A wide-ranging City Council meeting Monday night was highlighted by the passage of the 2040 Comprehensive Plan, a guiding roadmap for policymakers that spells out the community’s vision for its future and steps to help realize it.

As several speakers mentioned, the now-adopted 2040 Comprehensive Plan came together after over a year involving extensive input from citizens, the crucial engagement of the Comprehensive Plan Advisory Committee, important work by consultants from TSW, and multi-faceted efforts of City staff.

“It’s just been really a collective effort, and I think it shows the strength of Milton,” said Community Development Director Bob Buscemi. “… Everybody really contributed.”

The adopted document can be viewed HERE: https://www.miltonga.gov/home/showpublisheddocument/5140.

It chronicles relevant studies, reports, past plans and more that helped inform those crafting the Plan. And the document showcases the plethora of opportunities – from public meetings to online surveys to Facebook questions-and-comments to pop-up events – for residents and other stakeholders to offer their viewpoints.

That input helped inform the official recommendations laid out in the 2040 Plan on subjects such as land use, economic development, placemaking and branding, transportation, and sustainability. The detailed short-term work program, which touches on these same broad topics, turns this Plan into deliverable actions. This program features nearly 100 different initiatives for City staff to explore over the next five years at Council’s ongoing discretion.

Two citizens spoke about one aspect of the 347-page plan, namely whether or not some or all of the Arnold Mill area should be defined as a commercial node. In fact, the very first work program calls for the creation of a “small area plan” that will involve research and analysis by City staff as well as input from neighbors and other stakeholders before recommendations are shared with City Council.

Council members Laura Bentley and Paul Moore, the two ex officio members of the Comprehensive Plan Advisory Committee, both lauded the final document for reflecting (in Bentley’s words) “why Milton is so special and how we got there.”

“We were able to [deliver] a tremendous product,” Moore added. “I think it’s in keeping where Milton intended to go … We’re not necessarily market-driven. We’re Milton citizen-driven.”

7U DIZZY DEAN WORLD SERIES CHAMPS HONORED

While the 2040 Comprehensive Plan’s passage may have the most far-reaching impact on Milton, the meeting’s biggest buzz came from, and for, its smallest attendees – members of the 7U Hopewell Mustangs baseball team.

The Mustangs amassed an incredible 24-2 summer season record, then didn’t let up en route to winning the Georgia State Championship. That punched them a ticket to Mississippi to take on fellow champions from around the Southeast. The Mustangs rose to the occasion once more, emerging as Dizzy Dean World Series Champions.

“We are glad you guys are here,” Mayor Joe Lockwood said to the uniformed players in Council Chambers. “We are really proud.”

The proclamation honoring the 7U Hopewell squad came after the Council’s passage of a Consent Agenda that included items to remove dead trees in Providence Park, print and mail City property tax bills and adding reflective, instantly-drying thermoplastic striping and raised pavement markers on Milton roads.

DISCUSSION OF HYDROLOGY, STORMWATER AT FORMER MILTON COUNTY CLUB

Immediately after the celebration of the young baseball champions, Public Works Director Sara Leaders and experts from Pond and Company addressed the Council to get members’ direction on hydrology and stormwater issues in the City-owned former Milton Country Club property.

As Leaders explained, a hydrology study aimed to identify necessary drainage systems, recommended improvements, existing drainage systems (tied to the old golf course) that could be removed, and places to implement stormwater “Best Management Practices.”

The study found 13 places where water enters Chicken Creek on the property, for instance, as well as over 3,000 linear feet of existing storm pipe and 37 drainage structures that could be removed. Monday’s presentation focused on six specific areas for potential new or improved stormwater features. These areas already include design recommendations such as future boardwalks and pipe crossings, pond upgrades and a bridge. The goal is to more effectively and widely distribute how water flows into Chicken Creek in order to minimize stream bank erosion. The presenters stated using stormwater “Best Management Practices” and extracting pipes that flow directly into Chicken Creek should help in that regard.

Leaders also outlined four potential funding sources, including millions potentially from the American Rescue Plan Act and a portion of up to $3 million as part of a larger project from a Georgia Outdoor Stewardship Program grant. (Later in the meeting, Parks and Recreation Manager Tom McKlveen got the Council’s approval for the City to at least pursue the latter grant.)

After this presentation, two Council members questioned if removing some of the pipes leading to Chicken Creek could lead to erosion of its banks. A Pond consultant said some of those pipes could possibly be abandoned while others may need to be addressed. If and when pipes disintegrate – even if they’re no longer being actively used – their already rusting corrugated metal material could still collapse and create sinkhole issues.

COUNCIL ASKS FOR MORE DETAILS ON PROVIDENCE PARK RESTROOM OPTIONS

The Council on Monday also delved into another City outdoor space: Providence Park.

Several elements of Providence Park’s Master Plan are now being realized with the ongoing construction of an ADA-accessible trail as well as a pier and pavilion overlooking Providence Lake. McKlveen sought the Council’s take Monday on another component – restrooms.

Two portable restrooms have been used in Providence Park. The City sought a more permanent option, hoping to utilize $100,000 in state grant money to help pay for it (as long as the grant money is spent by the end of March 2022).

McKlveen, the Parks and Recreation Manager, presented two options Monday as well as the presented prices from the bid received by the City. The first, for $546,000, would feature four stalls and a water fountain. The second, for $385,000, would be for a simpler, prefabricated design with two total stalls.

After some discussion, the Mayor and Council members asked McKlveen to return later with a more detailed breakdown of costs. Some theorized that much of the cost stemmed from utilities, such as channeling plumbing from Providence Road to the restroom site.

MORATORIUM ON NEW ALCOHOL APPLICATIONS

Several weeks ago, Assistant City Manager Bernadette Harvill steered the Council toward a thorough review of Chapter 4 – the part of the City Code dealing with alcohol-related businesses – in light of potential changes. As those changes are considered and finalized (with some potentially going through other City committees), Harvill appeared before Council again proposing a 120-day moratorium on alcohol applications for craft beer and/or wine markets, limited tap establishments and limited service restaurants.

This proposal applied only to new applications. “It will not impact renewals or those who have been working with (City) staff,” Harvill explained.

The Council approved the moratorium. It came after Brent Beacham and Billy Allen spoke during the general comment period about potential Chapter 4 changes that may be considered at future meetings.

The next City Council meeting is scheduled for October 11. That will be a Work Session, meaning the Council will hear presentations and can offer direction but will not take any votes.