“Flag lots” will be in focus on Wednesday when Milton’s Planning Commission convenes in City Hall.

The February 24 meeting will start at 6 p.m. in Council Chambers, where all seats have been spaced out to allow for adequate social distancing. Members of the public can attend there in person or virtually via Zoom using this link: https://zoom.us/j/93186794888.

“Flag lots” are properties with thin strips of land that connect with the road in one direction and with a heftier, typically rectangular or square piece of land on the other. (If sketched out, they’d resemble flags on paper from above.) These can occur when a rectangular/square piece of land is subdivided to create thin strips.

After voting on the committee’s January 27, 2021, meeting minutes, members will explore a possible text amendment related to both flag lots and swimming pools. Specifically, they’ll discuss zoning language changes that could impact exactly where a Milton homeowner (with a flag lot) can place a pool.

This will be followed by a discussion more generally about flag lots. Many neighboring cities such as Alpharetta, Roswell and Sandy Springs significantly restrict these. And during Milton Comprehensive Plan Advisory Committee and City Council meetings, there’s been discussion about doing something similar in Milton.

The overall idea is to explore ways to encourage large lots and address one technique – namely, the creation of flag lots – that can get around this.

After Wednesday’s meeting, Milton’s Planning Commission should next meet on March 24.