HANG ON IN THERE, BUT I GUESS ONE OF THE BIGGEST THINGS I WOULD SAY TO YOU IS WE ELECTED ALL Y'ALL BECAUSE WE TRUST YOU. WE TRUSTED YOU AND SHAME ON US THAT WE MAYBE WERE FELL ASLEEP AT THE WHEEL AND DIDN'T WATCH EVERYTHING YOU WERE DOING AND DIDN'T SPEAK UP SOON ENOUGH. BUT, AND, AND THAT, THAT'S KIND OF ON US, BUT WE ELECT A LOT OF PEOPLE AT A LOT OF DIFFERENT PLACES. WE REALLY TRUSTED Y'ALL TO KEEP YOUR EYE ON THAT. KEEP US INFORMED IF IT WAS SOMETHING THAT WAS REALLY, AND WHATEVER YOU DID TO KEEP INFORMED, I'M SURE YOU DID TECHNICALLY, BUT TON OF PEOPLE DID NOT KNOW THIS WAS HAPPENING. SO OBVIOUSLY IT WAS NOT THE MOST EFFECTIVE COMMUNICATION. AND THERE ARE A LOT OF PEOPLE WHO ARE [04:05:01] VERY WORRIED ABOUT IT AND DIDN'T, DIDN'T CHOOSE TO BUY THEIR HOUSE AND LIVE IN A STADIUM COMMUNITY OR A BIG 20 STORY APARTMENT BUILDING COMMUNITY OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT. NOT WHAT WE WANT. UM, A LOT OF US, SO I JUST, I I I WOULD ASK YOU TO LISTEN MAYBE IN A DIFFERENT WAY. COMMUNICATE WE'RE OUT TO US IN A DIFFERENT WAY. UM, SOME OF IT, MOST OF IT, IN MY OPINION, IN MY OBSERVATION IS PERSONAL COMMUNICATION, MAKING RELATIONSHIPS WITH YOUR CONSTITUENTS WHO YOU THINK ARE GONNA ELECT YOU AGAIN. I GUESS THAT'S IT. I'M PROBABLY SURE THERE'S SOMETHING ELSE IN HERE, BUT I'M SURE I'M NEAR MY THREE MINUTES. BUT I DO WANT TO SAY, REMEMBER IT'S NOT OUR PROPERTY, IT'S NEW YORK LIFE'S PROPERTY. THE NEXT THREE SPEAKERS, CRAIG JOHNSON, DAN HEATH, AND VERDE JACKSON. GOOD EVENING. CRAIG JOHNSON, 1120 MURFIELD COURT, ALPHARETTA, GEORGIA. THANK YOU FOR MAKING ALPHARETTA AWESOME. WHEN WE MOVED HERE 15 YEARS AGO, IT WAS A LOT LESS IMPRESSIVE THAN IT IS TODAY. REDEVELOPMENT OF THE MALL WILL BE, MAKE IT MORE AWESOME, I'M SURE AT THE SAME TIME IT COMES WITH SOME COSTS. I DON'T KNOW EXACTLY WHETHER OR NOT THIS IS THE RIGHT PROPOSAL TO REDEVELOP THAT AREA OR NOT. IT'S GOT A LOT OF ATTRACTIVE FEATURES. IT'S ALSO GOT SOME FEATURES I DON'T LIKE. I THINK THAT A PROJECT THIS BIG SHOULD HAVE ITS OWNER OCCUPIED RATIO, BE REFLECTIVE OF THE CITY'S OVERALL RATIO. BUT WHETHER OR NOT THIS IS THE RIGHT PROJECT OR NOT, I REALLY ONLY HAVE ONE ASK. DON'T MAKE THE CITIZENS OF ALPHARETTA PAY TO SUBSIDIZE ANY PROJECT. WHATEVER IT IS THAT YOU APPROVE, YOU HAVE A TAD, A TAX LOCATION DISTRICT THAT WAS APPROVED A YEAR AGO. AND THE WAY IT'S WRITTEN, ALL OF THE INCREMENTAL TAX REVENUE FROM THE DEVELOPMENT, FROM THE INCREASED VALUES THAT ARE IN THE DISTRICT ARE TO BE SPENT IN THE DISTRICT. IF THAT DOES NOT INCLUDE COVERING ALL OF THE SERVICES AND MAINTENANCE, THEN THIS PROGRAM, THIS TAD, WILL INEVITABLY CAUSE A DEFICIT TO THE REST OF THE CITY, TO, TO PAY FOR THE INCREASED SERVICES THAT WILL BE NEEDED FOR THE DEVELOPMENT WITHOUT HAVING THE INCREASED REVENUE. SO DON'T MAKE, MAKE SURE THAT YOU COVER THE DETAILS IN IT TO WHERE WHATEVER DEAL YOU DO ISN'T A FOOLISH DEAL. I MAY BE WRONG ABOUT EXACTLY HOW THE DETAILS WORK OF THIS, BUT FROM WHAT I CAN SEE, IT LOOKS LIKE IT'S A FOOLISH DEAL. YOU'RE GONNA ISSUE 200 MILLION PLUS BONDS APPARENTLY, FROM WHAT IT SAYS IN THE TAD, MAYBE NOT FOR THIS DEVELOPMENT, BUT OVER TIME, THAT'S ABOUT $10,000 PER HOUSEHOLD. THAT'S A LOT OF DEBT THAT IS SET INDIRECTLY ON OUR BACKS. THINK ABOUT THE DETAILS OF HOW YOU DO THAT. MAKE SURE THAT YOU DO IT IN A WAY THAT'S SAFE FOR THE CITY OF ALPHARETTA, FOR THE TAXPAYER'S ALPHARETTA, IF THIS DEVELOPMENT GOES AS PLANNED, IT WILL PROBABLY BE FINE. IF YOU COVER THOSE FIRST TWO THINGS THAT I'VE MENTIONED, IF IT DEVELOPS FASTER THAN EXPECTED, THAT'LL BE GREAT. EXCEPT FOR ONE THING, IT'S GONNA CANNIBAL, IF IT GOES FASTER THAN EXPECTED, IT'S GONNA CANNIBALIZE AVALON. IT'S GONNA CANNIB CANNIBALIZE DOWNTOWN, AND IT'S GONNA CANNIBALIZE THE, UH, WINDWARD BUSINESS AREA. IF IT GOES SLOWER THAN EXPECTED, THEN NORMAL GROWTH IN DEMAND, WE WILL PREVENT THOSE AREAS FROM BEING CANNIBALIZED. BUT YOU PROBABLY HAVE TROUBLE MAKING THE PAYMENTS ON THE BONDS. AND THEN YOU'LL BE BACK TO MY, MY ONE ASK, DON'T MAKE THE CITIZENS OF ALPHARETTA SUBSIDIZE THIS PROGRAM. IT MAY BE PERFECTLY POSSIBLE TO ACCOMPLISH THIS WITHOUT DOING SO. I ASK THAT YOU MAKE REALLY, REALLY SURE THAT YOU HAVE COVERED ALL OF THE BASES TO MAKE SURE THAT THE CITIZENS OF ALPHARETTA DO NOT END UP SUBSIDIZING THIS PROGRAM. THANK YOU. THE NEXT THREE SPEAKERS, DAN HEATH, BURELL JACKSON, AND ROBERT SEK. DAN HEATH, BURELL JACKSON. GOOD EVENING LADIES AND GENTLEMEN. UM, BURELL JACKSON 10 55 TRAIL IN WINDWARD. I'VE BEEN, UH, A RESIDENT [04:10:01] OF 26 YEARS IN WINDWARD. 21 IN ALPHA IN, IN, UH, ROSWELL. SO I'VE BEEN HERE 49 YEARS AND I'VE, I'VE MOVED TO WINDWARD BECAUSE MARTA WAS COMING TO THE PARK AND RIDE LOT ON WINDWARD PARKWAY. MARTA WAS MY CLIENT. I HELPED BUILD THE WHOLE NORTH LINE. SO I, I'VE BEEN THROUGH THIS FROM DAY ONE. I'M AN INFRASTRUCTURE GUY. I'M A CIVIL ENGINEER. AND WHAT WE HAVE NOT ADDRESSED, AND MY, MY COLLEAGUES AT KIMLEY HORN, I WORK WITH THEM. THEY'RE MY PARTNERS ON SEVERAL PROJECTS, BUT WE HAVEN'T TALKED ABOUT SEWER CAPACITY, STORM WATER MANAGEMENT AND DRAINAGE AND, AND WATER SUPPLY. SEE, ALL THOSE THINGS ARE INCIDENT TO THIS PROJECT. SO RIGHT NOW, THOSE ARE COUNTY SUPPLIED RESOURCES. THEY'VE, WE'VE NOT DISCUSSED THAT. SO WHAT WE HAVE IS A CHALLENGE. THE SEWER CAPACITY WAS, WAS HELD BY MORATORIUM AT THE BIG CREEK WASTEWATER TREATMENT PLANT BECAUSE WE HAD EXCEEDED THE, THE CAPACITY OF THE PLANT. WE DON'T KNOW, WE HAVEN'T BEEN GIVEN ANY STATISTICS ON HOW THAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN AT THE CURRENT PLANT OR THE STORMWATER MANAGEMENT. I, I, I URGE MY COLLEAGUES AND KIMBERLY HORN TO LOOK AGAIN AT THE STORMWATER MANAGEMENT AND THE WATER SUPPLY. AND FURTHER, WE HAVEN'T TALKED ABOUT WHO THE EMPLOYEES ARE GOING TO BE AT THIS FACILITY. THERE'S NO WORKFORCE HOUSING. WE JUST HEARD STATISTICS ON START. A PRICE OF A HOUSE IS IN THE $400,000 RANGE. THAT'S NOT GONNA GO WITH A 20 DO DOLLARS AN HOUR PERSON WORKING AT THESE FACILITIES. SO WHERE ARE THEY GONNA LIVE? SO WE'VE GOT SOME CHALLENGES AND I THINK AT THIS POINT IN TIME, WE DON'T NEED TO SUBSIDIZE SOMEONE ELSE PROJECT AT THE EXPENSE OF OUR TAXPAYERS AND YOURS TRULY INCLUDED. SO THANK YOU. THE NEXT SPEAKER, ROBERT EK AND SARIKA BO HILL. GOOD EVENING. I'M ROBERT EK, NOT EC SORRY. DON'T ACT. THINK IT'S THE FIRST TIME YOU SAW THAT LAST NAME. UH, I LIVE AT 2060 WINTHROP COMMONS IN ALPHARETTA, AND I'VE BEEN A RESIDENT OF ALPHARETTA SINCE 2004. UH, THIS CITY HAS DEFINITELY GROWN AROUND ME AND, UM, I DID PUT DOWN THAT I'M AGAINST THIS. UM, I'M NOT AGAINST THE FACT THAT THERE, THERE'S TALKS OF AN ARENA AND I THINK, UM, JIM, YOU AND I HAVE HAD A CUP OF COFFEE IN THE PAST AND I SAID, IF, IF SOMETHING'S GOING UP, IT MAKES LOGICAL SENSE THAT IT GOES THERE. UM, HOWEVER, WHAT MY CONCERN IS THE DESIGN OF THE ACTUAL LAYOUT. YES, THE MALL IS AGING AND YES, IT'S MOSTLY EMPTY AND SEARS HAS LEFT AND THE PLACE LOOKS LIKE YOU COULD FILL A GREAT HORROR MOVIE THERE RIGHT NOW. UM, BUT THE REAL ISSUE IS THE ACTUAL LAYOUT, UH, AND THE DESIGN OF IT. BECAUSE ALTHOUGH YES, WE DO NEED, UH, RESIDENTIAL, UH, CAPACITY, I DON'T SEE HOW, UH, 65% STUDIO APARTMENTS IN A 1500, 1500, UH, UH, APARTMENT COMPLEX IS, IS A BENEFIT TO THE CITY. I WANNA SEE, UH, JUST LIKE MR. SHAW MURPHY, UH, DESCRIBED, UH, BUILT TO OWN BECAUSE THAT'S WHERE THE ROOTS ARE PLANTED IN ALPHARETTA. IT'S NOT IN APARTMENT COMMUNITIES. ROOTS DON'T GET PLANTED IN APARTMENTS. THEY'RE JUST POTS AND THAT PEOPLE JUST MOVE ON. WHEN, WHEN, WHEN A JOB CHANGES, A JOB SHIFTS OR SOMEBODY DECIDES TO JUST GET, GET OUT OF ALPHA BECAUSE IT'S TOO CONGESTED, THEY WANT TO GO UP TO DAWSON COUNTY. UM, MY MY OTHER CONCERN IS JUST HAVING PROBABLY AN ELEVATED CRIME PRESENCE BECAUSE HAVING 20 STORY TOWERS, THAT LOOKS LIKE A BIG CITY. AND WHEN YOU HAVE A BIG CITY, YOU HAVE BIG CITY PROBLEMS. AND I DON'T WANNA LIVE IN BUCKHEAD. I HAVE, UH, MET PLENTY OF MY OWN NEIGHBORS THAT LEFT BUCKHEAD DUE TO CRIME. I DON'T WANNA LIVE IN DUNWOODY. IT'S TOO CONGESTED, IT'S TOO MUCH OF A CITY AND I DON'T WANT TO HAVE THE PROBLEMS THAT WERE IN ATLANTIC STATION OR THE BATTERY COMING TO ALPHARETTA. THANK YOU. THE LAST, UH, SPEAKER CARD, SARIKA B HILL. HELLO, MY NAME IS SARIKA BKI. UM, I LIVE IN 7 35 PARSLEY LANE. UM, IT'S ON KIMBALL BRIDGE. THANK YOU SO MUCH, UH, FOR BEING SO PATIENT AND LISTENING TO ALL OF US. UM, I'VE LIVED IN ALPHA ALFREDA SINCE, UH, 1998. I HAVE WORKED HERE. I'VE RAISED A FAMILY HERE. MY KIDS GRADUATED FROM ALFRED HIGH SCHOOL. ALL THIS TO SAY THAT I JUST ABSOLUTELY LOVE OUR CITY. IT'S BEEN ALMOST 30 YEARS AND I HAVE NO PLANS OF MOVING OUT OF ALFREDA. SO THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR MAKING IT THE WAY IT IS. UM, I DO HAVE, UM, A COUPLE OF CONCERNS. THE VERY FIRST ONE BEING TRAFFIC AND, UM, [04:15:01] TRAFFIC CONGESTION IS REAL. UM, OLD MILTON PARKWAY, IT'S DIFFICULT TO GET IN AND OUT OF OLD MILTON. I THINK THERE'S ONLY ABOUT A TWO HOUR WINDOW WHERE YOU CAN ACTUALLY GO THROUGH THAT. OTHER THAN THAT, IT'S RED. UM, WE WERE AT, UM, UM, CARLOS SANTANA CONCERT ABOUT THREE WEEKS AGO AT AMERIS. AND IT TOOK ME 1.5 HOURS TO GET FROM WHERE I AM ON KIMBALL BRIDGE ROAD TO AMERIS. AND IT WAS A NIGHTMARE. AND I AM NOT LYING. THIS WAS BECAUSE IT WAS JUST SHOCKING FOR ME. SO I AM VERY, VERY CONCERNED WITH THE SCALE OF THIS PROJECT, BRINGING SO MANY DIFFERENT THINGS OVER THERE AND WHAT IT'S GONNA DO TO THAT, UH, TO THE TRAFFIC IN THAT AREA. UM, WE DID TALK ABOUT THE 700 AND, UH, 50,000 SQUARE FEET OF OFFICE SPACE. AND UM, I DO WANNA SAY A COUPLE OF THINGS ABOUT THAT. I AM AN, UM, UM, I'VE WORKED IN THE HIGH TECH INDUSTRY. I'VE WORKED IN IT FOR 20 YEARS. MY SON WORKS IN THE ENTERTAINMENT INDUSTRY. MY DAUGHTER WORKS IN HIGH TECH INDUSTRY AND ALL OF THESE INDUSTRIES, FROM THE WAY I HAVE SEEN THE MODEL IS, UM, ABOUT TWO TO THREE DAYS. YOU KNOW, WORKING FROM THE OFFICE, MAYBE TWO DAY STOPS. UM, MOST OF THE TIMES THEY WORK FROM HOME. UM, SO GIVEN THAT MODEL AND ALSO GIVEN THE FACT THAT AI UNFORTUNATELY IS A REALITY AND ALL COMPANIES ARE MANDATING AI USAGE IN THEIR COMPANIES, THERE IS A REDUCTION IN THE WORKFORCE. AND NOT, THAT'S NOT SAY WE DON'T NEED OFFICE SPACE, BUT I DO THINK THAT IF WE CREATES 750,000 SQUARE FEET OF NEW OFFICE SPACE, IT'S GONNA CANNIBALIZE THE OFFICE SPACE THAT WE ALREADY HAVE EXISTING. AND, UM, THE THIRD POINT I DO WANNA SAY, AND THAT'S THE LAST ONE, IS I LOVE OUR CITY THE WAY IT IS. A 20 STORY OR MULTIPLE 20 STORY BUILDINGS ARE NOT SOMETHING THAT I WOULD LIKE TO SEE. AND I DID SEE THE VIDEO, IT LOOKED BEAUTIFUL, BUT IT LOOKED LIKE TIMES SQUARE. AND I DO NOT WANNA BE STAYING IN TIMES SQUARE. SO THANK YOU. THANK YOU SO MUCH, MR. MAYOR. THOSE ARE ALL OF THE SPEAKER CARDS FOR THOSE IN OPPOSITION THAT I HAVE AT THIS TIME. IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO OPEN IT UP, I THINK WE'VE PROBABLY HAD ENOUGH IF NOBODY ELSE HAS SIGNED UP. MR. MAYOR, COULD I GIVE YOU JUST A QUICK LAY OF THE LAND AS TO THE TIME USED ON BOTH SIDES, JUST SO THAT WE, UM, STAY MINDFUL OF THAT. YEAH, I MEAN, I WANT DO WHAT WE SAID WE WOULD DO. I JUST, IF WE DON'T HAVE ANYBODY ELSE THAT HAD SIGNED UP, ACTUALLY, IF YOU DON'T MIND, UM, LET ME WHAT NOW, LEMME FINISH. UH, JUST GIVING YOU THE UPDATE AS TO WHERE WE ARE. SO WHAT, WHAT'S BEEN USED AS FAR AS TIME IN THE, UH, FOUR CATEGORIES, 42 MINUTES AND 13 SECONDS AND AGAINST HAS BEEN 34 MINUTES AND 34 SECONDS. SO THERE IS, UH, ABOUT A EIGHT MINUTE, UH, DELTA THERE AND I WOULD RELY UPON THE ATTORNEY TO NOT AS HEAD THE RIGHT DIRECTION. SO WE PROBABLY SHOULD OFFER BALANCE OF THAT TIME AGAINST TO JUST SEE IF THERE'S ANYBODY FOR IT. UM, AND THEN YOU CAN MOVE ON WITH YOUR DISCUSSION. SURE. MS. SHAPIRO, I DO NOT HAVE ANY ADDITIONAL, UH, SPEAKER CARDS AT THIS TIME, BUT IF THERE IS SOMEONE THAT WOULD LIKE TO COME FORWARD, I PLEASE ASK THAT YOU COME FORWARD AND STATE YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS FOR THE RECORD, PLEASE. TAMMY LUCAS. AND I'M 4 35 GOLDSTONE LANDING THREE TRIPLE ZERO FIVE. SO THANK YOU. I FELT CERTAIN THAT EVERYONE IN HERE COVERED EVERY CONCERN THAT I HAVE AND I THINK THEY DID. I THINK THEY DID A GREAT JOB. WE DO NEED TO REDEVELOP THAT, THAT AREA. THE MALL IS NOT VIABLE. EVERYBODY KNOWS THAT. BUT WE HAVE TO DO SOMETHING THAT DOESN'T COST THE CITIZENS OF ALPHARETTA. WE LOVE WHERE WE LIVE. WE HAVE A GREAT REPUTATION. MANY PEOPLE OUTSIDE OF OUR CITY KNOW ABOUT US. YOU DON'T HAVE TO BE AN ALPHARETTA TO KNOW ABOUT. I MEAN, YOU DON'T HAVE TO BE IN ATLANTA TO KNOW ABOUT ALPHARETTA. I TRAVEL AROUND THE COUNTRY AND I DON'T KNOW HOW MANY PEOPLE WHEN YOU SAY I LIVE INTA, THEY KNOW EXACTLY WHERE THAT IS AND THEY KNOW WHAT IT MEANS AND WE LOVE IT AND IT'S GREAT FOR US. AND YOU'VE ALL DONE A GREAT JOB GETTING US WHERE WE ARE TODAY. SO MOVE FORWARD. ABSOLUTELY. LET'S REDEVELOP. ABSOLUTELY. THE CITIZENS OF ALPHARETTA SHOULD NOT HAVE TO PAY FOR IT. IF IT'S A VIABLE BUSINESS, THERE'S A RETURN ON INVESTMENT AND DEVELOPERS KNOW IT. SO IF YOU'RE A DEVELOPER AND YOU'RE CONFIDENT IN YOUR PLAN, COME ON IN, PUT TOGETHER A PLAN AND, AND YOU SHOULD BE ABLE TO EARN MONEY. WE SHOULDN'T HAVE TO SUBSIDIZE. AND I WILL SAY TRAFFIC KIMLEY HORNE. I LOVE WHAT THEY HAD TO SAY ABOUT THAT, THAT WAS REALLY GREAT. BUT I, FOR 25 YEARS HAVE SAT ON GEORGIA 400 AND I MEAN SAT RIGHT [04:20:01] GOING IN THE, GOING TOWARDS ATLANTA IN THE MORNING AND COMING BACK IN THE EVENING. THERE'S NO WAY THAT 2000 MORE CARS A DAY, EVEN A THOUSAND IS GONNA AID MY COMMUTE. AND COID. YES, PEOPLE ARE WORKING FROM HOME, BUT WE ALSO SEE A TREND. WE'RE IN THE OFFICE, WE HAVE MANAGERS SAYING WE NEED NETWORKING. WE NEED PEOPLE TO BE BACK IN THE OFFICE. WE OWE THE YOUNG PEOPLE IN OUR INDUSTRIES, RIGHT? WE OWE THEM THE OPPORTUNITY TO NETWORK AND TO LEARN AND THEY WANT TO BE IN THE OFFICE. SO ARE WE SEEING A CHANGE THERE? YES, WE ARE. SO IF WE THINK THAT THE COMMUTE THAT WE HAVE ON 400 TODAY IS THE COMMUTE WE'RE GONNA HAVE IN FIVE YEARS, I'LL BET YOU A CUP OF COFFEE THAT IT'S NOT RIGHT. IT'S GOING TO, IT'S THE VOLUME'S GONNA INCREASE. SO THINK ABOUT THAT PLEASE AND THINK ABOUT, YOU KNOW, THINK ABOUT HOW YOU TAKE CARE OF THE CITIZENS OF ALPHA. 'CAUSE WE DO LIVE HERE AND WE DO CARE. WE WANT IT TO GROW. WE WANT IT TO BE BETTER, BUT WE DON'T WANNA LOSE WHAT WE HAVE. IS THERE ANYONE ELSE THAT WANTS TO COME FORWARD? I DON'T SEE ANYONE. SO WE'LL CLOSE PUBLIC COMMENT. WOULD THE APPLICANT LIKE TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THEIR REBUTTAL? THERE'S A PHONE. SOMEBODY LEFT THEIR PHONE UP HERE. IT'S HIM. OH, MR. MAYOR AND COUNCIL, WE HAVE, WE'VE HEARD A LOT OF INFORMATION TONIGHT, UM, AND IN REBUTTAL AND JUST REALLY THINKING ABOUT THE DECISION BEFORE YOU, YOU KNOW, WE'VE HEARD SOME DIFFERENT THINGS, UM, SOME OF WHICH ARE RELEVANT TO THE LAND USE DECISION. SOME OF THEM ARE OUTSIDE OF THE LAND USE DECISION THAT YOU ARE HERE DECIDING ON TONIGHT. AND TO BE CLEAR, THIS IS A LAND USE DECISION. THIS IS PROPERTY THAT IS PRIVATELY OWNED AND PROPERTY OWNERS HAVE THE RIGHT TO USE THEIR PROPERTY. AND IN GEORGIA, I THINK AS PROPERTY OWNERS, WE'RE PROBABLY QUITE THANKFUL OF BOTH THE FEDERAL AND STATE PROTECTIONS. BUT IT, IT'S A BALANCE. IT'S A BALANCE BETWEEN THE GOVERNMENT'S RIGHT TO REGULATE PROPERTY AND THE PRIVATE PROPERTY'S RIGHT TO USE THEIR PROPERTY. AND IF THE ZONING OF THE PROPERTY DOES NOT ALLOW FOR A REASONABLE ECONOMIC USE OF THE PROPERTY, THAT ZONING IS UNCONSTITUTIONAL. IT MUST BE CHANGED. THAT'S THE DECISION BEFORE YOU TONIGHT IS TO CHANGE THE ZONING. THERE IS AN UNDISPUTED FACT THAT THE NORTHSIDE PROPERTY HAS DECREASED IN PROPERTY VALUES 40% IN THE LAST FIVE YEARS. THE ZONING IS THE BARRIER TO THE REDEVELOPMENT OF THIS PROPERTY, WHICH IS WHY WE'RE HERE BEFORE YOU TONIGHT. WE ARE HERE BEFORE YOU TO CREATE A VIBRANT AND SUCCESSFUL MIXED USE DEVELOPMENT. AND WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT THE MIXTURE OF USES AND THE SPACES DESIGNATED FOR EACH DIFFERENT USE, IT'S A VERY COMPLEX FORMULA. IT'S EVEN MORE COMPLEX WHEN YOU'RE THINKING ABOUT A MULTI-BILLION DOLLAR DEVELOPMENT FOR A SPORTS AND ENTERTAINMENT DISTRICT. AND IT'S NOT SIMILAR TO IF YOU HAVE A STACK OF LEGOS AND YOU KNOW, YOU PUT THE LITTLE, LITTLE BLOCKS ON TOP OF EACH OTHER WITH LEGOS, YOU COULD TAKE A FEW OFF AND YOU STILL HAVE A STACK OF LEGOS. WITH A DEVELOPMENT LIKE THIS, IT'S MORE AKIN TO THE GAME OF JENGA. YOU'VE GOT THE BLOCKS, BUT IF YOU MOVE THE WRONG ONES, THE ENTIRE THING FALLS. SO THE DEVELOPMENT BEFORE YOU HAS SATISFIED THE CRITERIA IN YOUR CODE FOR THIS REZONING AND FOR THE MASTER PLAN AND FOR THE VARIANCE. AND THAT IS SUPPORTED WITH ALL OF THE APPLICATION MATERIALS BEFORE YOU, WITH THE VERY WELL REASONED AND VERY THOUGHTFUL APPROACH THAT YOUR CITY'S PLANNING STAFF PUT TOGETHER WITH THE STAFF REPORT AND THE 74 CONDITIONS THAT YOU HAVE BEFORE YOU. THIS IS NOT A DEVELOPMENT PLAN THAT IS HALF BAKED. IT IS NOT SOMETHING THAT HAS NOT BEEN THOUGHT [04:25:01] OUT SIGNIFICANTLY. AND NONE OF US HAVE A CRYSTAL BALL TO KNOW WHAT THE FUTURE HOLDS, BUT WE SHOULD CERTAINLY NOT LET THE UNKNOWNS OF THE FUTURE FEED FEAR AND PREVENT GOOD LAND USE DECISIONS. SO WE ARE HERE TONIGHT ASKING FOR YOUR APPROVAL OF THIS APPLICATION AS WE'VE REQUESTED, WE PROVIDED YOU WITH THREE CHANGES TO THE CONDITIONS. AND I HAVE A FEELING THAT I DIDN'T BRING THOSE UP, WHICH YOU HAVE, BUT I DO WANT TO GO OVER THEM. UM, YES. SO TO BE CLEAR, YOU KNOW, THE FIRST CONDITION IS MAKING IT CRYSTAL CLEAR THAT THE PLANS BEFORE YOU TONIGHT ARE CONTINGENT UPON THE NHL. AND IF THAT DOESN'T HAPPEN, WE HAVE NO MORE OR NO LESS THAN WHAT WE HAVE TODAY. IT JUST IS THE SAME ENTITLEMENTS. THE SECOND CHANGE RELATES TO THE HOTEL CONDITION. UM, AS WE'VE TALKED ABOUT, OUR ORIGINAL REQUEST WAS FOR THREE HOTELS, A SELECT SERVICE, A FULL SERVICE. THANK YOU. UH, ORIGINALLY WE SUBMITTED THE APPLICATION WITH THREE HOTELS, THE FULL SERVICE CONFERENCE, HOTEL, A SELECT SERVICE HOTEL, AND A HYBRID HOTEL. WE HAD FEEDBACK THAT THAT WAS TOO MANY HOTEL KEYS AND WE REDUCED DOWN TO TWO. WE WERE STILL REQUESTING THE HYBRID HOTEL. WE REQUESTED THAT AT PLANNING COMMISSION. WE HAVE CONTINUED TO ENGAGE IN CONVERSATION AND HAVE HEARD THE DESIRE FOR ANOTHER, UM, NOT A HYBRID HOTEL, BUT ANOTHER FULL SERVICE HOTEL. AND SO WE WOULD ASK THAT YOU MODIFY THE CONDITION, UM, IN ACCORDANCE WITH WHAT WE HAVE, UM, INDICATED HERE, WHICH DOES CONFIRM THAT, UM, THERE WOULD BE ONE HOTEL WITH THE FOUR DIAMOND, UM, RATING ONE HOTEL WITH THE THREE DIAMOND RATING. BOTH HOTELS WOULD HAVE A RESTAURANT AND JUST CLARIFYING THE EXTRA AMENITIES THAT THAT CONFERENCE HOTEL WOULD HAVE. AND THEN THE THIRD, UH, REQUEST FOR CHANGE IS RELATED TO THE STORMWATER PARK. UM, YOU KNOW, AS, UM, I THINK THE STAFF HAS INDICATED, AS WE HAVE INDICATED, UH, THE STORMWATER PARK, WE OWN ABOUT THREE ACRES OF THAT. AND THE CITY LONG BEFORE THIS APPLICATION CAME, BEFORE YOU HAS HAD PLANS TO DEVELOP THAT AS A TRUE PARK. IT CURRENTLY SERVES FOR THE INFRASTRUCTURE FOR THIS DISTRICT. IT'S ALREADY PROVIDING THE STORMWATER DETENTION. SO THE REQUEST BY STAFF WAS FOR US TO DO THE IMPROVEMENTS TO CHANGE IT FROM JUST DETENTION INTO A FEATURE THAT WOULD BE SOMETHING THAT COULD BE ENJOYED BY THE RESIDENTS AND WE'RE AGREEABLE TO DOING THAT. AND IN, YOU KNOW, AS PART OF THAT, THAT'S WHERE THE IMPACT FEES COME INTO PLACE. UM, THE PROPERTY WILL BE DEDICATED TO THE CITY, SO THAT BECOMES CITY PROPERTY. AND THE PROPERTY OWNER IS AGREEABLE TO DO THE MAINTENANCE OF THE PARK THAT WE, UM, ARE GOING TO DEVELOP FOR FIVE YEARS OR UNTIL THE CITY CREATES THE BIGGER PARK. BECAUSE THE WHOLE, UM, RESPONSE TO US WAS THE PARKS DEPARTMENT DIDN'T WANT TO COME AND JUST, YOU KNOW, MAINTAIN ONE AND A HALF, TWO ACRES, UM, AT A TIME. BUT AT THE TIME THAT THE ENTIRE PARK IS BUILT, WHETHER THAT'S, UM, BEFORE, IF THAT'S BEFORE FIVE YEARS OR AT THE FIVE-YEAR PARK, THEN THE CITY WOULD TAKE OVER THAT MAINTENANCE. SO, UM, I AM HERE BEFORE YOU ASKING FOR YOUR SUPPORT AS WE HAVE REQUESTED. I THINK THAT WHILE THERE HAVE BEEN, UM, STATEMENTS THAT HAVE BEEN MADE, THERE HAVE BEEN OPINIONS THAT HAVE BEEN SHARED. ONE OF THE UNIVERSAL TRUTHS IS WE'RE NEVER GONNA PLEASE EVERYONE. AND I THINK ONE OF THE WONDERFUL ASPECTS ABOUT THIS COUNTRY IS THE ABILITY TO EXPRESS DIFFERENT OPINIONS. AND I KNOW THAT THERE ARE A VARIETY OF OPINIONS ON JUST ABOUT ANY LAND USE THAT COMES BEFORE YOU. BUT WHAT YOU HAVE BEFORE YOU IS FACTUAL DATA IN THE FORM OF STUDIES AND ACTUAL EVIDENCE BEFORE YOU THAT ABSOLUTELY SUPPORTS THE APPROVAL OF THIS AND ESTABLISHES THAT THIS APPLICATION SATISFIES THE CODE CRITERIA THAT YOU ARE TO USE WHEN MAKING YOUR DECISION. SO WE APPRECIATE THE TREMENDOUS TIME AND EFFORT [04:30:01] THAT THE CITY STAFF HAS PUT IN THAT EACH OF YOU, THAT THE PLANNING COMMISSION AND THE PUBLIC, THIS HAS DEFINITELY BEEN ONE WITH A LOT OF ENGAGEMENT AS IT SHOULD. NORTH POINT MALL WAS DESIGNED 36 YEARS AGO TO BE A REGIONAL DESTINATION AND THE DECISION BEFORE YOU TONIGHT IS TO SOLIDIFY THAT VISION AND TO MAKE IT A REGIONAL DESTINATION FOR THE NEXT FUTURE GENERATION TO ENJOY. SO THANK YOU. IF YOU HAVE SPECIFIC QUESTIONS, AS I INDICATED EARLIER, WE HAVE OUR FULL TEAM AND WE ARE HAPPY TO ANSWER QUESTIONS. DO WE HAVE ANY QUESTIONS FOR THE APPLICANT AT THIS TIME? THANK YOU VERY MUCH. SO WE'VE HEARD PUBLIC COMMENT, WE'VE HAD ALL THE DISCUSSION. DO WE HAVE A MOTION? YES SIR. MR. MAYOR, THANK YOU. I'D OFFER A MOTION THIS EVENING TO APPROVE MP DASH 26 DASH ZERO SIX SLASH Z DASH 26 DASH ZERO FIVE SLASH CU DASH 26 DASH ZERO FOUR SLASH V DASH 26 DASH EIGHT NORTH POINT SPORTS ENTERTAINMENT DISTRICT THAT'S PRESENTED THIS EVENING WITH THE FOLLOWING THREE ADDITIONAL CHANGES. NUMBER ONE IS APPROXIMATELY 9 98 0.5 ACRES SHALL BE ZONED TO MU AND DEVELOPER AS FOLLOWS. THEY WISH TO ADD IN NUMBER ONE AT THE END OF THE SENTENCE TO SAY WHICH CONDITION SHALL BE SUBJECT TO THE CONDITION SET FORTH HEREIN. UH, THREE E OF THIS SAME SECTION AFTER FOUR RENT RESIDENTIAL SUBJECT TO CONDITION ONE ABOVE. SO BASICALLY, AS WE SAID EARLIER, IF IF CONDITION ONE DOESN'T GO, NONE OF THEM GO, UM, UNDER A HOTEL, WE'LL OFFER ONE HOTEL FOUR DIAMOND STAR WITH ACCESSORIES. USE SHALL BE LIMITED TO RESTAURANT SPA, FITNESS CENTER AND CONFERENCE SPACE. MINIMUM 10,000 SQUARE FEET OF CONFERENCE SPACE SHALL BE PROVIDED WITH THE MAXIMUM OF 5,000 SQUARE FEET AND SHOULD SHALL INCLUDE A MINIMUM OF 7,500 SQUARE FEET. WE SHOULD ALSO ADD ONE HOTEL, MAYBE A THREE DIAMOND, DIAMOND PROGRAM OR HIGHER AND SHALL ORDER FROM A MENU. A FOUR DIAMOND HOTEL SHALL INCLUDE A BANQUET KITCHEN FULL SERVICE RESTAURANT. AS FOR STORM WATER NUMBER 12, AFTER DEVELOPER SHALL BE RESPONSIBLE FOR IT SAYS MAINTENANCE AND TAKE OUT THE WORD DAILY UNTIL THE EARLIER OF FIVE YEARS AFTER THE NORTH HALF OF THE STORMWATER PARK IMPROVEMENTS ARE COMPLETED. OR THE COMPLETION OF THE PARK FEATURES ON THE ADJACENT PARCEL SHOWN AS PROPERTY OWNED BY OTHERS ON PAGE 20 OF THE STAFF REPORT AND LOCATE BETWEEN THE NORTH AND SOUTH DETENTION PARK AREAS. UH, I'D LIKE TO MAKE A SECOND WITH A FRIENDLY AMENDMENT, UH, TO THE MOTION, THE FRIENDLY AMENDMENT BEING THAT, UH, UH, AS TO THE ADDITIONAL CONDITIONS, UH, THAT ALL OF CONDITION ONE WITH ITS TWO SUBPARTS AND CONDITION THREE E AS PRESENTED IN THE, UH, ADDITIONAL WRITEUP PRESENTED. COUNSEL MADE A PART OF THE RECORD THAT THOSE BE, UH, PLACED INTO THE CONDITIONS IN THE RECORD IN LIEU OF WHAT'S IN THE STAFF REPORT. UH, I BELIEVE WHEN MR. UH, MAYOR PRO TEM READ CONDITION ONE, HE READ THE RED LINE PORTION, BUT IT'S THE ENTIRETY OF NUMBER ONE THAT HAS BEEN REWRITTEN AND THERE WAS SOME ADDITIONAL LANGUAGE, UH, IN THE RED LINE. SO MY FRIENDLY AMENDMENT IS HIS MOTION. YEAH, BUT ALL OF ONE AND ALL OF THREE E THAT HAS BEEN PROVIDED THAT WE CAN, UH, PUT INTO THE RECORD WOULD BE, UH, PART OF THE MOTION. SO WE HAVE A MOVED, WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND. ANY DISCUSSION, MAYOR? I'D LIKE TO MAKE A FRIENDLY AMENDMENT, UH, AN ADDITIONAL CONDITION IF I COULD FOR CONSIDERATION. UM, I'D LIKE TO ADD CONDITION NUMBER 75 THAT REQUIRES, UM, ANY USE OF THE INCREMENTAL, UH, FINANCING OF THE TAD THAT'S IN PLACE THAT ANY BONDS THAT ASSOCIATED TO THE USE OF THOSE TAD REVENUES, UH, ARE, UH, OUR GENERAL OBLIGATION BONDS THAT WOULD REQUIRE A REFERENDUM TO THE VOTERS OF THE CITY OF ALPHARETTA TO APPROVE. I DID NOT ACCEPT THAT. IT'S NOT PART OF THIS HEARING. SO WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND. ANY OTHER DISCUSSION? YEAH, WE'RE UP FOR DISCUSSION HERE. PRO 10. ALL RIGHT, I'M GONNA BE BRIEF. UM, EVERYBODY'S HAD QUITE A BIT TO TAKE IN TONIGHT. UM, WE TALKED ABOUT A [04:35:01] 1989 PRESENTATION TO THE CITY BY THE NORTH POINT MALL PROJECT. 1990 WAS APPROVED. 91 RIBBON CUT OR, UH, GROUNDBREAKING 96 RIBBON CUTTING 30 YEARS AGO. UM, 30 YEARS AGO, THERE WAS 25,000 PEOPLE IN THIS TOWN. TODAY WE RACK IN RIGHT AROUND 67,000. I'M GUILTY. I BROUGHT MY WIFE. WE'VE HAD TWO CHILDREN, THAT'S FOUR OF US. UM, I ACCEPT MY SHARE OF THE RESPONSIBILITY. I MIGHT HAVE TOLD A HANDFUL OF PEOPLE OVER THE YEARS HOW GREAT IT IS HERE. THAT MAY RESULT IN A FEW OTHER FOLKS SHOWING UP. UM, BUT THIS PROJECT, WITHOUT A DOUBT, IS A GAME CHANGER FOR THIS CITY. YOU CAN SEE EVERY DAY. WE'VE HAD SOME PEOPLE UP HERE TALKING ABOUT 400. I SPENT 16 YEARS DRIVING TO MIDTOWN EVERY DAY AND BACK. AND I GET IT. UM, WE ARE IN A POSITION WHERE ECONOMICS ARE MOVING NORTH OF US. COMMERCE IS MOVING NORTH OF US. IT'S THE OLD SAYING, IT'S HOW MY WIFE AND I WOUND UP HERE. WE WENT TO WHERE WE WORKED AND WE DROVE TILL WE COULD AFFORD A HOUSE. AND THAT HAD TO PUT US AT PARK CREEK WHEN IT WAS NEW OVER HERE, OFF OLD MILTON. WE'VE BEEN UP HERE 30 SOME YEARS. UM, WE HAVE A BIG PROBLEM ON OUR HANDS IF WE ALLOW THIS NORTH POINT MALL ON THE SOUTHWEST EASTERN CORNER OF OUR CITY TO CONTINUE TO DECLINE. THE WAY IT'S, TO CATCH IT NOW IS TRULY PART OF THE VISION THAT'S BEEN GOING ON FOR THE LAST FIVE YEARS. WE'VE SEEN MULTIPLE PROJECTS THAT HAVE COME TO US THAT WERE JUST, FRANKLY TERRIBLE. WOULD'VE BEEN REALLY EASY TO SAY, YEAH, OKAY, GOING OVER THE PROPERTY IF YOU WANNA PUT 600 APARTMENTS IN THE PARKING LOT OR SEVEN 50, I THINK WAS THE ASK, OR 900 WAS THE ASK. AND THEN WE GOT A BUNCH OF BOXES WITH TBD WRITTEN ON 'EM, WHICH APPARENTLY MEANS THEY DON'T KNOW WHAT THEY'RE GONNA DO WITH THEM YET. SO I OFTEN SAY ONE OF THE BEST DECISIONS I MADE WAS TO NOT ACCEPT AN OFFER TO REDEVELOP THE MALL FOUR OR FIVE YEARS AGO. 'CAUSE IT WASN'T THE RIGHT THING TO DO AND IT WASN'T THE RIGHT TIME. THIS PROJECT HAS BEEN VETTED FOR OVER TWO YEARS. I FOUND IT INTERESTING. WE TOOK A BREAK. WE WERE TALKING, IT'S LIKE WE HAVEN'T TALKED MUCH. I SAID, WE'VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT IT FOR TWO YEARS. I KNOW THE ANSWER TO EVERY QUESTION THAT WAS ASKED MULTIPLE WAYS. UH, AS WELL AS THAT UNDERSTANDING DETER DETERIORATING MALL BY GETTING AHEAD OF THIS IS GONNA HELP PRESERVE THE OTHER BUSINESSES THAT SURROUND THE MALL AREA. RIGHT NOW, TARGET IS STILL VIABLE RIGHT NOW. CHICK-FIL-A'S ROCKING IT ON THE CORNER. YOU CAN GO GO PETSMART TO GO. YOU KNOW, ALL THESE BUSINESSES AROUND THERE ARE IN GOOD SHAPE RIGHT NOW, AND THERE'S VERY LITTLE VACANCY IN THOSE AREAS. BUT IF THIS MALL CONTINUES TO GO AND IT BECOMES A BLIGHT IN THE COMMUNITY, THOSE OTHER BUSINESSES ARE GONNA START TO FOLLOW. AND YOU'RE GONNA SEE A CRUMBLING EFFECT. AND IT'S, IT'S, IT'S, IT'S GOING ON OVER THE COUNTRY. GO TO G GO TO GWINNETT PLAY MALL. I WISH I COULD BRING A PICTURE AND SHOW YOU WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE IF YOU HAVEN'T SEEN IT. IT IS SCARY. AND, AND THERE ARE OWNERS OUT THERE THAT WOULD COME TO NEW YORK LIFE AND BUY THIS PROPERTY AND, AND THEY'VE GOT A MODEL AND THEY JUST PUT IN CHEAPER AND CHEAPER TENANTS. AND YOU WIND UP WITH FLEA MARKETS THAT, UH, YOU KNOW, WE NORMALLY WOULDN'T GO TO. OR YOU'VE GOT NON-RETAIL, UH, BUSINESSES OPERATING INSIDE AND THEY KNOW HOW TO RUN THOSE THINGS OUT ANOTHER 10 OR 15 YEARS AND MAKE A LOT OF MONEY AT THE END. YOU JUST WALK AWAY FROM IT. WE'RE NOT ABOUT THAT IN ALPHARETTA. THAT THAT'S, THAT'S NOT WHAT WE EXPECT. AND THAT'S NOT WHAT YOU EXPECT FROM YOUR LEADERSHIP EITHER. SO ON THAT NOTE, YOU MIGHT HEAR A LARGE NUMBER OF, OF APARTMENTS ALREADY EXIST WITHIN A CERTAIN DISTANCE OF THIS AREA. THEY'RE NOT THE SAME. SO TO SAY THAT THESE 25-YEAR-OLD GARDEN APARTMENTS ARE PLENTY OF APARTMENTS TO TAKE CARE OF THE NEED, THEY'RE NOT. AND YOU HEARD THAT FROM THE DEVELOPER THIS MORNING OR THIS EVENING. IT FEELS LIKE MORNING. IT'D BE MORNING HERE IN A LITTLE, A LITTLE BIT. UM, THERE IS A GAP. MY CHILDREN, MY YOUNGEST, 27 YEARS OLD, LIVES IN DAWSONVILLE. SHE DID WHATEVER WE DID. SHE GOT A JOB HERE IN ALPHARETTA MAKING ALMOST A HUNDRED GRAND. BUT SHE STILL HAD TO DRIVE TO DAWSONVILLE BEFORE SHE COULD FIND A TOWN HALL FOR $400,000 SHE AND HER HUSBAND COULD AFFORD. IT'S A REALITY OF IT. WE'RE NOT INTO GOVERNMENT HOUSING. WE DON'T HAVE THAT ABILITY. WE DON'T HAVE THE LAND, WE DON'T HAVE THE PROGRAMS. IT'S REAL. SO IF YOU CAN CAPTURE THOSE YOUNG PROFESSIONALS, AS IT WAS MENTIONED EARLIER, THE 24 TO 28, 23 TO 27, WHATEVER, THAT, THAT GAP IS IN THERE WHERE THEY NEED TO GET ON THEIR FEET, BECAUSE MY WIFE AND I DID IN A SMALL HOUSE IN WEST COBB, IT GOT ON OUR FEET AND WE MADE THE RUN OVER HERE AND WE GOT ON OUR FEET AGAIN AND MADE ANOTHER CHANGE. BUT AS I SAID, THEY PUT DOWN, WE PUT DOWN ROOTS IN HERE EARLY ON IN OUR LIVES BEFORE WE HAD KIDS. MY OLDEST DAUGHTER WAS BORN IN 96, SAME YEAR AS THE MALL. SO I GET THAT PART. BUT THIS IS TRUE LEADERSHIP AND TRUE VISION FROM THE STAFF THAT'S OVER HERE HAS BEEN WORKING ON IT FOR FIVE YEARS. CITY ADMINISTRATOR, WHO'S ACTUALLY BEEN THROUGH THIS BEFORE IN SOUTH FLORIDA, HE BRINGS AN INCREDIBLE AMOUNT OF EXPERIENCE TO THE PROCESS. WHETHER IT'S DAVID, THE, THE ATTORNEY, DAVID DOVE, THAT THAT'S DONE A BUNCH OF THIS AROUND THE [04:40:01] COUNTRY AND HE'S BEEN GOING THROUGH THIS AS YOU SAW TONIGHT. HE'S TOLD US WHAT WE CAN AND CAN'T DO. THIS IS NOT SOME LOOSE CANON GAME. THIS IS REAL. WE'RE SEEING AN OPPORTUNITY. THIS IS ONE BITE AT THE APPLE AS THEY SAY. THIS IS AN OPPORTUNITY THAT CITIES ALL OVER THE COUNTRY WOULD DIE FOR. I GREW UP IN TOLEDO, OHIO. WHEN I GO BACK, WHICH IS RARE, IT'S AMAZING FOR ME TO SEE WHAT AREAS DIED BECAUSE THERE WAS NO VISION TO DO SOMETHING WITH THE FUTURE OF THAT AREA. AND YOU TALK ABOUT THE ONE THAT COUNCILMAN DRISCOLL BROUGHT UP, 6,000 JOBS. THAT DOESN'T COUNT. THE CONTRACTORS ARE GONNA BE HERE FOR SEVEN, EIGHT YEARS BUILDING THIS THING. IT'S AN ECONOMIC SHOT IN THE ARM. AND FOR THOSE PEOPLE THAT THINK THAT A TAD IS GOING TO TAKE MORE MONEY OUT OF THE CITY THAT COULD BE USED FOR OTHER THINGS, YOU, YOU'RE MISSING A BIGGER PIECE OF IT. BECAUSE EVEN WHILE THE TA EXISTS, WE'LL BE PAYING THAT BOND PAYMENT, THIS MALL AND THE AREA, EVERYBODY AROUND IT THAT WILL BE CONTINUED TO GROW. WE'LL HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO PAY MORE TAXES THROUGH THE SALES TAX PROGRAM. THAT MONEY WILL COME BACK. I DON'T HAVE THEM IN FRONT OF ME. I'VE SAT THROUGH ENOUGH PRESENTATIONS TO SEE HOW IT WORKS AND HOW IT PLAYS OUT. AND I PROMISE YOU, WE'VE NOT BEEN ASKED FOR ANY MONEY YET. THAT'S ANOTHER IMPORTANT THING. WE'VE NOT BEEN ASKED FOR ANYTHING. WE PUT THE TAD IN PLACE A YEAR IN ADVANCE BECAUSE THAT'S HOW LONG IT TAKES TO GET IT PRETTY MUCH PUT TOGETHER THROUGH FULTON COUNTY AND FULTON COUNTY SCHOOLS. SO, UM, I'M GONNA FINISH ON THIS NOTE. I THINK AGAIN THAT THIS HAS BEEN AN AMAZING RUN, RUN THESE LAST FIVE YEARS. WE'VE BEEN FOCUSED ON THIS VISION TO MAKE SURE THAT THIS THING DOESN'T JUST BECOME A BLIGHTED PART OF OUR COMMUNITY. AND IF AND WHEN IT DOES, WHILE WE WAIT UNTIL WE SEE WHAT WE WANT NEXT. I'VE HEARD MANY PEOPLE SAY, LET'S JUST HOLD ON, LET IT LET IT STAY OPEN FOR A LITTLE WHILE LONGER. OR, I WANT TO GO OVER THERE 'CAUSE IT'S AIR CONDITIONED. I HEARD A NUMBER, LIKE 60 GRAND A MONTH IS AN AIR CONDITIONING BILL FOR PEOPLE TO GO OVER THERE AND I'M GUILTY. I'LL GO BUY SOMETHING SMALL AND DO A LOT OF WALKING AROUND IN SUMMERTIME. THAT'S NOT VIABLE. THAT'S NOT THE FUTURE. AND I THINK THIS PROGRAM HAS THE AMAZING ABILITY TO DO EXACTLY THAT. AND THAT'S WHY I SUPPORT THIS PROJECT. COUNCILMAN DORITO. THANK YOU MAYOR. AND THANK YOU MAYOR FOR FOR YOUR COMMENTS. AND I ACTUALLY, UM, RESPECT HIS COMMENTS AND ACTUALLY AGREE WITH A LOT OF WHAT HE SAID BECAUSE I'M NOT OPPOSED TO REDEVELOPMENT, REDEVELOPING THE NORTH POINT MALL AREA. THERE'S A LOT OF INFORMATION. THIS IS A, THIS IS A, I WON'T USE THE WORD MASSIVE BECAUSE IT LOOKS LIKE I'M TRYING TO TRASH THE PROJECT, BUT IT, IT, IT'S A SIGNIFICANT PROJECT FOR THE CITY. IT'S A SIGNIFICANT DECISION FOR THE CITY. THIS WILL CHANGE ALPHARETTA FOR DECADES, IF NOT FOREVER. THIS IS THE LARGEST DEVELOPMENT APPLICATION BEFORE YOUR CITY GOVERNMENT IN ALPHARETTA'S HISTORY. AND WITH THAT SAID, MANY APPLICATIONS IN THE PAST AS MAYOR GIL POINTED OUT THAT I WAS ON THE COUNCIL BACK IN 20 2003. I'VE BEEN AROUND A LONG TIME IN THIS CITY. I'VE SEEN A LOT OF APPLICATIONS COME BEFORE US. I'VE SEEN THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE CITY FROM A VERY SMALL QUAINT TOWN TO WHAT IT IS TODAY. MANY RESIDENTS, MANY RESIDENTS THAT I'VE SPOKEN TO ARE CONCERNED ABOUT THE EXPANSIVE GROWTH OF THE CITY EVEN BEFORE THIS APPLICATION. CONCERNS ABOUT TRAFFIC, CONCERNS ABOUT PARKING, CONCERNS ABOUT INFRASTRUCTURE IMPROVEMENTS AND THE CONSTANT ORANGE CONES ALL OVER THE PLACE. GEORGIA 400 IS GONNA GO THROUGH A MULTI-YEAR DEV, UH, PROJECT. NOW, AS YOU CAN SEE, UH, DRIVING ALONG THE CORRIDOR THERE, THERE'S A LOT GOING ON AROUND THIS CITY, AS MENTIONED BY THE APPLICANT. $15 BILLION GONNA BE INVESTED IN THIS AREA. MOST OF IT IN THE GEORGIA 400 EXPANSION. IT'S NOT COMING TO THIS PROJECT. THERE'S NOBODY WITH A CHECKBOOK INVESTING IN THIS PROJECT YET ICED ABOUT THE FINANCING, WHICH I WON'T ASK ABOUT. BUT THE TAX ALLOCATION DISTRICT, WHICH I SUPPORTED, WAS TO INCENTIVIZE AND ATTRACT INVESTMENT TO REVITALIZE THE NORTH POINT MALL AREA. I TALKED ABOUT THIS NOT THE LAST TIME I GOT REELECTED LAST YEAR, BUT FOUR YEARS AGO ABOUT ONE OF MY GOALS WAS TO REDEVELOP THE NORTH POINT MALL AREA. IT'S STILL A GOAL OF MINE. AND I I, I FEEL TERRIBLE TONIGHT THAT I HAVE TO SIT HERE AND ASK THE QUESTIONS THAT I'VE ASKED EARLIER AND FEEL LIKE THIS PROJECT IS NOT READY FOR PRIME TIME. [04:45:02] I LISTEN INTENTLY TO THE PEOPLE IN FAVOR OF IT AND AGAINST IT. IN FACT, IN THE LAST, AND I HAVE A PILE HERE, EVERYONE WANTS TO SEE 'EM. BUT WE'VE RECEIVED 250 SOMEWHAT EMAILS IN THE LAST THREE DAYS. THE LAST THREE DAYS. AND THIS PROJECT, AS, AS POINTED OUT BY, UH, MAYOR PRO TEMS, BEEN DISCUSSED FOR A LITTLE WHILE. NOW, THE PUBLIC HAS SPOKEN AND THE VAST MAJORITY OF THOSE OVER 90% ARE OPPOSED TO THIS PROJECT. I CAN COUNT ON TWO HANDS HOW MANY EMAILS WE RECEIVED THAT WAS IN FAVOR OF THIS PROJECT. THIS IS A REPRESENTATIVE GOVERNMENT. WE'RE BLESSED TO BE ABLE TO DEBATE THIS. I RESPECT EVERYONE'S OPINION UP HERE. I HOPE WE DON'T LEAVE HERE TONIGHT BEING ANNOYED AT EACH OTHER IF WE ON TWO, TWO SIDES OF THE ISSUE. BECAUSE THIS IS THE WAY GOVERNMENT SHOULD WORK. WE SHOULD AIR OUR DIRTY LAUNDRY IN PUBLIC. WE SHOULD SHOW YOU HOW GOVERNMENT OPERATES. WELL, HOW THE SAUSAGE MILL IS. THIS THING MAY HAVE BEEN DISCUSSED FOR TWO TO THREE TO FOUR YEARS. WHATEVER. PICK, PICK IT. PICK IT. AS FAR AS THE PUBLIC'S CONCERNED, THE PUBLIC'S ONLY BEEN REALLY ENGAGED IN THIS MAYBE SHORTLY BEFORE THE PLANNING COMMISSION HEARING TWO WEEKS AGO. SO, SO MY POINT BEING, BEING ON THE COUNCIL A LONG TIME AGO, ALL THE APPLICATIONS THAT I WAS PART OF, AND THERE WAS SOME SIGNIFICANT PROPOSALS IN FRONT OF US. WE HAD MULTIPLE WORKSHOP MEETINGS AT COUNCIL LEVEL AVALON. I WAS THERE FOR AVALON FOR THE FIRST APPROVAL. THAT WENT BELLY UP, THAT WENT BANKRUPT. AND THEN NORTH PROPERTIES CAME IN AND WE HAD MULTIPLE MEETINGS. I I WAS IN MEETINGS TO TWO OR THREE O'CLOCK IN THE MORNING TALKING ABOUT AVALON. THERE WAS A LOT OF COLLABORATION, DISCUSSION, YOU KNOW, CITY STAFF ENGAGED. A LOT OF THE QUESTIONS THAT I'M SUPPOSEDLY NOT ABLE TO ASK TONIGHT, WHICH IS RELEVANT AS FAR AS I'M CONCERNED, WERE DISCUSSED IN THOSE MEETINGS. IN FACT, NORTH NORTH, UH, NORTH AMERICAN PROPERTIES DONATED THAT SECTION OF WEST SIDE PARKWAY THAT WE RIDE THROUGH TODAY BEFORE THEY EVEN GOT APPROVAL ON THEIR PROJECT. THEY CONTRIBUTED THAT LAND SO THAT WE COULD FINISH OFF WEST SIDE PARKWAY. THAT SECTION UP TO THIS MOMENT IN TIME, I THE APPLICANT FROM EVERYTHING I'VE LOOKED AT, EVEN THEIR PRESENTATION TONIGHT, WHAT ARE THEY GIVING THE CITY? WE HAVE A TAD WE SET UP. I'LL PREDICT THAT THEY'RE GONNA ASK FOR MONEY FROM THE TAD. WE'RE GONNA BE TALKING ABOUT FLOATING BONDS. WE'RE GONNA BE TALKING ABOUT, YOU KNOW, AND, AND BY THE WAY, TED REVENUES AND THE REASON WHY I TRIED TO MAKE THAT FRIENDLY AMENDMENT AND IT WAS FRIENDLY 'CAUSE I WAS REALLY SERIOUSLY TRYING TO PROTECT THE CITY. THEY COULD, OR THE CITY, WHOEVER'S ON THIS COUNCIL DAYS, WHENEVER THIS HAPPENS, WHEN THEY GO TO FLOAT BONDS TO HELP PROVIDE FOR THE 1314 INTERSECTION IMPROVEMENTS AND THE LANE EXTENSIONS AND THE, THE SIDEWALKS AND THE, YOU KNOW, SOME OTHER AMENITIES WITHIN THE DEVELOPMENT. IT COULD GO TOWARD THE DEVELOPMENT. IT COULD GO TOWARD FIRE EQUIPMENT, POLICE EQUIPMENT. BUT IT CAN'T GO TOWARD IS POLICE PERSONNEL, FIRE PERSONNEL, EMS PERSONNEL. AND, AND NO ONE'S TALKING ABOUT WHAT THAT IS GONNA COST THE AVERAGE ALPHA TO TAXPAYER. IF THIS THING COMES TO FRUITION. I'M IN FAVOR OF REDEVELOPMENT NORTH POINT MALL, BUT I WANT TO DO IT WITH EYES WIDE OPEN. THERE WAS A GENTLEMAN EARLIER THAT SPOKE, I THINK IT WAS MR. SEMAN, MAYBE IT WASN'T THAT, THAT TALKED ABOUT ELOQUENTLY ABOUT, OR MAY HAVE BEEN. UM, UM, UH, DONNA, UH, MURPHY OUT HERE, DONNA CHERYL MURPHY, WHO SPOKE VERY ELEGANTLY. I I COULD JUST SAY WHAT SHE SAID AND I WOULD BE DONE FOR THE NIGHT. I MEAN, IT WAS A VERY WELL GREAT PRESENTATION THAT REALLY WAS, WAS SINCERE AND PASSIONATE. AND I THINK ALL, BOTH PEOPLE IN FAVOR AND AGAINST ARE ASKING FOR IS THE REDEVELOPMENT NORTH POINT MALL. BUT THE VAST MAJORITY OF ALPHAS WE REPRESENT THAT HAVE A RESPONSIBILITY TO BE THEIR SPEAKER UP HERE AND [04:50:01] DO THE RIGHT THING HAS ASKED US TO NOT DO THIS. I DON'T THINK THE VAST MAJORITY OF THOSE PEOPLE OPPOSED TO IT WOULD BE OPPOSED TO IT IF WE RETHOUGHT THE PROJECT. MS. SELLERS TALKED ABOUT PROPERTY RIGHTS. ABSOLUTELY. THIS OWNER HAS A RIGHT TO DEVELOP THIS PROPERTY. I WAS ON THE COUNCIL IN 20, UH, IN 2022, RIGHT AFTER I GOT REELECTED. AND NEW YORK LIFE CAME BEFORE US. AND YOU KNOW WHY THAT PROJECT WAS TURNED DOWN FROM MY PERSPECTIVE IN, IN ALL DUE RESPECT TO MAYOR PRO TEM, IT WAS TURNED DOWN BECAUSE THE OWNERSHIP GROUP AT THE TIME THAT WAS PRESENTING WOULD NOT AGREE TO CONCURRENCY. THEY WANTED THE APARTMENT BUILDINGS WITHOUT ANY CON CONDITION THAT WOULD TIE IT TO DEVELOPING THE OTHER ASPECTS OF THE SUB PLAN THAT THEY PRESENTED. AND THE VOTE WENT FIVE TO TWO. IT'S SIMILAR HERE TONIGHT. THIS PROJECT IS NOT READY FOR, FOR, FOR PRIME TIME. I THINK THIS IS PROPOSAL IS AN OVERREACH BEING CLOAKED AS PROGRESS. I WANNA SEE THIS DEVELOPED. THE IMPACT ON OUR PUBLIC SAFETY ALONE THAT WILL COST ALL TAXPAYERS MONEY. DO YOU KNOW WHAT A ADDING A POLICE OFFICER TO OUR POLICE DEPARTMENT THE FIRST YEAR, I THINK THE AVERAGE COST IS 180, 185,000. YOU KNOW WHY WE GOTTA GIVE 'EM AN EQUIPPED POLICE CAR TRAINING THE FIRST YEAR SALARY AND BENEFITS THEIR UNIFORMS. IT'S NOT CHEAP. WE'RE DOWN 15 OFFICERS TODAY THAT WE CAN'T FILL. WE'RE STRUGGLING FILLING HOW MANY POLICE OFFICERS WILL WE NEED DURING A ARENA EVENT OR A PERFORMING ARTS CENTER EVENT, OR A COMBINATION OF BOTH. WHAT, WHAT WHAT, WHAT BLOWS MY MIND IS WHERE IS THE SANITY TO SAY WE EVERY PENNY WE SPEND OF TAXPAYER DOLLARS SHOULD BE SACRED AND MAKE SURE WE DO IT FOR THE RIGHT REASON. AND I WILL PREDICT IF THIS GETS APPROVED TONIGHT, IT WILL COST EVERY ALPHA A TAXPAYER IN YEARS TO COME. I RESEARCHED THE ECONOMIC IMPACT OF THIS PROJECT TO THE CITY. ABSOLUTELY, IT WOULD BRING A LOT OF MONEY INTO THE CITY, BUT NO ONE'S TALKING ABOUT THE EXPENSE SIDE OF THE BALANCE SHEET. WHAT WILL IT COST THE CITY? WHAT WILL IT COST IN THE CHARACTER OF THE CITY? IS IT WORTH BRINGING THE NHL HERE FOR FULL DISCLOSURE, BEFORE I SAW THE PLANNING COMMISSION PACKET, I WAS LEANING IN FAVOR OF THIS. I WAS TALKING TO COLLEAGUES ABOUT, I'M LIKE, YOU KNOW, THIS IS GONNA BE A UNIQUE THING FOR THE CITY OF ALPHARETTA. LOOK AT THE ECONOMIC BOOST IT WILL BRING TO US. WHEN I GOT THE PACKET, A LOT OF INFORMATION WAS MISSING THAT I WANTED TO SEE. FOR ME TO SUPPORT THIS, I WOULD BEG THE DEVELOPER AND THE OWNERSHIP OF THIS PROPERTY. WE WANNA REDEVELOP THIS AND WE WANNA PROTECT YOUR PROPERTY RIGHTS. BUT DON'T FORGET, WE'RE THEY'RE ASKING FOR A REZONING. THEY'RE ASKING FOR VARIANCES ALONE. ALONE. THAT SHOULD BE RARE. WE SHOULD UPHOLD THE DEVELOPMENT STANDARDS OF THE CITY THAT WE APPLY TO. EVERYONE THAT COMES BEFORE US. THE ECONOMICS OF THE CITY ARE SOUND IS STRONG RIGHT NOW, JUST BY THE REFLECTION OF THE AMOUNT OF APPLICATIONS WE HAVE OF REDEVELOPING AREAS WITH TOWN HOMES. HOW MANY PEOPLE HAVE SEEN ALL THAT? RIGHT? MY DAUGHTER'S OUT THERE, MY WIFE'S OUT THERE. YOU KNOW HOW MUCH HEADACHE I GET FROM THEM. WHY ARE YOU APPROVING MORE TOWN HOMES BECAUSE OF PROPERTY RIGHTS? BUT YOU KNOW WHAT WE DO IN THOSE APPLICATIONS? WE MAKE SURE THEY FIT THE COMMUNITY THAT, THAT THERE'S A REASON THERE'S A BUSINESS CASE FOR IT TO ALLOW CERTAIN VARIANCES SET BACK, UH, APPROVALS, THINGS OF THAT NATURE. AND AND I SIT HERE, I CAN GO THROUGH A LOT OF OTHER ARGUMENTS BECAUSE THE MORE I LOOKED AT THIS SINCE [04:55:01] THE PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING AND I WENT TO THE CZI AM THE SECOND ONE. I WASN'T AT THE FIRST ONE. I WAS ON A FAMILY VACATION, BUT I JUST, I HAD TO SCRATCH MY HEAD AND GO. AND I HAD TO KEEP QUIET UNTIL I HEARD THIS TONIGHT. I COULDN'T EXPRESS THESE OPINIONS OUT IN THE PUBLIC. 'CAUSE I, A I HAVE A, I HAVE TO BE THE JURY ON BEHALF OF ALL THE PEOPLE I REPRESENT. THESE GENTLEMEN EMPLOYED BY THE CITY DOING AN UNBELIEVABLE JOB FOR US, RIGHT? I GOTTA PROTECT THEIR JOBS TOO. I DON'T WANNA PUT THE CITY IN DEBT OVER A PROJECT THAT IS MISSING SUBSTANTIAL EVIDENCE THAT WE NEED FOUR 20 STORY BUILDINGS, A 14 STORY RESIDENTIAL BUILDING. WE NEED THE AMOUNT 1,385 RENTAL UNITS, NO FOR SALE UNITS, INGRESS, EGRESS. YOU LOOK AT IT AS, AS I THINK, UM, COUNCILMAN BRADY KIND OF TALKED ABOUT A LITTLE BIT OF, OF OF, OF HOW, HOW IS THIS, HOW, HOW ARE THOSE INGRESS AND EGRESS AREAS GOING TO HANDLE THE TRAFFIC IN AND OUT OF THERE? WHAT'S IT GONNA DO TO THE OUTSIDE AREAS OF THE CITY WHEN THIS THING IS FULL FLEDGED? AND I'LL, I'LL CLOSE WITH THIS. MY PERSONAL BELIEF, AND I'VE SAID THIS TO CITY STAFF AND MY COLLEAGUES, N HHL IS NOT COMING HERE. AND TO CONTINGENT AND APPROVAL OF THIS MAGNITUDE ON OUTSOURCING THE ZONING DECISION TO AN UNRELATED THIRD PARTY. I DON'T KNOW IF IT MEETS THE GEORGIA CODE ON THE ZONING PROCEDURES. I DON'T KNOW IF IT MEETS THE ANTI GRATUITY CLAUSE OF THE GEORGIA CONSTITUTION. IN FACT, SOME PEOPLE IN WINDWOOD OUT THERE KNOW, WE'VE BEEN DISCUSSING THE SILT ISSUE OVER THERE, RIGHT? ONE OF THE BIGGEST HURDLES WE HAVE IS AN ANTI, UH, UH, GRATUITY CLAUSE OF THIS GEORGIA STATE CONSTITUTION, WHICH DOESN'T ALLOW A LOCAL GOVERNMENT BODY TO CONTRIBUTE TAXPAYER FUNDING TO A PRIVATE ENTITY. NOW, THE TAD'S A DIFFERENT SITUATION. I'M JUST SAYING ABOUT THE OTHER COSTS THAT MAY COME FROM THIS. AND SO ANYWAY, WITH ALL THIS SAID, AND I KNOW IT'S BEEN A LONG NIGHT, AND I APPRECIATE YOU ALL LISTENING. I APPRECIATE YOU OUTREACHING. UM, I'VE LISTENED. I HAVE ALL YOUR EMAILS, I'VE LISTENED TO YOUR PHONE CALLS. I'VE SPENT A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF TIME ON THIS TO GET TO THIS DECISION TONIGHT. AND I CANNOT SUPPORT THIS APPLICATION. COUNCILMAN BRADY. UH, FIRST OF ALL, I'D LIKE TO SAY, UH, I'D REALLY LIKE TO THANK THE APPLICANT FOR THEIR INVESTMENT AND THEIR TIME, KIND OF GOING THROUGH THIS PROCESS THAT THE STAFF, UM, AND THE COUNCIL, UH, BECAUSE WE'VE HAD A LOT OF DIFFERENT DISCUSSIONS. AND ONE THING I WILL PRIDE OURSELVES IN IS WE MIGHT NOT AGREE. WELL, WE HAVE ABSOLUTELY TALKED THROUGH IT. AND LISTEN, I HEAR, UM, EXPLAIN MY PERSPECTIVE. I'VE HEARD OTHER PERSPECTIVES AND WE'VE KEPT IT IN A VERY RESPECTFUL WAY. I WANNA THANK THE COMMUNITY FOR BEING HERE BECAUSE YOU GUYS DID EXACTLY THE SAME THING. THAT'S WHAT I THINK WHAT MAKES ALFRED SO GREAT IS THE SENSE OF COMMUNITY AND THE COMMUNITY THAT WE ARE. WE SAT HERE TONIGHT, EVERYBODY FOR HOURS. AND WE'RE ALMOST, WE'RE ALMOST AT MIDNIGHT KIND OF GOING THROUGH THIS. BUT THE REALITY IS PEOPLE OPPOSED IT. PEOPLE ARE IN FAVOR OF IT. BUT LOOK HOW WE HANDLE OURSELVES FIRST AND FOREMOST. THAT'S WHAT I WANT TO KIND OF SAY. THANK YOU TO EVERYBODY FOR ME. I'VE HAD A REALLY TOUGH TIME WITH THIS ONE, YOU KNOW, A, A REALLY TOUGH TIME. UM, SO I WANT TO KIND OF EXPLAIN MY METHODOLOGY. SO HOW I KIND OF GOT THERE FIRST IS HOW DO WE GET HERE? AND WE, WE, WE'VE TALKED ABOUT THEM ALL FOR 30 YEARS, RIGHT? WITH 13,000 PEOPLE BACK IN 19 90, 60 7,000 PEOPLE HERE TODAY. UM, YOU KNOW, OUR AVERAGE INCOME IN ALPHARETTA IS $197,000. OUR MEDIAN INCOME IS 149,000. SO WE GREW FIVE FOLD IN 30 YEARS WHEN WE HAD THIS MALL. SO THE QUESTION IS, WE DON'T OWN THIS MALL. IT'S PRIVATELY OWNED. WHY IT'S SUCH A PROBLEM IS PROBABLY LOOKING BACK AT OWNERSHIP OR MANAGEMENT. I'M JUST GONNA CALL IT OUT BECAUSE I'M GONNA CALL BALLS AND STRIKES. I'M GONNA CALL IT WHAT IT IS. I'D LOVE THIS MALL TO BE A GREAT MALL. I'D LOVE THIS MALL TO BE A THRIVING MALL PERIMETER. DID A LOT OF CHANGES TO IT. CUMBERLAND DID THEIRS, LENNOX AND UH, PHIPPS DID A LOT OF THEIRS. I MEAN THEY'RE CLOSE ABOUT EIGHT MILES APART. QUESTION. THERE WASN'T REINVESTMENT, THERE WASN'T CAPEX. WHEN YOU LOOK AT A MARKET LIKE ALPHARETTA, WE HAVE SIGNIFICANTLY INCREASED. NOW WE CAN LOOK AT OTHER MALLS, WE CAN GO TO GWINNETT PLACE MALL, WE CAN GO TO NORTH DEKALB MALL, WHO HAS HAD A LOT OF KIND OF PROBLEMS THERE. BUT LOOK AT THE REASONS [05:00:01] WHY. WHAT THE WHY IS BECAUSE THEY'VE HAD SIGNIFICANT DEMOGRAPHIC CHANGES. EXISTENTIAL FORCES, EITHER COMPETITION, SOMEONE BUILT A MALL KIND OF CLOSE TO IT AND THEY DIDN'T DO ANYTHING EITHER. THOSE DEMOGRAPHIC SHIFTS. YOU KNOW, YOU LOOK AT GWINNETT MALL, MALL OF GEORGIA IS NOW REALLY THAT RIGHT? THE BASICALLY THOSE BUYERS AND SOCIOECONOMICS IN THAT AREA MOVE NORTH. IT'S JUST FACT. LOOK AT ALL THE, LOOK AT ALL THE THINGS THAT DROVE THAT. IT'S THE SAME THING WITH NORTH DEKALB MALL. THOSE DEMOGRAPHICS CHANGED. NOW GOING IN AND LOOKING AT THAT'S OKAY, NOW WE COME BACK TO KIND OF THE APPLICANT AND KIND OF WHERE WE ARE TODAY AND GOING THROUGH THIS PROCESS. YOU KNOW, IT'S BEEN TWO OR THREE YEARS GOING THROUGH THE IDEA OF WHAT THE MALL WOULD, I THINK IT'S THREE AND A HALF YEARS AGO, I THINK WHEN THE LAST APPLICATION KINDA CAME. AND, YOU KNOW, IT DIDN'T WORK. IT DIDN'T WORK FOR A LOT OF DIFFERENT REASONS IN THE DETAILS. AND THOSE DETAILS KIND OF AS I LOOK AT IT, ARE REALLY, REALLY IMPORTANT. YOU KNOW, WHEN YOU START LOOKING AT, YOU KNOW, WHY THINGS ARE SUCCESSFUL AND WHY THINGS ARE NOT SUCCESSFUL. AND I PRIDE OUR MAYOR ALL THE TIME, HE IS ALWAYS DONE THIS, I'VE, I'VE SAID IT SEVERAL TIMES, HE SAYS, WE GET ONE CHANCE TO GET IT RIGHT UP HERE. THAT'S WHY WE ASK A LOT OF QUESTIONS. THIS IS WHY WE DIG INTO THE DETAILS NOT TO BE ARGUMENTATIVE. IT'S JUST TO CHALLENGE THE THOUGHT, TO CHALLENGE THE CONCEPT, TO MAKE SURE IT CAN LAST NOT IN FOR A FEW YEARS, FOR A FEW DECADES TO COME. BECAUSE OUR FUTURE DEPENDS ON THAT. OUR SUCCESS OF OUR CITY DEPENDS ON THAT. SO THAT WAS MY METHODOLOGY. I STARTED TO GO THROUGH THIS. SO THE APPLICANT CAME FORWARD, MET WITH THE APPLICANT SEVERAL, SEVERAL TIMES AND TALKED ABOUT IT. ONE OF THE FIRST THINGS I SAID WAS, EXPLAIN TO ME REALLY WHAT IS THE IDENTITY AND WHAT IS THE CHARACTER OF THIS PARTICULAR, YOU KNOW, CONCEPT THAT YOU'RE PUTTING FORWARD. AND IT WAS A CONCEPTUAL SITE PLAN THAT WE KIND OF SAW AND WE TALKED THROUGH THAT. 'CAUSE I DIDN'T KNOW IF IT WAS A SHOPPING ZONE BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, 'CAUSE WE STILL HAVE DEPARTMENT STORES WITH, WITH DILLARD'S KIND OF THERE. UM, AND DIFFERENT ONES IN SOME RETAIL OR IS IT SPORTS OR IS IT OFFICE OR IS IT HOUSING? YOU KNOW, 'CAUSE WE HAVE ALL THOSE DIFFERENT ELEMENTS AND I KNOW ALL THOSE GO INTO MIXED USE, BUT I WAS TRYING TO UNDERSTAND, YOU KNOW, HOW DO THOSE ALL INTERACT AND HOW DO THOSE ALL KIND OF COMPLIMENT EACH OTHER? AND WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE, THE BALANCES BETWEEN IT, THEN I KIND OF BACKED UP AND I SAID, YOU KNOW WHAT, I'D LOVE TO LOOK AT THIS AS A CASE STUDY. SO THE BEST CASE STUDY I COULD LOOK AT AND YOU KNOW, AND THE APPLICANT KIND OF SAID, ABSOLUTELY, LET'S LEARN FROM THE LESSONS. I THINK YOU SAID FROM THE BATTERY. AND THE BATTERY IS BEST IN CLASS WHEN IT COMES TO SPORTS ENTERTAINMENT. JUST LIKE AVALON IS BEST IN CLASS WHEN IT COMES TO MIXED USE AND, AND SHOPPING RETAIL, I MEAN ABSOLUTELY JUST BEST IN CLASS ON A NATIONAL BASIS. SO I GO TO THE BATTERY AND I START LOOKING AT THE BATTERY AND YOU GOT 1.5 MILLION SQUARE FOOT OF OFFICE. YOU GOT, UM, WAS IT 531 ON MULTIFAMILY VERSUS 1,385 HERE VERSUS I THINK WE HAVE 750 IN OFFICE. I STARTED UNDERSTANDING 406 IN HOTEL VERSUS 650 IN HOTEL HERE. SO THE IDEA IS IF WE HAVE A CASE STUDY FOR THE MOST SUCCESSFUL APPLICATION DONE IN A SPORTS ENTERTAINMENT THAT WE HAVE, WE CAN START KIND OF COMPARING WHERE THOSE KIND OF WORK IN THIS APPLICATION. AND ONE OF THE THINGS I REALLY KIND OF GOT THERE WAS TO KIND OF UNDERSTAND, WELL WHY DO WE HAVE SO MUCH MULTIFAMILY HERE, RIGHT? 'CAUSE IT IS BEEN THE HISTORY OF ALFREDO, WE DON'T REALLY WANT THAT MUCH MULTIFAMILY. IF WE DO APPLY IT, WE WANNA BE VERY CAREFUL HOW WE APPLY THAT ON THE CORRIDOR 400 AND MAKE SURE IT'S INSULATED IN SOME MIXED USE THAT IT DOESN'T TAX KIND OF OUR SCHOOL SYSTEMS, THE PUBLIC SAFETY AND EVERYTHING ELSE THAT WE LOOK AT FROM LAND PLANNING. SO FOR ME, IT'S A LAND PLANNING EXERCISE. I REALLY DIG INTO THE LAND PLANNING OF IT. SO WHEN I LOOK MORE AT THE DESIGN, I COULDN'T, I'M, I'M, I'M STILL HAVING ISSUES WITH THE DESIGN AND HOW CLUNKY THE DESIGN KIND OF IS. THAT'S WHY I KEPT ON ASKING ABOUT, WELL, YOU KNOW, THE BLUE HIGHWAY FOR ALL THE BIKES AND UP AND DOWN AVALON DOESN'T HAVE A LOOP OF BIKES FLYING UP AND DOWN AND, AND IT, IT'S JUST REAL. THOSE MIGHT SEEM SILLY TO YOU IN THOSE DETAILS, BUT WHEN YOU'RE SHOPPING THERE AND I'M SHOPPING THERE WITH MY FAMILY AND I WALK OUT OF A STORE AND I WALK 20 FEET TRYING TO WALK TO MY CAR, I DON'T WANNA BE HIT BY SELLING ON A BIKE OR AN ELECTRIC BIKE THAT'S USED IN IT AS A 15 FOOT BLUE HIGHWAY GOING THROUGH WHERE I WANT TO BE WALKING WITH MY FAMILY AND FEEL SAFE. IT'S A DETAIL THAT CAN BE KIND OF CHANGED, BUT TAKE THOSE DETAILS AND GO FORWARD WHERE I CANNOT FIND ENOUGH PARKING HERE TO BE ABLE TO SATISFY WHAT REALLY ALL THE NEEDS AT THE PEAK WOULD BE. AND YOU TALK ABOUT THE BATTERY, IT'S A, YOU CAN'T PARK, RIGHT? IT'S DIFFICULT TO GET IN AND OUT. THOSE ARE THE THINGS THAT INFLUENCE YOUR EXPERIENCE AT THE END OF THE DAY. AND YOUR EXPERIENCE IS WHAT I KEPT ASKING FOR. WHAT KIND OF EXPERIENCE ARE WE GONNA HAVE IN THIS PARTICULAR APPLICATION, THIS DEVELOPMENT? AND THEN UNDERSTANDING WHY WE'RE PUTTING SO MUCH MULTIFAMILY ALL CONCENTRATED INTO ONE. HOW ARE THOSE CARS GONNA STACK UP AND BACK OUT, YOU KNOW, AND, AND HOW THEY KIND OF, WHY ONLY IN ONE AREA? AND I JUST CAN'T, I CAN'T FIGURE THAT OUT. AND, AND REALLY WHAT IT DOES IS I COULDN'T UNDERSTAND HOW MUCH DETAIL WENT INTO THIS [05:05:01] DESIGN. 'CAUSE ALL WE'RE LOOKING AT IS CONCEPTUAL PSYCH PLANS. I HAVEN'T SEEN A LOT OF RENDERINGS, I HAVEN'T SEEN A LOT OF ELEVATIONS. NOT TO THE DETAIL THAT WE USUALLY SEE IN AN APPLICATION, BUT I UNDERSTAND WE'RE LOOKING AT THE NHL AND AND KIND OF MOVING FORWARD. WE DON'T DECIDE THE NHL WE'RE WAITING ON A FINANCIAL SUPPORTER AND SPONSOR TO COME FORWARD WITH THE NHL. BUT I THINK IT'S A GREAT IDEA. SO THAT WAS KIND OF MY METHODOLOGY, KIND OF GOING THROUGH THIS. AND THERE'S NO DOUBT IN THE WORLD WE WANT THEM ALL REDEVELOPED. WE WANT THAT TO BE A BETTER PLACE FOR ALL OF US. IT'S PART OF OUR COMMUNITY. WE WANT TO HAVE THAT. I THINK WE CAN ALL AGREE ON THAT OF JUST HAVING A HARD TIME UNDERSTANDING HOW ALL THE PIECES COME TOGETHER AND TO HAVE THAT TRUST TO BE ABLE TO SAY IT'S DONE RIGHT. WHEN WE DON'T KIND OF LOOK AT IT. I MEAN, I ASKED ABOUT THE STORIES, THE APPLICATION. SO WE DID GO BACK. SO I, I I MET WITH THE APPLICANT AND ASKED THEM TO REDUCE, YOU KNOW, THE, THE DENSITY IN THE APARTMENTS WENT BACK, SAID, LET'S FIND A COMMON GROUND HERE. LET'S MOVE THESE KIND OF PIECES AROUND. GOT NOTHING. WE'RE NOT MOVING, WE'RE NOT, WE'RE NOT CHANGING. THE ONLY CHANGE I'VE SEEN IN THIS APPLICATION IS NOT TO HAVE A HYBRID HOTEL. I HAVEN'T SEEN ANY OTHER MOVEMENT, WHICH KIND OF GETS ME INTO A DIFFERENT KIND OF FEELING OF UNCOMFORTABLENESS IS YOU, YOU KNOW, HOW DO I FEEL ABOUT HOW THAT PROCESS IS GONE? AND I WISH WE HAD BETTER COLLABORATION. EITHER IT TAKES TIME AND WE SHIFT, YOU KNOW, MORE TIME TO LOOK AT THE APPLICATION OR WE MAKE A DECISION ON WHAT IT IS TODAY. AND I BELIEVE IN MAKING DECISIONS. BUT A LITTLE BIT OF THAT METHODOLOGY JUST ADDS ME IN A REALLY TOUGH POSITION OF IS IT THE RIGHT PLAN GOING FORWARD? YOU KNOW, IS THIS THE RIGHT PLAN? IS ALL THESE PIECES WORKING WELL TOGETHER? WHAT'S GONNA HAPPEN WHEN WE TURN AROUND SIX, EIGHT YEARS FROM NOW AND WE HAVE PARKING PROBLEMS AND WE HAVE TOO MANY CARS BACKED UP, TOO MUCH MULTIFAMILY, ALL THOSE IN THERE. AND THAT'S WHY I WANNA MAKE SURE WE DO IT RIGHT. AND THAT'S WHY I'M HAVING SUCH ATI TOUGH TIME WITH THIS APPLICATION. BUT I JUST, UH, I FEEL I HAVEN'T GOTTEN THERE. SO I JUST WANNA EXPLAIN MYSELF, EXPLAIN MY METHODOLOGY OF KIND OF HOW I GOT THERE. 'CAUSE DETAILS MATTER TO ME AND I WANNA BE THINKING ABOUT THOSE DETAILS. SO THANK YOU EVERYONE FOR BEING HERE TONIGHT. APPRECIATE IT. COUNCILWOMAN REEVES, MY TURN THE MIC. I WAS REALLY NERVOUS ALL DAY. YOU ALL, THIS IS LIKE THE BIGGEST VOTE I'M PROBABLY GONNA HAVE THE WHOLE TIME I'M ON CITY COUNCIL AND I WAS AN ELECTED OFFICIAL ON THE SCHOOL BOARD BEFORE. THIS IS A REALLY BIG ONE. UM, AT LEAST I'M NOT MOVING PEOPLE'S CHILDREN FROM ONE SCHOOL TO ANOTHER. THAT'S ACTUALLY WORSE. UM, BUT, YOU KNOW, I WON'T REPEAT SOME OF THE THINGS THAT I'VE HEARD. UM, PARK BOTHERS ME. UM, THE BATTERY COMPARISON. I THINK YOU CAN'T, I DON'T THINK YOU COULD LOOK AT THIS AS SOMEBODY WHO HAS TO JUDGE IT AND NOT COMPARE THE NUMBERS FOR THE BATTERY TO HERE. SO I DID THE SAME THING. UM, YOU KNOW, THE PROCESS HAS BEEN, I REMEMBER SEEING, I REMEMBER SEEING THE CALENDAR FOR THE PROCESS IN THE SPRING AND I LOOKED AT, FIRST IT WAS ONE CZIM MEETING AND THEN IT WAS TWO. AND I'M LIKE, LET'S SEE, UM, JUNE 10TH AND JULY 8TH. WELL, LET'S SEE, I THINK I'M STILL A LITTLE BIT ON SCHOOL CALENDAR AND I'M LIKE, NOBODY'S GONNA BE IN TOWN. I MEAN, I JUST THOUGHT TO MYSELF, WELL, JUNE 10TH MAYBE, YES. BUT A FEW DAYS AFTER THE 4TH OF JULY, I THOUGHT THAT'S GONNA BE A HEAVY LIFT TO GET, YOU KNOW, EVERYBODY IN TOWN. AND SO IT REALLY DOESN'T SURPRISE ME THAT EVERYONE, YOU KNOW, WHO IS FINDING OUT JUST NOW THAT THEY'RE SO SURPRISED. I DON'T THINK THAT NECESSARILY OUR COMMUNITY NEEDS TO KICK THEMSELVES BECAUSE, UM, SOME OF THIS HAS GONE ALONG AT A PACE THAT I DID NOT ANTICIPATE. AND I DON'T THINK IT'S JUST BECAUSE I'M A NEW CITY COUNCIL PERSON. UM, I PAY PRETTY CLOSE ATTENTION TO WHAT'S GOING ON. I CAME TO MOST OF THE MEETINGS LAST YEAR. UM, BUT THE PACE OF THIS AND THE COMMUNICATION, BOY, I THINK WE COULD HAVE DONE SUCH A BETTER JOB. UM, EVERYBODY, EVERYBODY WANTS SOMETHING DONE AT THE MALL. YOU, YOU CAN'T BE AN ELECTED OFFICIAL IN ALPHARETTA AND, AND NOT HEAR FROM YOUR CONSTITUENTS, FROM YOUR NEIGHBORS, FROM YOUR SPOUSE, FROM EVERYBODY. OH MY GOSH, WE CAN DO A BETTER JOB AT THE MALL. BUT YOU KNOW, IT IS PRIVATE PROPERTY. AND YOU KNOW, I LOOK AT ALL OF THE INVESTMENT THAT CITY OF ALPHARETTA HAS PUT INTO THE ENTIRE AREA SURROUNDING THE MALL. WE JUST VOTED ON A $16 MILLION EXTENSION TO THE ALPHA LOOP. YOU LOOK AT THE ALPHA LOOP, YOU LOOK AT THE GREENWAY, YOU LOOK AT THAT BRAND NEW LOVELY ENTRANCE TO THE GREENWAY ON NORTH POINT PARKWAY. YOU LOOK AT ALL OF THIS INVESTMENT IN ROADS AND OTHER THINGS THAT THE CITY OF ALPHARETTA HAS DONE [05:10:01] TO REALLY ELEVATE THIS AREA. AND THERE'S NOTHING THAT CAN CONVINCE ME THAT THIS IS NOT ONE OF THE PREMIER COMMERCIAL, UH, PROPERTIES IN THE SOUTHEASTERN UNITED STATES. IT'S THE TWO EXITS ON 400 HAVE BEEN TALKED ABOUT A LOT. IT WAS BUILT FOR TRAFFIC. I WILL GIVE THE APPLICANTS THAT THEY ACTUALLY AS THE AREA THAT WAS BILLED FOR TRAFFIC. UM, BUT IN ALL THAT, YOU WOULD THINK THAT THE PERSON WHO OWNED THE MALL WOULD LOOK AROUND AT OUR COMMUNITY. SEVERAL PEOPLE HAVE MENTIONED, YOU KNOW, HOW SOME OF THE DEMOGRAPHICS OF OUR COMMUNITY AND HOW WELL PEOPLE DO HERE. THERE'S A LOT OF DISPOSABLE INCOME HERE. THERE'S A LOT OF DISPOSABLE INCOME AND THERE ARE PEOPLE THAT STILL SHOP AT THE MALL. AND SO WHAT A CRUSHING DISAPPOINTMENT THAT NEW YORK LIFE COULD NOT SEE THAT WE WERE WORTHY OF INVESTING IN. INSTEAD, WE HAVE THIS APPLICATION AND THE APPLICANT DID A REALLY LOVELY JOB AND THERE'S SO MANY ATTRACTIVE PIECES TO THIS. IT'S A LITTLE BIT LIKE THE SHINY OBJECT, YOU KNOW, IT LOOKS REALLY, REALLY COOL. IT REALLY DOES. UM, BUT DOES IT FIT WITH ALPHARETTA'S CHARACTER? SO WHEN YOU'RE LOOKING AT CHANGING LAND USE, YOU'RE LIKE, IT'S NOT ONLY CHANGING LAND USE. IN FACT, ONE OF THE ONE OF OUR CAR MENTORS, HOW MANY, IT'S A LOT OF VARIANCES. THEY'RE NOT SMALL VARIANCES. THEY'RE BIG VARIANCES. AND SO YOU LOOK AT IT AND YOU SAY THIS IS IS A CHANGE IN LAND USE. AND IS IT, IS THIS KIND OF DENSITY IN CHARACTER WITH OUR COMMUNITY? WILL WE STILL BE ALPHARETTA? I I TOTALLY EMBRACE THE CHANGE. BEEN HERE SINCE 89 AND I'VE LIKED THE CHANGES THAT WE'VE BEEN DOING. BUT 20 STORY BUILDING SEEMS SO OUT OF PLACE. I, I WENT TO GO LOOK FOR SOMETHING THAT LOOKED LIKE A 20 STORY, UM, APARTMENT BUILDING. I HAD TO GO DOWN TO HAMMOND ROAD. SO I MEAN, WE DON'T HAVE ANYTHING LIKE THAT UP HERE. AND I'M NOT SURE EVERYBODY WANTS EVERYTHING LIKE THAT UP HERE. AND WHEN I RAN, WHEN I RAN FOR SCHOOL BOARD, I WAS A REALLY ANGRY PARENT. I WAS GONNA SAY A DIFFERENT WORD, BUT I DECIDED NOT TO. UM, I WAS A REALLY ANGRY PARENT AND I WANTED PARENTS TO HAVE A MUCH BETTER SAY IN THE SCHOOL SYSTEM. AND I THINK OVER MY 24 YEARS IN THE SCHOOL SYSTEM, I HOPE I ACCOMPLISH THAT. I, I I TRY REALLY HARD TO BE THAT REPRESENTATIVE VOICE FOR MY COMMUNITY. AND WHEN I RAN FOR THIS SEAT, LIKE I, I KNOCKED ON A LOT OF DOORS AND I TALKED TO A LOT OF PEOPLE, YOU KNOW, SIX MONTHS BEFORE THE ELECTION. AND GOSH, IF YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT YOU'RE GONNA SAY, WHAT YOU THINK ABOUT THE MALL WHEN YOU WALK DOOR TO DOOR, YOU BETTER NOT RUN FOR ANYTHING IN ALPHARETTA. 'CAUSE YOU GET ASKED BY EVERYBODY, WHAT DO YOU THINK SHOULD HAPPEN AT THE MALL? I THINK REDEVELOPMENT SHOULD HAPPEN AT THE MALL. I DON'T KNOW, ALMOST ANYBODY WHO DOESN'T THINK REDEVELOPMENT SHOULD HAPPEN AT THE MALL. THE QUESTION IS, WHAT, AND WHEN WE GIVE A VARIANCE, WHEN WE GIVE A LAND USE CHANGE, WHAT DO WE GET IN RETURN? WHAT DOES ALPHARETTA GET IN RETURN? MAYBE GET A COOL HOCKEY ARENA. MAYBE NOT, BUT WE MAYBE GET A COOL HOCKEY ARENA. BUT FOR SURE IF THE HOCKEY COMES, WE'RE GONNA GET FOUR 20 STORY BUILDINGS AND WE'RE GONNA GET 1,385 APARTMENTS WHEN THE BATTERY ONLY NEEDED 500. UM, THE PRICE IS REALLY HIGH. AND I BELIEVE THAT, AND I THINK I SAID IT IN THE CAMPAIGN AND THEN I'LL WRAP IT UP. I'M REALLY IRRITATING HIM. I'M GOING TOO LONG. UM, BUT I BELIEVE THAT, I BELIEVE THAT THE NORTH POINT REDEVELOPMENT SHOULD, SHOULD BE A REFLECTION OF THE VISION THAT WE AS CITIZENS HAVE AND NOT NECESSARILY WHAT DEVELOPERS WISHES ARE. AND I'LL STAND BY THAT. AND IN THAT, IN THAT VEIN, I'VE GOT LIKE EVERYBODY ELSE, I'VE GOT A BOATLOAD OF EMAILS I'VE GOT IN THE LAST COUPLE OF DAYS THAT ARE AGAINST AND A FEW THAT ARE IN FAVOR. I READ EVERY ONE OF THEM AND I TAKE EVERYBODY'S COMMENTS TO HEART. AND LIKE OTHERS HAVE SAID, CAN'T PLEASE EVERYBODY, BUT IN, I REALLY DO WANNA BE AS TRUE TO WHAT I CAN AS POSSIBLE. AND I DON'T THINK THIS IS IN THE BEST INTEREST OF ALPHARETTA. COUNCILMAN DRISCOLL. WELL, UH, MAYOR, I, I'LL MAKE SURE I KEEP IT UNDER 42 MINUTES OR SO FOR YOU THIS EVENING, . YEAH, NO. SO, UM, OBVIOUSLY, UH, MYSELF, UH, AND COUNCILMAN REEVES, WE'VE [05:15:01] BEEN HERE SINCE JANUARY AND THE, AND THE SEAT THAT WE'VE HAD. UM, AND SO I, YOU KNOW, FROM A PERSPECTIVE AS A NEWLY ELECTED OFFICIAL TO REPRESENT THE CITY OF ALPHARETTA, THERE HAS NOT BEEN ANY SHORTAGE OF INFORMATION THAT I HAVE FELT THAT'S BEEN WITHHELD OR I CAN'T GET, UH, ACCESS TO. I WAS, UH, POKING FUN AT MR. HARRIS ON, ON THE, ON THE WAY IN. AND HE'S LIKE, WELL, JUST, YOU KNOW, YOU COULD CALL. AND I'M LIKE, UH, EXACTLY. I WAS, I WAS JUST POKING AT HIM ABOUT IT BECAUSE AT ANY TIME, I'VE WANTED SOME INFORMATION, NEEDED SOME INFORMATION TO CATCH US UP TO SPEED ON WHAT HAS BEEN HAPPENING. WE HAVE BEEN INCREDIBLE STAFF AT THE CITY OF ALPHARETTA THAT I'M EXTREMELY GRATEFUL FOR. UM, OUR CURRENT COUNCIL IS WE CAN SIT HERE AND AGREE TO DISAGREE, BUT WHEN THIS VOTE IS, IS HAD, WE'LL WALK OUT HERE REPRESENTING THE CITY OF ALPHARETTA AND THE NEXT VOTE THAT WE COME TO, YOU'RE NOT CARRYING ANY ANGST OVER FROM IT. AND I, AND I TRULY RESPECT THAT ABOUT THIS, THIS COUNCIL BECAUSE WE WE'RE GONNA SIT HERE AND WE REPRESENT THE CITY OF ALPHARETTA THE WAY THAT WE FEEL THAT WE SHOULD REPRESENT. AND WHILE OUR DESIRES ARE ALL ROOTED IN THAT SAME THING, TO BRING OUR BEST, UM, OUR BEST SELF, SO TO SPEAK, IN OUR RESCISSIONS TO EVERY VOTE. UH, SO FOR THE PARTICIPATION THAT Y'ALL HAVE HAD THIS EVENING, AND TO SIT HERE WITH US UP TO 12 O'CLOCK, THANK YOU. UM, THIS IS WHAT MAKES ALPHARETTA GREAT AND, UH, I JUST APPRECIATE EVERY, EVERYBODY THROUGH THE PROCESS AND ALL THE LEADERSHIP BEFORE THAT HAS MADE THIS OPPORTUNITY EVEN POSSIBLE TO BE SITTING HERE. IF IT WOULDN'T HAVE BEEN FOR THOSE THAT HAVE SERVED IN, UM, IN ELECTED POSITIONS AS WELL AS STAFF PRIOR TO THIS WOULDN'T EVEN BE UP FOR DISCUSSION THIS EVENING, ALPHARETTA. SO I JUST WANNA THANK EVERYBODY FOR THEIR PARTICIPATION IN THIS PART. COUNCILMAN, HES, THANK YOU, MAYOR. WELL, I WANNA START BY, UM, GIVING SOME HEARTFELT THANKS TO GROUPS THAT DESERVE THANKS, STARTING WITH THE APPLICANT. UM, UM, UH, I APPRECIATE THE ACCESS THAT I WAS GIVEN TO, UH, ARGUE WITH YOU ABOUT THIS PROJECT. UM, UH, I APPRECIATE, UM, THE GIVE AND TAKE THAT WE HAD. AND, UH, YOU KNOW, YOU KNOW, THERE WERE TOO MANY HOTELS IN YOUR ORIGINAL PROJECT. WE HAVE 4,051 OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT, UH, CLOSE TO IT, UH, UH, HOTEL ROOMS WE NEED TO FILL EVERY SINGLE NIGHT IN THE TOWN. AND YOU'RE ADDING TO INVENTORY. AND SO THAT WAS A HOT BUTTON FOR ME. AND, AND I FEEL LIKE YOU HEARD SOME OF OUR HAR HOT BUTTONS. YOU DIDN'T HEAR ALL OF 'EM, BUT YOU HEARD THE, YOU HEARD THAT ONE, YOU HEARD SOME OTHERS, YOU ALL MADE SOME CONCESSIONS THAT WERE IMPORTANT TO WORK AS PARTNERS WITH US, AND I APPRECIATE IT. UM, I WANNA THANK THE BEST COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT STAFF IN THE STATE OF GEORGIA. UM, THEY'RE, UH, THEY'RE REALLY GOOD AND, UH, THEY KNOW THEIR STUFF. THEY KNOW THEIR DETAILS. THEY, UH, THEY THINK BOTH LINEAR AND GLOBALLY. UH, AND, UH, AGAIN, WHEN I NEEDED INFORMATION ABOUT ASPECTS OF THE PROJECT, UH, WE HAVE THE PREEMINENT EXPERTS IN COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT, UH, TO, TO ANSWER OUR QUESTIONS OR GET US INFORMATION. I WANNA THANK THE MAYOR AND COUNCIL. UM, THE MAYOR AND THE MAYOR, PRO TEM HAVE GONE ABOVE AND BEYOND, UH, ON, ON EXPLORING THIS OPPORTUNITY. UM, THERE'S BEEN TALKS WITH THE, THE NHL, THERE'S BEEN, UH, YOU KNOW, THERE'S, THERE'S BEEN SITE VISITS, UH, ALONG WITH STAFF WHO I DIDN'T RECOGNIZE AS, AS PUBLIC SAFETY AND THEIR HOURS SPENT OVER AT THE BATTERY AND THE DUE DILIGENCE THAT OUR CITY HAS DONE TO VET THIS PROJECT AND TO ANTICIPATE, UH, HOW THIS PROJECT NEEDS TO BE, UH, CRAFTED. AND THEN TO HAVE THE APPLICANT HEAR, UH, WHAT THOSE REQUIREMENTS ARE TO MAKE IT A SUCCESS PROJECT. BUT, UM, YOU KNOW, COUNCIL HAS BEEN GREAT. WE'VE ALL [05:20:01] LEANED IN. ALMOST EVERY ONE OF US HAD LEANED INTO SOMETHING SLIGHTLY DIFFERENT ON THIS PROJECT. WE HAVE ALL BROUGHT A DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVE, WHICH I HAVE GREATLY VALUED. UH, DONE A LOT, A LOT OF THINKING ON THIS PROJECT. UM, FIRST, THE FIRST PROJECT IN 2019, WENT BACK WHEN BROOKFIELD STILL HAD IT BEFORE THEY DROPPED THE KEYS AND TURNED IT OVER TO NEW YORK LIFE. I REMEMBER SITTING IN THIS ROOM TALKING WITH BROOKFIELD ABOUT REDEVELOPING NORTH POINT MALL AND THEN CAME TRADEMARK, ET CETERA. AND MOST IMPORTANTLY, I WANNA THANK THE RESIDENTS. UM, IT, IT'S REALLY INTERESTING TO ME THAT THERE'S, EVERYBODY'S GOT A FINGERPRINT IN THIS ROOM. EVERYBODY'S GOT A BOTTOM LINE CONCLUSION ABOUT HOW THEY FEEL ABOUT THE PROJECT. LIKE IT DON'T LIKE IT, BUT FOR DIFFERENT REASONS. IT'S ALL VERY UNIQUE. AND IN THE SAME VEIN, THERE'S SO MUCH COMMONALITY IN THE REMARKS I'VE HEARD IN THE EMAILS I HAVE RECEIVED, AND TO, TO ECHO COUNCIL MEMBER REEVES ABOUT, AND, AND EVERYBODY ELSE ON THIS DE ABOUT THE NEED TO REDEVELOP THE MALL. I'VE HEARD THAT FROM EVERY, FROM VIRTUALLY EVERYBODY. NOW THERE'S BEEN A HANDFUL OF PEOPLE LIKE, KEEP THE MALL, DON'T YOU DARE TOUCH MY MALL. UH, AND, AND I APPRECIATE THOSE COMMENTS. BUT, UH, UM, YOU KNOW, I'M ALWAYS LOOKING FOR A WIN-WIN. AND WHEN I CAN FIND WHERE WE HAVE SOME COMMON GOALS THAT'S IMPORTANT TO ME, DESPITE OUR DIFFERENCES AND CONCERNS. SO AT THE OUTSET, I WANNA MAKE REAL CLEAR FOR ME, FOR DAY ONE, UH, EVER SINCE I HEARD ABOUT, UH, THIS PARTICULAR PROJECT, WHICH INVOLVED THE NHL, THIS IS ALWAYS AND WILL ALWAYS BE A MALL REDEVELOPMENT PROJECT FOR ME. UM, I AM EXCITED FOR THE PEOPLE WHO GET EXCITED ABOUT THE NHL. THERE WAS A GENTLEMAN WHO SPOKE UP A COUPLE, AND, UM, I'M EXCITED FOR Y'ALL. BUT FOR ME, THE NHL IS A MEANS TO AN END. THIS IS NOT ABOUT GETTING AN NHL FRANCHISE FOR ME. IT'S ABOUT IF AN NHL FRANCHISE, UH, CREATES A MECHANISM FOR US TO REDEVELOP A MALL BACK WITH THE TRADEMARK BOAT IN 2022, I DID A DEEP DIVE STUDYING DEAD MALLS AND REDEVELOPMENT OF MALLS. THIS IS A REGIONAL MALL, 1.3 MILLION SQUARE FOOT BUILDING SURROUNDED BY A SEA OF ASPHALT. IT IS ONE OF MANY, MANY REGIONAL MALLS IN METRO ATLANTA. THERE IS NO MORE SOUTH LAKE. THERE'S NO NORTH LAKE, THERE IS NO GREEN BRIAR TOWN. TOWN LAKE IS IN BANKRUPTCY. AND I, I'M MISSING A BUNCH MORE JUST IN OUR METRO AREA. OH, GWINNETT PLACE MALL THAT ARE CLOSED. THEY ARE GONE. THEY ARE NO MORE. THEY ARE DEFUNCT. THE TREND FOR THIS MALL IS HEADED THAT WAY, REDEVELOP, AND THAT'S JUST IN METRO. ATLANTA, CHICAGO, CINCINNATI, DENVER, HOUSTON, YOU NAME YOUR METRO AREA. THEY ALL HAVE THIS PROBLEM AND NOBODY KNOWS WHAT TO DO ABOUT IT. IT'S A BIG LIFT TO REDEVELOP A REGIONAL MALL. AND IF SOMEBODY HAD THE MAGIC SAUCE TO SAY, HERE, I'LL FRANCHISE REDEVELOPING REGIONAL MALLS, THEY, THEY'D BE, THEY'D BE YOUR BILLIONAIRE YOU'RE LOOKING FOR, FOR YOUR FRANCHISE. UM, SO FOR ME, IT'S, IT'S REALLY ABOUT WHEN DOES THE RIGHT OPPORTUNITY COME ALONG TO DO SOMETHING THAT IS INCREDIBLY DIFFICULT THAT THIS CITY HAS TO CONFRONT BECAUSE IT'S GOING TO HAVE TO DEAL WITH THIS ISSUE ABOUT REDEVELOPING THIS MALL. YOU KNOW, IS ARE THERE CUSTOMERS THERE TODAY? THERE ARE, WILL THERE BE CUSTOMERS THERE NEXT WEEK? THERE WILL BE. WILL IT CONTINUE TO GO DOWN IN VALUE? ABSOLUTELY. WILL IT CONTINUE TO DECLINE? NO DOUBT. I MOVED UP HERE IN 1989. I'M A PRE MALL PERSON. UH, I COULDN'T BELIEVE IT WHEN ALMOST, YOU KNOW, TWO MILES AS A CROW FLIES THAT THEY WERE BUILDING A REGIONAL MALL ALMOST IN [05:25:01] MY BACKYARD UP HERE. MY KIDS GREW UP AROUND THAT MALL. I GUARANTEE YOU, AND I SAID THIS AT ONE OF MY TOWN HALL MEETINGS, IF YOU WERE TO TELL SOMEBODY WHEN THAT MALL OPENED IN 1994, THAT IT WOULD BE DEFUNCT OR PRACTICALLY. SO 32 YEARS LATER, THEY'D LOOK AT YOU LIKE YOU'RE CRAZY. THEY'D LOOK AT YOU LIKE YOU'RE CRAZY. NOBODY WOULD'VE MADE THAT INVESTMENT BACK THEN IF THEY HAD, IF THEY KNEW WHAT THAT SHELF LIFE WAS. UM, AND AND SPEAKING OF THAT, I, I WANTED TO ADDRESS AT THIS POINT IN MY REMARKS, I HAVE BEEN DISCUSSING THIS WITH THE PUBLIC. UH, WE TOUCHED ON, UH, MALL REDEVELOPMENT, BUT NOT THIS PLAN IN A TOWN HALL MEETING IN, UH, FE IN FEBRUARY THIS YEAR. WE SPECIFICALLY TALKED ABOUT THIS AT A TOWN HALL MEETING, UH, IN, UH, WHAT'S, IT'S TWO MONTHS AFTER THAT. APRIL AND JUNE AND AUGUST, UM, ATTEMPTS HAVE BEEN MADE TO GET THE WORD OUT TO ENGAGE THE PUBLIC, TO HEAR WHAT YOU HAVE TO SAY TO DETERMINE, YOU KNOW, WHAT'S THE BEST COURSE OF ACTION. TONIGHT'S VOTE IS A VOTE TO APPROVE OR DENY A PROPOSED MALL REDEVELOPMENT PROJECT. AND WE'RE NOT SITTING HERE AT THE DAY AS TRYING TO DESIGN IT OR REDESIGN IT. THOSE CONVERSATIONS HAVE BEEN HAD. UH, I THINK WE'VE PUSHED EACH OTHER AS FAR AS WE'RE ABLE TO PUSH EACH OTHER THAT WE ARE SATISFIED THAT NEITHER SIDE'S GONNA BUDGE ANY FURTHER. AND YOU'RE GONNA GET AN UP VOTE OR A DOWN VOTE BASED OFF OF HOW FAR WE'VE PUSHED EACH OTHER TO GET THE BEST DEAL POSSIBLE FROM THIS PROJECT, FOR THE BENEFIT OF OUR CITIZENS. AND SO HERE'S MY QUESTION FROM WHICH ALL MY REMAINING REMARKS SORT OF FLOW OUT OF, WILL ALPHARETTA BE BETTER WITH OR WITHOUT THIS PARTICULAR MALL DEVELOPMENT? AND Y'ALL THINK YOU HAVE AN ANSWER? YOU MAY HAVE AN ANSWER, YOU KNOW, YOU HAVE AN ANSWER. BUT I WANNA TALK ABOUT THAT FOR A MINUTE. I'M GONNA START WITH WHERE WE'VE BEEN, WHERE WE ARE, AND WHERE WE'RE GOING. A LITTLE BIT ABOUT WHERE WE'VE BEEN. IF YOU PULL UP THE METROPOLITAN ATLANTA STATISTICAL AREA FROM 1970, THIS IS ALL ON WIKIPEDIA, BY THE WAY. AND OTHER THING YOU'LL FIND OUT THAT FULTON COUNTY, EXCUSE ME, THAT ALPHARETTA AND THE FULTON COUNTY LINE WAS THE VERY NORTHERN END OF THE ATLANTA METRO STATISTICAL METRO AREA. I BELIEVE IT WAS THE CASE IN 1980. YOU FAST FORWARD TO TODAY, AS IT HAS GROWN AND GROWN AND GROWN AND GROWN, IT GOES UP TO THE FOOTHILLS OF, OF, OF THE NORTH GEORGIA MOUNTAINS. IT GOES UP TO DAWSONVILLE, THE METRO AREA. WE WERE, WE WERE THE EXURBS WHEN I MOVED HERE TO ATLANTA IN 1983. CAME UP HERE IN 1989 TO ALPHARETTA. WE ARE IN THE MIDDLE OF A METRO AREA NOW, LITERALLY, STATISTICALLY IN EVERY OTHER WAY. SO THAT WHEN I MOVED HERE IN 1989, I MOVED AS FAR OUT AS I COULD, LIKE COUNCILMAN MERKEL'S, KIDS THAT DID UP IN DAWSONVILLE SO I COULD COMMUTE AND WORK IN BUCKHEAD. I JUST TRY AND GET AS FAR AWAY AS I CAN AND STILL COMMUTE. FOUND THIS BEAUTIFUL NEIGHBORHOOD THAT'S WAY UP THERE SO PEOPLE CAN COMMUTE HERE TO WORK. THAT'S A SIGNIFICANT CHANGE IN, IN TERMS OF WHEN WE TALK ABOUT THE IMPACT OF EITHER, YOU KNOW, THE MALL OR WHAT MIGHT BE COMING WITH THIS PROJECT OR A COMPETING PROJECT. TRAFFIC IS BIG CONCERN. WE DON'T GENERATE THE TRAFFIC. THE TRAFFIC COMES DOWN FROM THE LARGE, THE FASTEST GROWING COUNTY IN THE UNITED STATES. OFER AMERICA, WHICH IS FORSYTH COUNTY TO THE NORTH OF US. AND THEN YOU THROW IN DICKENS AND DAWSON AND HALL COUNTY, THEY'RE ALL COMING DOWN HERE TO ONE OF OUR FOUR EXITS TO GET ONTO 400. THERE'S YOUR TRAFFIC. UM, SO IT'S IT'S POINT FOR DISCUSSION ABOUT WHERE WE ARE IN THE METRO AREA. I LOVE THE IDEA THAT WE WERE AT ONE TIME, MAYBERRY. I LOVE THE IDEA THAT WE HAD 3000 PEOPLE HERE. AND YOU CAN GO IN THAT HALLWAY OR THAT ROOM ACROSS THE HALLWAY HERE AND FIND A POLICE CAR WITH A BUBBLE TOP LIGHT ON IT. . UM, AND THAT WAS OUR, THAT WAS OUR ONE POLICE CAR HERE. UH, IF YOU TALK TO MY FRIEND REX GRIZZLY, WHO WAS BORN HERE IN 1949, UH, YOU KNOW, HE CAN TELL YOU ABOUT WHEN THIS WAS A TOWN OF 900 PEOPLE IN [05:30:01] 1950 OR 3000 IN 1980. WELL, WE BECAME ONE OF THE FASTEST GROWING CITIES IN THE COUNTRY IN THE 1990S AND THE TWO THOUSANDS. WE TRIED TO PLAN FOR THAT WITH OUR LAND USE PLAN. MUCH OF THAT INFORMATION WAS IN THE PACKET. IT WAS PUT UP THERE. BUT THE POINT ABOUT THE LAND USE PLAN THAT AFFECTS MY DECISION IS WE HAVE ALWAYS POINTED IN THE DIRECTION THAT WE'RE MOVING THROUGH THE LAND USE PLAN. NOW, I WENT BACK TO THE 2035 LAND USE PLAN ADOPTED JANUARY 9TH, 2017, PRIOR TO MY COMING ON COUNCIL IN 2018, ALONG WITH THE MAYOR WHO'S TOOK HIS SEAT IN 2018. AND IN THAT PLAN, NORTH POINT IS EXPECTED TO RECEIVE THE MOST INTENSE AND CONCENTRATED DEVELOPMENT IN THE FUTURE. THAT'S WHAT OUR CITIZENS SIGNED ON TO IN TERMS OF THE DIRECTION WE WERE GONNA GO WHEN WE DID THE 2040, UH, COMPREHENSIVE LAND USE PLAN AND SIGNED OFF ON OCTOBER 25TH, 2021. THE FOCUS AREA FOR HOUSING SAID CONCENTRATE DENSITY AT NORTH POINT FOR OFFICE AND RETAIL VA VACANCIES FOR FOCUS AREAS. IT SAID, DEVELOP INCENTIVES FOR THE NORTH POINT AREA REDEVELOPMENT PLAN FOR THE NORTH POINT MALL UNDER COMMUNITY VISION FOR HOUSING STRATEGY 1.5, PRIORITIZE HIGH DENSITY DEVELOPMENT TO LOCATE IN THE NORTH POINT AREA AND LIMIT HIGH DENSITY DEVELOPMENT IN OTHER AREAS OF THE CITY. WE HAD A LOT OF REALLY SMART PEOPLE WORKING ON THAT COMPREHENSIVE LAND USE PLAN. I'M LOOKING AT SOME PEOPLE IN THIS ROOM WHO SIGNED THAT COMPREHENSIVE LAND USE PLAN. THIS WAS THE AGREEMENT OF OUR COMMUNITY ABOUT WHAT WE PLAN TO DO IN THE NORTH POINT AREA. AND WE'VE ACTED CONSISTENTLY WITH THAT. UM, THE, YOU KNOW, THE MORE RECENT UPDATE, UH, WHICH WE JUST PASSED IN, UH, MAY 19TH OF THIS YEAR, UNDER THE HOUSING STRATEGY, IT AGAIN SAYS, PRIORITIZE HIGH DENSITY DEVELOPMENT IN NORTH POINT UNDER LAND USE SAYS PLAN FOR REGIONAL DRAW USES SUCH AS UNIVERSITY OR ENTERTAINMENT. IN NORTH POINT, PART OF MY THINKING IS, ARE WE ACTING CONSIST CONSISTENTLY WITH WHAT THE COMMUNITY SAID COLLECTIVELY, THIS IS WHAT WE WANT TO DO AT NORTH POINT. MOVING TO THE PRESENT FALLS IN DECLINE. I THINK WE'VE ALL AGREED UPON THAT. THE MALL IS OUR IS OR WAS OUR SINGLE LARGEST PROPERTY TAXPAYER. IS THAT STILL TRUE, TOM? MAYBE, MAYBE. UM, THE ASSESSED FAIR MARKET VALUE OF THE MALL IN 2019 WAS $86 MILLION AS OF 2026. IT'S $41 MILLION. THAT TREND'S NOT GONNA CHANGE FOR ALL OF YOU PEOPLE WHO USE AMAZON AND HAS EVERYTHING THAT YOU CAN BUY POSSIBLY DELIVERED TO YOUR FRONT DOOR AS OFTEN AS MY WIFE DOES. UM, WHEN I RAN FOR OFFICE THREE YEARS AGO, OR NOT, EXCUSE ME, WHEN I RAN FOR OFFICE BACK IN 2018 IN SUBSEQUENT ELECTIONS, I HAD THREE PRIMARY GOALS. AND I HAVE STUCK WITH THOSE GOALS CONSISTENTLY. ONE WAS TO KEEP ALPHA AS SAFE, TWO WAS TO REDEVELOP NORTH POINT MALL, AND THREE WAS TO MAKE US A WALKABLE CITY AND, AND EX EXTEND OUR TRAIL SYSTEM. I HAVE STUCK TO THOSE THREE THINGS. REDEVELOP NORTH POINT MALL IS A PRIORITY. I WAS ELECTED TO DO THAT BECAUSE I SAID THAT'S WHAT I WAS GOING TO DO. I MADE IT ONE OF MY GOALS AND A PLATFORM ON WHICH I RAN FOR OFFICE. BUT LIKE OTHERS UP HERE, I DON'T JUST ACCEPT ANYTHING THAT COMES FORWARD. I THINK, UH, THE, THE, THE GENTLEMAN OVER HERE FROM NEW YORK LIFE WAS SEATED ABOUT THAT EXACT SAME SPOT WHEN WE WERE DECIDING THE TRADEMARK APPLICATION IN 2022. I'VE MADE, NO, I HAVE NEVER HIDDEN MY DISLIKE FOR THAT PROJECT. IT WAS GOING TO BE A TOTAL OF 900 APARTMENTS IN ONE THIRD OF THE PARKING LOT AROUND THE MALL. AND IT WAS GOING TO RETAIN ABOUT TWO THIRDS OF THE MALL AND LOP OFF ONE END OF IT, ONE THIRD OF IT. AND WE WERE TOLD THAT IF WE BUILD 900 APARTMENTS, THAT WILL REVITALIZE THE MALL. THAT THAT DOESN'T, THAT DIDN'T EVEN PASS THE SMELL TEST WITH ME. BUT THE OTHER THING, AS WAS POINTED OUT BY A FELLOW COUNCIL MEMBER, WAS THEY COULD BUILD UP TO 600 APARTMENTS BEFORE THEY HAD TO, UH, BEFORE THEY COULD BUILD THE FINAL 300 APARTMENTS, THEY HAD TO START BUILDING THE REST OF THE MIXED USE. THEY COULD HAVE LITERALLY BUILT 600 APARTMENTS AND WALKED AWAY, TAKEN [05:35:01] THE CASH FLOW AND NEVER BUILT THE FINAL ELEMENTS OF THE MIXED USE IN ONLY ONE THIRD OF THE PARKING LOT. AND I'VE SAT IN WITH MEETINGS WITH THE MAYOR WHO PLEADED, WHAT ARE YOU GONNA DO WITH THE REST OF THIS PROPERTY? LIKE, WE DON'T KNOW. WE'RE JUST GONNA, WE'RE WE'RE WORKING ON THIS END RIGHT HERE. THAT'S ALL WE KNOW. AND THAT WAS UNACCEPTABLE. AND WHEN PEOPLE ASK THIS QUESTION THAT COMES UP SO OFTEN, WHY DID YOU DENY 900 APARTMENTS? BUT YOU'RE OPEN TO 1385? WELL, IF YOU SPREAD 900 APARTMENTS ON ONE THIRD OF A HUNDRED ACRE PROPERTY AND SPREAD IT OVER THE ENTIRETY OF THE PROPERTY, THE DENSITY THEN GOES UP TO 2,700 APARTMENTS IS WHAT WE DENIED. 'CAUSE IT WAS ONLY ON ONE THIRD OF THE PROPERTY. THIS IS A HOLISTIC SOLUTION TO REDEVELOPING THE MALL IN TERMS OF WHAT'S BEEN, WHAT'S BEEN PRESENTED. AND I'M COMMITTED TO A HOLISTIC SOLUTION TO REDEVELOPING THEM ALL. THIS PROJECT HAS BEEN VETTED, NOT ONLY BY THE STAFF, BUT I, I THOUGHT THE PLANNING COMMISSION DID A REALLY EXCELLENT JOB. UM, I, I SEE, UH, A COUPLE COMMISSIONERS HERE IN THE ROOM. UH, THEY MADE, UH, THEY MADE THE PROJECT BETTER, CHANGING THE CONDITIONS WHERE, WHERE THEY COULD, THEY GOT A CROSSWAYS ON, UH, I THINK ONE CONDITION ON CONCURRENCY, WHICH, UH, MAYBE NOT CONCURRENCY OR MAYBE IT WAS CONCURRENCY, BUT, UH, OH, AND THE APARTMENTS. BUT THE FACT OF THE MATTER WAS THE PLANNING COMMISSION APPROVED THE SAME NUMBER OF RESIDENTIAL UNITS, 1385, THE SAME NUMBER OF OFFICE, THE SAME HEIGHT, THE SAME DENSITY, THE SAME AMOUNT OF TRAFFIC, THE SAME LOCATION OF THE BUILDINGS AS WHAT'S BEEN PRESENTED TONIGHT. THE ONE DIFFERENCE WAS THEY DIDN'T AGREE ON WHETHER THAT SHOULD BE 1,385 APARTMENTS OR 10 85 WITH 300 FOR SALE. DOESN'T CHANGE THE DENSITY OR THE AMOUNT OF RESIDENTIAL UNITS. IT'S JUST THE MIX OF THE USES. OTHERWISE, UH, OUR PLANNING COMMISSION, WHICH REALLY DUG INTO THIS PROJECT, APPROVED THIS PROJECT SUBJECT TO THE MIX OF OWNER TO RESIDENT. MY EXPERIENCE WITH PUBLIC INPUT. UM, YOU KNOW, I I'VE RECEIVED PEOPLE WHO COMPLETELY FAVOR THIS, SOME WHO WANT REDEVELOPMENT, BUT HAVE CONCERNS ABOUT ASPECTS OF THE PROJECT AND SOME WHO DISFAVOR IN TERMS OF THE THINGS TO LIKE ABOUT THIS PROJECT. I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT THAT THE APPLICANT IS DOING SOMETHING FOR OUR COMMUNITY. IT MEANS A LOT TO ME. IT'S SOMETHING THAT IN MY MEETINGS WITH THE APPLICANT, UM, THE, THE PERFORMING ARTS CENTER, I DON'T WANT 'EM PAYING LIP SERVICE TO IT. IF WE WERE TO BUILD A PERFORMING ARTS CENTER HERE, AND CLOSE YOUR EARS ON THIS, MR. PERRY, IF WE WERE TO BUILD A PERFORMING ARTS CENTER HERE IN ALPHARETTA, IT WOULD COST SOMEBODY, YOU KNOW, POTENTIALLY A HUNDRED MILLION DOLLARS IF IT WAS A TRUE CONCERT HALL. AND THEN THERE WOULD BE CARRYING COSTS ASSOCIATED WITH RUNNING THAT HALL YEAR TO YEAR. HAD THE PRIVILEGE OF GOING TO CARMEL, INDIANA AND SEEING THE FINEST MUNICIPAL PERFORMING ARTS CENTER IN THE COUNTRY, THE PALLADIUM. IT'S, IT'S AMAZING. I WANT SOMETHING LIKE THAT FOR OUR COMMUNITY. WE JUST DON'T HAVE THE MONEY WHEN THEY HAVE THE ABILITY TO PROVIDE A PERFORMING ARTS CENTER FOR OUR PERFORMING ARTS, OUR THEATER, OUR SYMPHONY, UH, OUR, YOU KNOW, WHATEVER DANCE WE HAVE SOMETHING THAT IT, IT COMES FROM THE GRASSROOTS OF OUR COMMUNITY UP. WE'RE A BETTER COMMUNITY FOR THAT. AND I THANK YOU FOR INCLUDING THAT IN THE PROJECT. I THANK YOU FOR INCLUDING THE COMMUNITY ICE IN THE PROJECT. THE COOLER CLOTHES. WE KNOW WE HAVE RESIDENTS WHO WANT COMMUNITY ICE. IT MEANS A LOT. THE PARK SPACE 20, THIS IS A 26 ACRE PARK. UH, THIS IS ALMOST AS LARGE AS THE PARK THAT WE JUST FOUND UNDERNEATH. SOME BRUSH BEHIND BROOKSIDE, ALONG THE GREENWAY THAT PEOPLE JUST THOUGHT WAS A DIRT TRAIL. THAT NOW WE NOW REALIZE THROUGH BROOKSIDE THAT THEY'RE GONNA TURN THAT INTO A USABLE PARK FOR OUR RESIDENTS. GUESS WHAT? WE JUST FOUND A HUNDRED ACRES OF ASPHALT WHERE THEY'RE GONNA TURN ASPHALT INTO 26 ACRES OF PARK. THAT MEANS A LOT TO ME. IT MEANS A LOT TO ME THAT THEY'RE RETAINING TWO DEPARTMENT STORES. I WAS BUMMED WHEN I HEARD THAT, YOU KNOW, POTENTIALLY THE DEPARTMENT STORES WERE GONNA LEAVE. UH, I BUY A LOT OF MY GUYS CLOSE AT DILLARDS. IT'S THE BEST MEN'S STORE IN IN [05:40:01] THE CITY OF ALPHARETTA. I DON'T, I DON'T KNOW WHAT I'D DO WITHOUT DILLARDS, BUT, SO WE'RE GONNA HAVE CHOICES, WHICH MAKES US A VERY UNIQUE SPORTS ENTERTAINMENT COMPLEX. AND THEN THERE ARE OTHER CONCERNS, AND I WANNA ADDRESS THOSE CONCERNS. THE CONCERNS ARE WHAT IF THE NHL DOESN'T COME? WELL, IF THE NHL DOESN'T COME, ALL OF THIS HAS JUST BEEN A LONG EVENING ABOUT NOTHING. 'CAUSE IF THE NHL DOESN'T COME THIS, THEY HAVE NO NEW ZONING RIGHTS WHATSOEVER, IT'S STILL A PLANNED SHOPPING CENTER. THIS PROJECT ONLY HAPPENS, ONLY HAPPENS IF THE FRANCHISE IS AWARDED TO THE NORTH POINT SITE AND THEN THINGS HAPPEN. AND THEN ONLY IF, UH, A MYRIAD OF OTHER FINANCIAL THINGS HAPPEN AND HAPPEN PROPERLY. APARTMENTS 1,385 APARTMENTS, THERE ARE TABLES IN THE PACKET WHICH SHOW HOW MANY APARTMENTS HAVE BEEN BUILT ON OTHER SIMILAR TYPE PROJECTS, UH, WHICH ARE ESSENTIAL FOR SOMEONE TO TEAR DOWN A MALL, CHIP UP ALL THE ASPHALT AND BUILD SOMETHING FROM IT. UM, ON MY RESEARCH FOR PROPERTIES OF 75 TO 125 ACRES, THE AVERAGE NUMBER OF APARTMENTS WAS 1,850. THE MEDIAN NUMBER WAS 1,525. THIS IS 1,385 FOR COMPARISON, SEVEN MILES UP THE ROAD. THE GATHERING HAS 1800 APARTMENTS APPROVED. I HEAR AS A CONCERN WE BUILD TOO MANY APARTMENTS IN ALPHARETTA. THESE ARE THE FACTS. WE DID A HOUSING STUDY, WHICH WE, UH, WENT THROUGH IN MAY OF THIS YEAR. ALPHARETTA HAS 6,955 APARTMENT UNITS. NOW APARTMENT BUILDING IS 10 UNITS OR MORE IN, IN ON A PARTICULAR PROPERTY PER THE HOUSING STUDY. THOSE APARTMENTS ARE IN 22 DIFFERENT APARTMENT PROPERTIES. 13 OF THOSE PROPERTIES WITH 4,576 APARTMENT UNITS WERE BUILT PRIOR TO THE YEAR 2000. SO IF YOU MOVED HERE SOMETIME IN THE EIGHTIES OR NINETIES, YOU MOVED HERE WHEN THERE WERE WAY MORE APARTMENTS PER POPULATION THAN THERE IS NOW. IN FACT, THE RATIO WAS 60 40 OWNER TO RENTER FROM 2000 TO 2011. THERE WERE TWO PROPERTIES THAT WERE BUILT WITH 813 UNITS. THEN WE GOT TO 2012. FROM 2012 TO 2018, THERE WERE 1,171 APARTMENT UNITS BUILT IN FIVE PROPERTIES. THE FASTEST, GREATEST NUMBER OF APARTMENTS BUILT IN THE SHORTEST AMOUNT OF TIME IN ALPHARETTA IN 2019, AFTER I CAME ON COUNCIL, AFTER THE MAYOR TOOK THE CENTER SEAT OVER HERE, THERE HAVE BEEN TWO PROPERTIES BUILT WITH APARTMENTS 395 UNITS. AND OUT OF THOSE 395 UNITS, 140 OF THOSE OVER AT NORTH WIND SUMMIT WERE APPROVED IN 2017. SO Y'ALL CAN DO THE MATH PRETTY QUICK. SINCE I'VE BEEN ON COUNCIL, THERE'S ONLY BEEN 255 APARTMENTS IN ONE PROPERTY THAT HAVE BEEN BOTH APPROVED AND BUILT SINCE 2019. SO FOR THOSE WHO THINK WE'RE BUILDING APARTMENTS LIKE CRAZY THAT WE ARE OVERBUILDING OUR CITY WITH APARTMENTS THAT WE'RE PROVIDING APARTMENTS FOR PEOPLE WHO NEED APARTMENTS. THAT'S WHAT YOU THINK. BUT THESE ARE THE NUMBERS. AND SEE ME, WRITE ME, EMAIL ME IF YOU WANT THE CHART TO SHOW WHEN THESE APARTMENTS WERE BUILT AND HOW MANY UNITS THERE ARE. SO WHEN WE HEAR THE NEED FOR APARTMENTS FOR PEOPLE OF A PARTICULAR INCOME LEVEL OR AGE, IT'S BECAUSE OF NUMBERS LIKE THIS. WE HAVEN'T BUILT APARTMENTS SINCE I'VE BEEN ON COUNCIL, PRACTICALLY SPEAKING. AND SINCE MAYOR GELVIN HAS BEEN OUR MAYOR, BECAUSE I'M GETTING WAY TOO LONG-WINDED, I'M GONNA TRY TO SKIP THROUGH SOME OF THESE OTHERS ON, ON OFFICE. UH, THE BATTERY HAS PROVEN THAT IF YOU BUILD OFFICE, UH, IN AN, IN A SPORT ENTERTAINMENT ENVIRONMENT, FORTUNE 500 COMPANIES WILL COME, GO BACK AND READ THE BUSINESS CHRONICLE FOR THE LAST YEAR, AND YOU WILL FIND CASE STUDY AFTER CASE STUDY. [05:45:01] THIS WILL BE A MAGNET FOR BUSINESSES TO OUR COMMUNITY, WHICH WILL ONCE AGAIN, AS WAS POINTED OUT, MOVE US FROM BACK TO A 60 40 COMMERCIAL TO RESIDENTIAL TAX BASE. THAT'S TRADITIONALLY WHAT ALPHARETTA HAS BEEN SINCE WE BECAME AN ECONOMIC POWER ECONOMIC CENTER IN NORTH FULTON COUNTY WAS 60 40 RIGHT NOW BECAUSE OF THE DECLINE OF OFFICE AND THE STAGNATION IN THE, IN THE RESIDENTIAL, UH, MARKET. IN TERMS OF CAPS ON OUR PROPERTY TAXES, UM, IT'S 51 49 IS THAT RATIO. THIS IS THE RIGHT MOVE TO SET US APART, TO DO WHAT WE DO BEST AND ALSO PROVIDE ALL OF THE AMENITIES FOR OUR CITIZENS PAID FOR BY THE COMMERCIAL TAX BASE, NOT ON THE BACKS OF RESIDENTS. WE LOVE TRAILS, WE LOVE PARKS, WE LOVE, UH, STREETS THAT ARE WELL MAINTAINED. WE LOVE PAYING OUR POLICE OFFICERS AND THE WAY YOU DO IT WITHOUT PAYING IT OUTTA YOUR HOME PROPERTY TAX, YOU HAVE THE COMMERCIAL TAX BASE DO IT. WHEN IT COMES TO BUILDING HEIGHTS, IT'S AN AESTHETIC. AND WE'RE JUST GONNA HAVE DISAGREEMENTS ON THIS. UM, YOU KNOW, I, I HEARD THE REFERENCE TO THE, THE APARTMENT BUILDINGS DOWN AT HAMMOND. UH, I DID A QUICK LOOK. UM, YOU KNOW, THAT'S A 24 STORY AND A 33 STORY APARTMENT BUILDING. IF YOU'RE USING THAT AS A COMPARISON TO A 20 STORY BUILDING. THE 33 STORY BUILDING IS 375 FEET TALL. THE MAXIMUM HEIGHT FOR THESE BUILDINGS WILL BE 240 FEET. THAT'S A 65% TALLER BUILDING THAN WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT HERE. IF YOU'RE TRYING TO USE THAT BY WAY OF COMPARISON, IT'S NOT COMPARABLE. THESE BUILDINGS ARE DESIGNED WITH NEXT TO THE ARENA TO PROVIDE SCALE SO THEY DON'T STAND OUT BY THEMSELVES, BUT RATHER THEY'RE IN PROPORTION TO THE BUILDINGS AROUND THEM. I WAS STRUCK WHEN I WAS IN SAVANNAH THIS WEEKEND. I LOOKED ACROSS THE RIVER AT THE HOTEL ACROSS THE RIVER NEXT TO THE CONVENTION CENTER, RIGHT ACROSS NEXT TO THE HOTEL. THE HOTEL BY ITSELF WOULD BE TALL, STANDING NEXT TO THE CONVENTION CENTER. IT'S IN PROPORTION. THAT'S WHAT THE WHOLE POINT OF MASSING AND SCALING IS WHEN YOU BUILD A PROJECT LIKE THIS. I REMEMBER WHEN LIBERTY HALL WAS BUILT, PEOPLE WERE UP IN ARMS ABOUT LIBERTY HALL, THAT BUILDING'S TOO TALL. THAT ISN'T THE CHARACTER OF OUR DOWNTOWN. PEOPLE LOVE LIBERTY HALL NOW. THEY CLAIM IT AS OUR OWN. CHANGE IS TOUGH, I GET IT. BUT EVERY TIME WE'VE CHANGED IN THIS TOWN, WE'VE EMBRACED IT AS OUR OWN AND SAID, YES, THAT'S OURS. YOU STAND ON TOP OF, UH, UP ON THE ROOF, YOU CAN SEE SONY MOUNTAIN AND YOU CAN SEE STONE MOUNTAIN. I CHALLENGE YOU TO THINK ABOUT WHAT YOU'RE GONNA BE ABLE TO SEE 20 STORIES UP ON A, ON A LUXURY HOTEL AT THE RESTAURANT UP ON TOP. WHEN YOU LOOK AT NORTH GEORGIA MOUNTAINS AND THE ATLANTA SKYLINE, I HAVEN'T HEARD ANYBODY SAY THAT THEY HATE THE KING AND QUEEN BUILDING. THIS IS OUR OPPORTUNITY TO BE PROUD TO CLAIM SOMETHING WE'VE NEVER BEEN TIMID IN THIS TOWN ABOUT, YOU KNOW, BEING, BEING AFRAID OF OUR OWN SHADOWS WHEN IT COMES TO GROWING. WE DIDN'T GET HERE WHERE WE ARE AS THE BEST CITY IN GEORGIA BECAUSE WE WERE AFRAID. YOU KNOW, WE HAVE SEIZED ON OPPORTUNITIES THAT CAME TO US LIKE AVALON CAME TO US. IT WAS AN OPPORTUNITY AND WE SEIZED ON IT AND WE DIDN'T LET THAT OPPORTUNITY GET AWAY. THIS IS AN OPPORTUNITY. WE RESURRECTED A DOWNTOWN BROKEN ASPHALT PARKING LOT AROUND THE OLD CITY HALL AND TURNED IT IN THE CITY CENTER. WE CAN RESURRECT A MALL AND TURN IT INTO SOMETHING BEAUTIFUL. WE CREATED BEAUTY FROM BLIGHT WHEN WE TOOK AN OLD GAS STATION AND BUILT LIBERTY HALL IN ITS PLACE. SO HERE'S WHERE WE GET TO DRAWING ALL THESE THINGS TOGETHER. THERE'S TWO POSSIBLE OUTCOMES FROM THIS VOTE. THERE'S A FUTURE OF ALPHARETTA WITH THIS PROJECT AND THERE'S A FUTURE OF ALPHARETTA WITHOUT THIS PROJECT. LEMME TALK FIRST ABOUT WHAT WE'VE ALL BEEN TALKING ABOUT FOR, FOR WEEKS AND MONTHS WITH THIS PROJECT. A DYING REGIONAL MALL PROPERTY GETS REDEVELOPED. PRIVATE INVESTMENTS CREATES SOMETHING PRODUCTIVE IN AN EXCITING, SOME WOULD SAY, EXCITING WAY. AND OUT OF SOMETHING THAT'S DYING, THAT SAME INVESTMENT'S GOING TO BE A CATALYST CAN CREATE A HALO EFFECT FOR THE STRIP SHOPPING CENTERS AROUND IT. AND THE POWER CENTERS AT NORTH WIND SUMMIT AND LAKEVIEW ADJACENT TO IT ACROSS THE HIGHWAY. [05:50:02] IT'S CONSISTENT WITH WHAT WE SAID WE WOULD DO IN THE LAND USE PLAN. NOW HERE'S, I'VE BEEN TALKING A LOT. HERE'S WHERE YOU GOTTA PAY ATTENTION. WELL, YOU DIDN'T HAVE TO, YOU'D HAVE TO AGREE WITH ME THAT HARD IF THIS PROJECT DOESN'T GET APPROVED. I DISAGREE WITH ONE OF MY COLLEAGUES DOWN HERE. I ABSOLUTELY BELIEVE THE NHL IS COMING TO ATLANTA. I ABSOLUTELY BELIEVE THAT IT'S COMING TO HERE OR GOING TO FORSYTH COUNTY. I BELIEVE THAT WE'RE THE SEVENTH LARGEST TV MARKET IN THE COUNTRY. HOUSTON'S THE SIXTH LARGEST. THEY'VE SIGNALED THEY'RE GONNA EXPAND. THEY'RE GONNA GO TO THE SIXTH LARGEST MARKET. THEY'RE GONNA DO IT IN EVEN NUMBERS. THEY'RE GONNA COME TO ATLANTA, THE SEVENTH LARGEST MARKET, AND THEY'RE GONNA COME HERE OR THERE. AND IF WE DON'T BUILD THIS AND THEY GO TO FORSYTH COUNTY, NOBODY'S SCRUTINIZING WHAT'S GOING ON AT THE GATHERING. 1800 APARTMENTS HAVE BEEN APPROVED AT THE GATHERING. AND FROM THAT TRAFFIC WILL BE CONCENTRATED ON MCGINNIS FERRY ROAD AND WINDWARD AND GEORGIA 400 AND WAVES. AND GOOGLE MAPS IS GOING TO DIRECT TRAFFIC THROUGH THE NEIGHBORHOODS OF ALPHARETTA WORKING THEIR WAY SOUTH AS THEY LEAVE HOME OR RETURN HOME FROM THE DAY AT WORK. THERE'S A MILLION SQUARE FEET OF OFFICE THAT'S GOING TO, THAT'S APPROVED AT THE GATHERING. TRAFFIC'S GONNA BE CONCENTRATED UP IN WINDWARD. IT'S GOING TO TRAVEL SOUTH THROUGH OUR NEIGHBORHOODS IN WINDWARD. AND THEY'RE GONNA RETURN, UH, AT THE END OF THE DAY AFTER THEY GO THROUGH THE NEIGHBORHOODS TO AND FROM WORK. SIX, THERE'S 600,000 SQUARE FEET OF RETAIL AT THE GATHERING. THE SAME ISSUE. EVERYBODY GOING THERE IS GOING TO AFFECT OUR NEIGHBORHOODS, OUR RESIDENTS IN WINDWARD TRAVELING THROUGH THOSE NEIGHBORHOODS. THE OFFICE, BY THE WAY, VERY IMPORTANT. THE OFFICE, BY THE WAY, IF THIS HAPPENS AT THE GATHERING, THEY WILL HAVE NO QUALMS ABOUT TRULY CANNIBALIZING OUR BUSINESSES. THEY WOULD BE CRAZY NOT TO TRY TO POACH OUR BUSINESSES. THEY'RE GONNA COME TO ALPHARETTA AND SAY, YOU MOVE TO OUR NEW PROJECT IN THE GATHERING. WE HAVE NO CONTROL OVER THAT. WE, WE WE CAN'T EXPRESS. WE WE CAN'T CONTROL THAT. UH, YOU BUILD ALL THAT RETAIL UP THERE IN THE GATHERING THAT'S GOING TO ADVERSELY IMPACT OUR RETAIL. IT'S GOING TO IMPACT OUR DOWNTOWN. IT'S GOING TO IMPACT, UH, UH, THE A AT, AT AVALON, THE WINDWARD CORRIDOR THAT WE ARE WORKING SO HARD TO REVITALIZE. 500 HOTEL ROOMS ARE APPROVED AT THE GATHERING AND ALL THE TRAFFIC GOING THROUGH WINDWARD THAT GOES, GOES WITH THAT. AND IT'S GOING TO AFFECT OUR HOTELS. WE CAPTURE NONE OF THE MONEY. WE GET ALL THE DETRIMENT. THE MORAL OF THE STORY IS THE ALPHARETTA. WITHOUT THIS PROJECT, I DON'T HAVE A CRYSTAL BALL. BUT IF THE NHL GOES TO THE GATHERING, WE GET ALL DETRIMENT AND WE GET NONE OF THE BENEFIT. WE GET NONE OF THE BENEFIT. WE DON'T CAPTURE THE TAX DOLLARS, WE GET NONE OF THAT. AND THE MALL GOES INTO A FURTHER DECLINE. THE CASE STUDY FOR ALL OF THIS IS GWINNET PLACE MALL IN THE MALL OF GEORGIA, UH, GWINNET PLACE MALL BUILT IN 84 WHEN THEY BUILT THE MALL OF GEORGIA. EVERYBODY DRIVING SOUTH DOWN 85 STOPPED AT THE MALL OF GEORGIA. UH, THERE WAS WAY MORE COMPETITION COME FROM, FROM THE NORTH OR COMING NORTH AND, AND EAST AND WEST TO GWINNETT PLACE. MALL, MALL OF GEORGIA KILLED GWINNETT PLACE MALL. THERE'S A DIFFERENT ALPHARETTA THAT WE DON'T TALK ABOUT IF THIS PROJECT IS DENIED. AND THEN LAST, AND THAT IS IF THIS PROJECT IS DENIED AND IF WE TAKE TO HEART EVERY SINGLE CONCERN THAT HAS BEEN EXPRESSED, UH, BY OUR RESIDENTS. 'CAUSE YOU CAN'T PLEASE EVERYBODY. ASK YOURSELF, ASK YOURSELF WHAT'S GOING TO BE ACCEPTABLE FOR THE INVESTMENT THAT IS GOING TO TAKE TO REMOVE THAT MALL, CHIP UP THAT ASPHALT, AND THEN BUILD SOMETHING THAT YOU CAN LIVE WITH. WHAT DOES THAT LOOK LIKE? IT'S NOT SINGLE FAMILY HOMES. NOT UNLESS YOU'RE GONNA SELL 'EM FOR ABOUT [05:55:01] $15 MILLION A PIECE. YOU KNOW, IT'S GOING TO BE OFFICE, IT'S GOING TO BE RESIDENTIAL, IT'S GOING TO BE DENSE. IT'S GOING TO HAVE ALL OF THE CONCERNS THAT EVERYBODY HERE EXPRESSED TONIGHT, BUT WE'LL GET NONE OF THE BENEFITS. SO I SUPPORT THIS BECAUSE I PEELED AWAY THE ONION AND SEA, AND I'VE, I'VE SEEN THAT WHAT WE'RE LEFT WITH IS AN OPPORTUNITY. THE NHL WANTS TO COME POTENTIALLY COME TO ALPHARETTA, AND THAT CAN BE A CATALYST FOR A SUCCESSFUL MALL REDEVELOPMENT PROJECT. AND IF THEY DON'T COME HERE, AND IF WE DENY THIS, UH, THEN I, I HAVE SERIOUS CONCERNS WHAT IT'S GOING TO DO FOR OUR CITY AND, AND OUR NEIGHBORHOODS UP ALONG WINDWARD. YEAH, , SINCE I'VE BEEN STUDYING THIS FOR FIVE YEARS, I JUST HAD TO, ALL RIGHT. SO I, WE'VE BEEN HERE A LONG TIME AND I'LL, I'LL TRY TO BE AS QUICK AS I CAN. THE CHALLENGE THAT I HAVE IS, I HAVE A CONTEXT THAT I'VE ACQUIRED OVER THE LAST 20 YEARS THAT IT'S HARD TO SHARE WITH EVERYBODY. 'CAUSE NOBODY HAS WALKED THE PATH THAT I'VE PASSED PATH, THE PATH I'VE WALKED FOR THE LAST 20 YEARS. EXCUSE ME, IT IS LATE. I SAY THAT BECAUSE I, I'VE BEEN REFLECTING ON HOW I ENDED UP IN ALL OF THIS. AND, AND I WAS READING AN ARTICLE EARLIER THAT REMINDED ME WHY I DID WHAT I DID AND WHY I'M SITTING HERE TONIGHT. AND I NEVER WANTED TO BE A POLITICIAN. I SAW, DID BRAD ALREADY LEAVE? OH, THERE HE IS. SO I MOVED TO ALPHARETTA WITH MY WIFE AND MY 2-YEAR-OLD SON, ABOUT 2003. AND BRAD AND I HAPPENED TO LIVE IN A SMALL LITTLE NEIGHBORHOOD CALLED SHERIDAN RIDGE, ABOUT 21 HOMES, IF I REMEMBER IT. IT WAS, YOU KNOW, A VERY DIVERSE GROUP OF RESIDENTS, WORKING CLASS PEOPLE. AND THIS WAS THE FIRST HOUSE MY WIFE AND I BOUGHT BECAUSE WE COULD AFFORD A HOUSE BACK THEN. I THINK WE PAID LIKE $175,000 ACROSS THE STREET FROM PROSPECT, NEW PROSPECT ELEMENTARY SCHOOL. I WAS A REAL ESTATE AGENT AT THAT TIME, AND IT WAS A GREAT PLACE TO RAISE MY FAMILY. AND WE DID FINE FOR, I DON'T KNOW, MAYBE ABOUT SIX MONTHS IN OUR HOUSE. AND I WAS, YOU KNOW, REDOING STUFF. AND ONE DAY I CAME HOME AND THERE WAS A DAMN FLYER ON MY MAILBOX. AND IT WAS FROM A WOMAN NAMED ELIZABETH'S STORY, BECAUSE WHERE WE LIVED WAS AN UNINCORPORATED PART OF ALPHARETTA. I DIDN'T KNOW, I WASN'T IN THE CITY. AND SO THE FLYER SAID, THERE'S A PROPOSAL TO BUILD APARTMENTS IN YOUR BACKYARD. JUST WANTED TO LET YOU KNOW THAT, YOU KNOW, WE NEED TO ADDRESS THIS AND HOW TO DO THAT. AND SO, BECAUSE BRAD AND I WERE THE ONLY PEOPLE IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD THAT WERE STUPID ENOUGH TO RUN FOR PRESIDENT AND TREASURER. SO EVERY YEAR HE WOULD BE TREASURER AND I'D BE PRESIDENT, AND NEXT YEAR I'D BE PRESIDENT AND HE'D BE THE TREASURER AND STUFF LIKE THAT. BUT WE HAD TO LEARN ABOUT ZONING. AND, AND I LEARNED A LOT IN THAT PROCESS. I WAS LITERALLY AN ENVY BECAUSE WE HAD OUR BACKYARD PROPOSED FOR DEVELOPMENT, AND IT WAS JUST, IT WAS SLOPPY. I MEAN, THEY HAD LITERALLY, IT WAS A PROPERTY OWNER THAT DIDN'T LIVE THERE AND HAD DRAWN A PICTURE OF AN APARTMENT BUILDING AND SUBMITTED THAT. AND I WAS JUST LIKE, ARE YOU KIDDING ME? AND WE FOUGHT AND SPENT TIME AND, AND WE LEARNED ABOUT HOW TO ADVOCATE FOR OUR NEIGHBORS. AND WHEN I HAD OUR SECOND CHILD, WE MOVED FROM THAT NEIGHBORHOOD AND MOVED INTO WINDWARD. AND I RAISED MY FAMILY THERE FOR 20 YEARS. AND I ADVOCATED ON BEHALF OF WINDWARD AND MY NEIGHBORS AND MY FAMILY FOR YEARS. THE ARTICLE I'VE GOT HERE WAS 2011 THAT I HAD WRITTEN. I HAPPENED TO BE THE PRESIDENT OF WHI, WHICH ISN'T THE HOMEOWNERS ASSOCIATION. IT WAS JUST A, [06:00:01] A NON, IT WAS NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION OF PEOPLE WHO CARED ABOUT THE COMMUNITY. WE HAD NEWSLETTERS, WE HAD EVENTS, AND WE WOULD JUST HELP WINWARD BECOME A, A REALLY NICE PLACE AND STAY THAT WAY. AND SO A MAN NAMED TOM MILLER WAS ON OUR ORGANIZATION. AND, AND HE AND I, AND A HANDFUL OF PEOPLE LIKE MARK MCKEAN AND PAUL OSWALD AND BUTCH DUNTON, IF YOU KNOW ANY OF THEM. JIM MATONE, FORMER JUDGE ALPHARETTA AND FORMER CITY COUNCILMAN. AND I LEARNED HOW TO ADVOCATE FOR MY NEIGHBORS AND ON BEHALF OF MY FAMILY AND THINGS. AND THE ONLY REASON I'M SITTING HERE TODAY IS BECAUSE IN 2007, WE HAD BEEN FIGHTING AGAINST A PROPOSAL TO BUILD A 15 STORY CONDO TOWER AT THE WINDWARD PARK AND RIDE. THAT'S BIG, THAT'S URBAN. AND IT WAS RIGHT THERE AT THE PARK AND RIDE. AND I COULD NEVER FIGURE OUT WHY THEY KEPT, BECAUSE MOST OF THE ELECTED OFFICIALS BACK THEN WERE SUPPORTING IT. AND I COULDN'T FIGURE THAT OUT. I WAS LIKE, WHAT THE HECK? I, I DON'T GET IT. BUT I REMEMBER SITTING AT THE OLD CITY HALL THE NIGHT THAT THEY HAD THAT ZONING HEARING. AND I SAT THERE AND I KNEW IT WAS GONNA PASS. WE KNEW WHO THE, I HAD MET WITH THE PROPERTY OWNER. WE'D HAD ALL KIND OF DISCUSSIONS. TOM AND I TRIED TO NEGOTIATE SOMETHING WE THOUGHT WOULD BE IN THE BEST INTEREST OF THE COMMUNITY AND STUFF LIKE THAT. BUT IT WAS CLEAR THE FIX WAS IN. AND AS I SAT THERE AND WATCHED THAT VOTE PASS SEVEN OH, I WAS LIKE, HOW IN THE HELL DOES THAT HAPPEN? I, I MEAN, I KNEW IT WAS GONNA PASS. IT WASN'T A SHOCK, BUT I WAS LIKE, HOW DO WE HAVE SEVEN PEOPLE SITTING UP THERE ON THE DA AND NOT A DAMN ONE OF THEM REPRESENTED ALL OF, AND, AND LOOK, WE HAD A TURNOUT. YOU THINK THIS IS BIG. WE HAD SO MANY PEOPLE AT THAT HEARING THAT DAY, MOST OF THEM WINWARD RESIDENTS, BUT A LOT OF OTHER ADVOCATES THAT THEY HAD TO PUT A TV IN THE POLICE ATHLETIC LEAGUE BECAUSE THEY DIDN'T HAVE ROOM FOR EVERYBODY TO FIT IN THE OLD CITY HALL. AND I, I JUST, I COULDN'T GET OVER IT. I WAS JUST STUNNED THAT, NOT BECAUSE I KNEW SOME OF THOSE PEOPLE. THEY WERE PEOPLE I MET IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD AND THINGS LIKE THAT. HELL, ONE OF THE COUNCILWOMEN WAS ABOUT A NEIGHBOR, 10 DOORS DOWN. AND SHE DIDN'T GET A LOT OF FRIEND NOTICES AFTER THAT ZONING DECISION. AND I TRIED FOR THREE YEARS. I TRIED TO FIND SOMEBODY TO RUN, I TRIED TO GET TOM TO RUN AGAIN. HE, LOOK, IT WAS A ROUGH CAMPAIGN WHEN TOM DID TRY TO RUN AND HE LOST AND HE TOOK A TOLL ON HIM AND HIS FAMILY AND EVERYTHING ELSE SO HE WOULDN'T RUN. SO ME AND MARK MCKEAN AND SOME OF MY FRIENDS IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD SOUGHT PEOPLE, OH MAN, THIS GUY'S AN ATTORNEY, THIS PERSON, YOU KNOW, THEY'VE GOT A HUGE FEAR OF INFLUENCE. NOT A DAMN PERSON WOULD RUN. THEY JUST DIDN'T WANT TO PUT THEMSELVES THROUGH IT. AND WHEN IT CAME RIGHT DOWN TO IT, I WAS SITTING AT THE TABLE WITH MARK MCKEAN BECAUSE WE WERE ABOUT MAYBE 30 DAYS, A COUPLE OF MONTHS BEFORE THE QUALIFYING AND WE COULDN'T FIND ANYBODY TO RUN. AND HE, WE WERE SITTING THERE SAYING, YOU KNOW, HE WON'T DO IT. SHE WON'T DO IT. WE, I SAID, IF WE DON'T HAVE SOMEONE WHO WILL RUN AND REPRESENT US, THEY'RE JUST GONNA KEEP DOING THIS STUFF. AND SO MUCH TO MY WIFE, CHAGRIN, I TOLD HER, LOOK, I THINK I NEED TO DO THIS BECAUSE IF, IF I SEE THEM DO THIS WITHOUT ANYBODY EVEN CHALLENGING OR HAVING A CONVERSATION ABOUT WHAT WAS GOING ON, I COULDN'T STAND IT. SO I WAS SITTING IN MY CAR WITH MY DAUGHTER SIDE OF PRAYING THAT SOMEBODY WOULD WALK IN AND SIGN UP TO RUN AGAINST THAT LADY. AND THEY DIDN'T. SO I DID. AND THAT'S HOW I GOT ON COUNCIL BECAUSE A LOT OF MY FRIENDS, PEOPLE LIKE YOU WHO ARE, ARE ADVOCATING ON YOUR BEHALFS, AND I WAS THE BIGGEST PAIN IN THE ASS [06:05:01] OF DAVID BELE HE EVER HAD ON THAT COUNCIL BECAUSE I FOUGHT LIKE HELL AGAINST THE DENSITY. THOMPSON STREET WOULD NOT LOOK LIKE THE THOMPSON STREET. YOU SEE NOW, IF I HAD LOST SO MANY SIX ONE VOTES, I, I MEAN I ALL THOSE LIKE THE, THE CONDOS, THE TOWNHOUSES YOU SEE ON DEVORE ROAD. NOW I, THAT ONE'S ONE I REALLY REMEMBER BECAUSE I WAS FIRED UP ABOUT THAT. 'CAUSE WE HAD ALREADY DONE SOME OTHER APARTMENTS AND THINGS. AND SO, AND I WAS, I WAS A BLOGGER BACK IN THE DAY WHEN BLOGS WERE STILL SOMETHING. AND SO, YOU KNOW, I CALCULATED ALL THE TRIPS, HOW THE TRAFFIC WAS GONNA IMPACT DEVORE ROAD, IT'S TOO LITTLE ROAD AND ALL THIS STUFF. AND THERE WAS A, WHO DON ROW LATER WAS THE ATTORNEY THAT NIGHT. AND I REMEMBER TELLING HIM HE, WE NEED TO MAKE THESE CONDOS, YOU KNOW, THEY NEED TO BE OWNER OCCUPIED AND STUFF LIKE THAT. AND AS REAL ESTATE ATTORNEYS DO, HE MADE SURE TO SAY THAT, WELL, YOU KNOW, IF YOU DON'T ALLOW US THIS USE, WE'RE GONNA SUE YOU. IT'S A CONSTITUTIONAL ISSUE. I WAS LIKE, ALRIGHT, YOU KNOW, WHATEVER. I STILL VOTED AGAINST IT. AND THEN IT DIDN'T HAPPEN BECAUSE WHATEVER THE DEAL FELL THROUGH FINANCING FOR THE APARTMENTS OR SOMETHING LIKE, AND ABOUT FIVE, SIX MONTHS LATER, THEY COME BACK AND THEY WANT TO PUT TOWNHOUSES IN THERE AND DON ROLLATOR MAKES A STATEMENT, IF YOU DON'T ALLOW US TO BUILD THESE TOWN HOMES, WE'RE GONNA SUE YOU. I SAID, WELL, DON, SIX MONTHS AGO YOU WERE GONNA SUE ME FOR PUTTING THEM THERE. UM, AND, AND IT, IT WAS JUST BEEN A, A REALLY WEIRD EXPERIENCE BEING FROM THAT ADVOCACY POSITION AS JUST A DAD TRYING TO PROTECT OUR NEIGHBORHOOD AND STUFF LIKE THAT TO BEING IN THE POSITION I AM NOW. BECAUSE THE LUXURY OF BEING AN ADVOCATE IS YOU'RE NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR THE OUTCOMES. YOU'RE, YOU'RE DEFENDING YOUR FAMILIES, YOU'RE DEFENDING YOUR NEIGHBORHOODS, AND THAT'S GREAT. BUT ONCE YOU PUT ON THE MAYOR'S MANTLE, YOU DON'T HAVE THAT LUXURY ANYMORE. I REPRESENT EVERYBODY IN THIS CITY. I'M RESPONSIBLE FOR EVERYTHING. I DON'T DO MUCH EXCEPT MAKE SURE THE PEOPLE THAT GET THINGS DONE IN THIS CITY HAVE WHAT THEY NEED TO SUCCEED. AND I SAY ALL THAT TO GIVE YOU THE BACKGROUND OF WHY I AM VOTING THE WAY I AM TODAY. IT'S NICE TO BE ABLE TO SAY YOU DON'T LIKE TALL BUILDINGS AND FIGHT AGAINST THEM. AND THAT'S PERFECTLY FINE. I GET IT. YOU'RE REPRESENTING WHAT YOU THINK THE VISION OF THE FUTURE SHOULD BE. I DON'T GET TO DO THAT BECAUSE I'VE GOTTA THINK ABOUT THE IMPACT IT'S GONNA HAVE TO OUR SCHOOLS. YOU KNOW, UH, I'VE GOT SOME, I'VE TAKEN SOME NOTES OF SOME OF THE THINGS Y'ALL HAVE BROUGHT UP. I WANT TO POINT OUT SOME THINGS. I'VE BEEN VERY ACTIVE WITH THE SCHOOL BOARD. I TALKED TO THE PRESIDENT OF THE SCHOOL, FULTON COUNTY SCHOOL BOARD MONTHS AND MONTHS AGO AND TOLD THEM THAT WE HAD SOME BIG ZONING DECISIONS COMING UP. I I TOLD HER, I SAID, LOOK, WE'RE TRYING TO DO THIS PARK OVER AT BROOKSIDE PARK RENOVATION OF AN OFFICE PARK AND MAKE IT A MIXED USE ENVIRONMENT. AND I TOLD THEM, L LET US KNOW IF THERE'S DECISIONS WE CAN MAKE THAT ARE GONNA HELP YOU NOT HURT YOU. BECAUSE WHEN KATIE REES WAS THE SCHOOL BOARD COMMISSIONER, THE PROBLEMS WE HAD BACK THEN WERE, HOW DO WE BUILD SCHOOLS FAST ENOUGH FOR ALL THESE KIDS OVERCROWDING AND YOU HAD TRAILERS AND ALL THE SCHOOL YARDS AND THINGS LIKE THAT. THAT'S NOT OUR PROBLEM NOW. WE DON'T HAVE ENOUGH. ASK A SCHOOL BOARD MEMBER, THEY'LL TELL YOU THEIR CHALLENGES RIGHT NOW ARE IF, IF WE AREN'T ABLE TO GET MORE STUDENTS INTO THOSE BUILDINGS, THERE'S GONNA BE EITHER SOME CLOSURES WHICH HAVE ALREADY HAPPENED IN OTHER PARTS OF FULTON COUNTY, OR THERE'S GONNA BE REDISTRICTING. AND BELIEVE ME, THAT'S PAINFUL BECAUSE I REMEMBER A FEW YEARS AGO, THREE OR FOUR, WHENEVER THEY HAD LAST REDISTRICTING THREAT, I GOT AS MANY IF NOT MORE EMAILS ABOUT THAT. I'M THE MAYOR. I HAVE NOTHING TO REALLY INFLUENCE THE REDISTRICTING, [06:10:01] BUT I'M RESPONSIBLE FOR IT. THESE PEOPLE CAME TO ME, BUT BECAUSE I HAD GREAT RELATIONSHIPS WITH THE SCHOOL BOARD AND WITH, UM, SUPERINTENDENT LOONEY, WE WERE ABLE TO STOP THAT. BUT IT, IF WE DON'T CHANGE THE DEMOGRAPHICS OF OUR CITY, IT'S GOING TO HAPPEN. THEY CAN'T, THE THE ONLY WAY THE SCHOOL SYSTEM CAN CONTINUE TO SCHOOLS THAT ARE UNDERPERFORMING IS EITHER KEEP THROWING MONEY AT IT OR CHANGE THE DISTRICTING AND THINGS LIKE THAT. THOSE ARE THE THINGS THAT I HAVE TO THINK ABOUT AS WE'RE HAVING THESE DISCUSSIONS. I ALSO HAVE TO THINK ABOUT WHAT ABOUT, LIKE, AS COUNCILMAN HET MENTIONED, MY BIGGEST FEAR IN THIS WHOLE PROCESS IS THAT WE HAVE GOT AN INCREDIBLE OPPORTUNITY RIGHT NOW. I KNOW YOU DON'T, LIKE MANY OF YOU DON'T LIKE THE DETAILS. I UNDERSTAND THAT AND, AND I RESPECT YOUR WISHES AND YOUR BELIEFS. THE CHALLENGE I SEE IS WE HAVE, WHETHER YOU LIKE 'EM OR NOT, NEW YORK LIFE IS A SOLID COMPANY. UH, YOU KNOW, WE HAD TALKED, I THINK I HAD HEARD SOMEBODY MENTION PROSPECT PARK AND SOME OF THE OLD PROJECT TOMAN MALL, IF YOU REMEMBER THAT. THERE HAVE BEEN. SO THE ONLY REASON WE HAVE AVALON IS BECAUSE PREVIOUS DEVELOPERS HAD TRIED TO BUILD BIG, HUGE STUFF ON THAT LAND. AND THEN THE ECONOMY TURNED SOUR AND IT WENT SOUTH AND IT SAT THERE ROTTEN AS THE DOORSTEP TO OUR CITY FOR OVER SIX YEARS BEFORE THE RECESSION CAME OUT ENOUGH THAT WE COULD GET IT STARTED AGAIN. WHEN I LOOK AT ALAN RUBENSTEIN OVER THERE IN NEW YORK LIFE, THEY HAVE $455 BILLION OF RESOURCES TO PUT BEHIND THE PROJECT THAT THEY'RE OFFERING TO US. THAT MEANS SOMETHING TO ME BECAUSE WHETHER WE LIKE THE DETAILS OF WHAT THEY'RE PROPOSING OR WE HAVE QUIBBLES ABOUT IT BY GOD, IF WE CAN APPROVE SOMETHING THAT IS GOOD FOR THEIR BUSINESS, I DON'T HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT IT GOING BANKRUPT AND GOING BELLY UP AND HAVING TO DO THIS ALL OVER AGAIN SIX, EIGHT YEARS FROM NOW. THAT'S, THAT MEANS SOMETHING TO ME. ANOTHER THING THAT MEANS SOMETHING TO ME IS JAMESTOWN IS AN INCREDIBLE ORGANIZATION. THEY'VE DONE INCREDIBLE THINGS IN METRO ATLANTA, IN NEW YORK CITY ALL OVER THE WORLD. THEY'RE TALENTED. THEY WILL DO WHAT THEY SAY THEY'RE GOING TO DO. I KNOW YOU MAY NOT AGREE AND THAT'S FINE, I GET IT. BUT I'M TELLING YOU, FROM THE MAYOR'S PERSPECTIVE, BY GOD, WHEN WE WALK OUTTA HERE, I WANNA BE CONFIDENT THAT WHAT WE'VE AGREED AND WHAT WE'VE APPROVED IS GONNA HAPPEN. IT'S NOT A DREAM. IT'S NOT SOMETHING THAT'S GONNA CAUSE US TO GO BACK TO START ALL OVER AGAIN WITH SOMEBODY ELSE. THAT'S HUGE FOR ME. AND, AND I APPRECIATE THE FACT THAT Y'ALL HAVE WORKED SO HARD TO AT LEAST TRY TO ACCOMMODATE AS MANY OF THOSE THINGS AS YOU CAN. BUT THE FACT IS, NEW YORK LIFE DIDN'T BUY THAT MALL. I I HAD A CONVERSATION WITH ONE OF OUR COUNCIL MEMBERS THE OTHER DAY AND, AND I, I'VE ASKED A COUPLE OF SKEPTICS ON OUR COUNCIL. WE'VE HAD THOSE DISCUSSIONS AND AT THE END OF THE DISCUSSION I WOULD SAY, OKAY, SO IF WE STOP THIS AND DON'T DO IT, WHAT'S YOUR PLAN? WHAT'S, WHAT'S MY B BECAUSE IF WE DON'T DO THIS, YOU BETTER HAVE A SOLUTION FOR ME, BECAUSE I'M RESPONSIBLE FOR MAKING SURE THAT WE DON'T BECOME A DOWN ZONED PROPERTY. IT, IT, IT'S, IT'S, THAT'S A CHALLENGE. ONE OF THE OTHER BENEFITS OF HAVING JAMESTOWN ON THE TEAM IS THERE'S NOT GOING TO BE ANY CANNIBALIZING BECAUSE JAMESTOWN OWNS AVALON. THAT'S GOING TO CREATE SYNERGIES, NOT THREATS. AND GOING BACK TO THE THREATS FOR SOUTH COUNTY WANTS TO BE ALPHARETTA SO DAMN BAD, THEY CAN TASTE IT. THEY TRIED TO BUILD A PROJECT JUST LIKE THEY'RE TRYING TO DO AGAIN NOW, HAM MALL, THE COUNTY SPENT $15 MILLION JUST TO BUILD ALL THE INFRASTRUCTURE UP THERE TO NEAR WHERE THEY'RE DOING THE GATHERING. NOW THE ECONOMY TANKED, THE DEVELOPER BLACKED OUT AND THAT'S WHY THEY'RE STILL LOOKING FOR SOMETHING TO DO LIKE WE'VE ALREADY BEEN ABLE TO DO. AND [06:15:01] THEY, THEY'VE ALREADY GOT A TAD, THEY'VE ALREADY GOT FULL SUPPORT BY THEIR SCHOOL BOARD. THEY'VE ALREADY APPROVED LIKE $255 MILLION TO HELP GET IT DONE. AND WE CAN'T TAKE OUR POSITION TOO LIGHTLY BECAUSE JUST BECAUSE WE'RE ON THE TOP OF THE WORLD RIGHT NOW DOESN'T MEAN ONE BAD MOVE, ONE BAD MOVE BECAUSE THEY WILL SPEND THE MONEY AND, AND THEY'VE GOT MONEY. IF THEY GET THAT HOCKEY ARENA, IT'S NOT GOING TO BE GOOD FOR US BECAUSE THOSE MILLIONS OF DOLLARS IN TAXES ARE GONNA BE GOING TO FORSYTH COUNTY SCHOOLS RATHER THAN FULTON COUNTY SCHOOLS. IT'S GOING TO BE GOING TO PAY FOR THEIR INFRASTRUCTURE AND THEIR SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT, NOT OURS. THOSE ARE THE KIND OF THINGS THAT, THAT DRIVE MY POSITION ON THIS. I THINK AN OPPORTUNITY LIKE THIS DOESN'T COME ALONG VERY OFTEN. AND, AND THERE'S, I BELIEVE IN THINGS WORKING OUT THE WAY THEY'RE SUPPOSED TO. SOME THINGS ARE JUST SERENDIPITOUS. THEY JUST, THE FACT THAT WE HAD AN INCREDIBLE CITY MANAGER THAT USED TO BE A, A COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR. OUR BOB RIGAS WAS OUR CITY ADMINISTRATOR FOR MORE THAN TWO DECADES AND HE WAS APPROACHING RETIREMENT AGE. AND SO I HAD BEEN ELECTED MAYOR AND I, ONE OF MY GOALS WAS I'VE GOT TO FIND SOMEBODY THAT CAN FILL THOSE SHOES. AND THOSE ARE REALLY BIG SHOES. BOB WAS THE COUNTY MANAGER FOR FULTON COUNTY WHEN THE OLYMPICS HAPPENED, WHEN THE BOMB WENT OFF IN THE OLYMPIC PARK, HE WAS SIGNING CHECKS FOR THE VENDORS OF THE OLYMPICS. AND HE WAS A FINE CHRISTIAN MAN AS WELL, GREAT LEADER. AND WE REALLY STRUGGLED SEARCHING. HE AND I TRYING TO FIND A PLACEMENT FOR HIM. AND IT JUST SO HAPPENED THAT OLD ALPHARETTA BOY, CHRIS LAGER BLOOM, WHO HAD LEFT OUR FINE CITY TO GO DOWN TO FORT LAUDERDALE, FLORIDA A FEW YEARS AGO. AND ABOUT THE SAME TIME AS BOB AND I WERE LOOKING FOR HIM AND, AND TRYING TO CONVINCE CHRIS TO COME BACK UP FROM A, A HUGE ROLE DOWN IN FLORIDA AND COME BACK HOME AND, AND BE OUR CITY MANAGER. AND I REMEMBER TELLING CHRIS AT THAT TIME, CHRIS, THIS IS THE BIGGEST DECISION I'LL MAKE AS MAYOR. AND THEN A FEW MONTHS LATER PEOPLE STARTED TALKING ABOUT HOCKEY. AND ALPHARETTA, YOU, YOU MIGHT NOT KNOW THIS, BUT CHRIS LAGER BLOOM, BEING THE CITY MANAGER IN FORT LAUDERDALE HELPED BUILD A HOCKEY ARENA FOR THE FLORIDA PANTHERS. HE'S DONE THIS. WE KNOW WHAT THE HECK WE'RE DOING HERE. WE ARE PREPARED AS AN ORGANIZATION TO DO THIS AND TO DO IT WELL, TO EXECUTE IT WELL, NOT TO P**S AWAY MONEY. I'M DISAPPOINTED THAT SOME OF THE PEOPLE I'VE HAD CONVERSATIONS WITH, PERSONAL CONVERSATIONS ABOUT WHY I SUPPORT THIS. ONE OF THE THINGS I WISH WE HAD DONE A BETTER JOB OF EXPLAINING A TAD IN OUR DEFENSE. IT'S A VERY COMPLEX CONCEPT, BUT THE REASON WE ARE NEVER GOING TO HAVE A TAD THAT'S GONNA HURT OUR TAXPAYERS AND HURT OUR SERVICES IS THE TAD WE'RE WORKING ON RIGHT NOW. I'VE ALREADY HAD CONTACT AND MEETINGS WITH EVERY ONE OF THE FULTON COUNTY COMMISSIONERS. EVERY ONE OF THEM UNDERSTANDS HOW IMPORTANT IT IS FOR THE HOCKEY ARENA TO BE IN FULTON COUNTY, NOT FORSYTH. THEY HAVE INDICATED THAT IF WE'LL APPROVE THE PROJECT AND IDENTIFY THE PROJECT AND CLARIFY THE TERMS, THEY'LL PARTICIPATE. AND WHAT THAT MEANS IS WE'RE NOT JUST USING ALPHARETTA'S SMALL TAX IN I MEAN RECEIPTS TO FUND ANYTHING IN THAT QUARTER. WHAT IT MEANS IS FULTON COUNTY PROBABLY GENERATES, I WOULD SAY AT LEAST TWO TIMES WHAT, WHAT OUR MILLAGE RATE IS. SO IF WE PARTICIPATE AND THEY PARTICIPATE, THEY'VE GOT AN ENORMOUS TAX BASE FOR THE ENTIRE COUNTY AND THEY WILL HELP FUND THE TAD WITH THEIR [06:20:01] TAX RECEIPTS, NOT JUST OURS. SO WE'RE DOUBLING OUR MONEY IF WE PARTICIPATE IN THAT, BUT IT'S ALL CONTINGENT UPON AN APPROVAL OF THE PROJECT. TRYING TO THINK, OH, I DO WANNA MENTION, WHAT WAS IT? NAH, IT'S TOO LATE. Y'ALL DON'T NEED TO HEAR MORE. SO FOR THAT REASON, I'M GOING TO SUPPORT THIS. I THINK THE DOWNSIDE IS TOO BIG A RISK FOR A CITY LIKE THIS. WE CAN'T AFFORD TO LOSE THE MOMENTUM AND LOSE THE RESOURCES THAT IT WOULD TAKE AWAY FROM OUR COMMUNITY. THAT BEING SAID, WE ADD MOTION A SECOND. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR OF THE MOTION, PLEASE VOTE YES OR VOTE ACCORDINGLY. AND THE MOTION DOES PASS. FOUR THREE. I APPRECIATE ALL OF YOU FOR BEING HERE. I APPRECIATE ALL THE COUNSEL AND OUR STAFF THAT HAVE BEEN HERE FOR MOTION TO MOTION TO ADJOURN. SECOND ADJOURN. MOVE TO ADJOURN. DO WE? OKAY. YES. MOTION. WE HAVE A MOTION TO ADJOURN. MOTION TO ADJOURN. SECOND. WELL I HAD TWO SECONDS. WHO WAS OKAY? ABOUT TWO SECONDS. WE ARE ADJOURN. * This transcript was created by voice-to-text technology. The transcript has not been edited for errors or omissions, it is for reference only and is not the official minutes of the meeting.