Milton, GA
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Deerfield, in many ways, serves as Milton’s economic lifeline. It is the city’s chief commercial driver, as well as home to or within easy reach of a significant portion of its residents. It’s also ripe with opportunity -- primed for invigoration, reinvention, and success. The Deerfield Implementation Plan will serve as a dynamic, purposeful guide to ensuring this area is an inviting, thriving, vibrant, and uniquely Milton destination for residents and visitors alike for many years to come.
What is Deerfield?
For the purposes of this project, what is considered Deerfield includes all the terrain covered under the Deerfield Form-Based Code.
This includes the Milton segments of Highway 9, Windward Parkway, Deerfield Parkway, Morris Road, and other places in that vicinity. (The focus is not limited to what’s around Deerfield Parkway or the “Deerfield Character Area.” It’s bigger than that.) To view this map in PDF form -- so you can zoom out -- CLICK HERE.
To get the latest regarding this pivotal project, regularly check this webpage, the follow the City’s Facebook page, or subscribe to get City emails or text alerts specific to the Deerfield Implementation Plan.
Informing, involving, and listening to residents and businesses owners will be pivotal to the creation of the Deerfield Implementation Plan. More importantly, it’s pivotal to the long-term success of the Deerfield area. That’s why the City will prioritize public engagement throughout the process—an opportunity to listen and learn from the community. This engagement will take many forms including:
- PUBLIC FORUMS: The Public Kickoff took place on August 25 at Milton Municipal Court. CLICK HERE to watch video from this event.
An "Open House" then took place inside Stonecreek Church (13540 Highway 9) on September 17. Attendees visited tables focused on different topics like landscaping, building styles, open space and parks, Highway 9, and transportation generally to view visuals and share their thoughts. People also could share their opinions on the dozens of visual alternatives in an online survey conducted in October.
A second "Open House" will be from 5:30-7 p.m. on December 11 at the Milton Municipal Court (which is in back/police building at the Public Safety Complex at 13690 Highway 9). Citizens will hear the latest on this project and can offer opinions on what's next, including what's in the Urban Design Manual guiding developers and their projects for this area.
There may be additional public engagement opportunities as well. Those details will be posted on this webpage, so please check back!
- STAKEHOLDER GROUPS: The targeted outreach includes conversations with stakeholders ranging from HOA leaders and bicyclists to business owners who are interested and invested, in some manner, in Milton’s future.
- CITY MEETINGS: Project Team members will present, and invite feedback from City Council and several City committees (specifically, the Planning Commission and Design Review Board) over the course of this project. Citizens can attend any of these meetings and, if they wish, offer public comment.
The first such presentation occurred at the August 19 City Council meeting. (VIEW PRESENTATION)
- WRITTEN FEEDBACK: Complete and submit the form below to share thoughts or questions about the Deerfield Implementation Plan.
Is the City working with GDOT regarding what’s happening on Highway 9? If so, how? The Georgia Department of Transportation ultimately controls what happens with Highway 9, as well as when it happens. Yet City leaders have been, and will be, in regular contact with GDOT officials to advocate on behalf of citizens and share a community-supported vision for this critical road. This will be done through regular meetings and conversations.
Will the Deerfield Implementation Plan dictate what goes in this area? The Plan will be a guide containing community-driven and Council-approved ideas for this area. Still, aside from City projects (like the proposed active park along Deerfield Parkway), the City will need to coordinate with private developers and others to bring the vision to life. Ultimately, private investment – and, with that, ideas – will be vital in driving the specifics of this area’s future.
What is the “Design Manual”? The Design Manual is a working guide for developers and others thinking of embarking on projects in this area. The idea is to show what kinds of architectural styles, uses, and scale the City of Milton – and its community – think would be the most appropriate fit for this area.
Aside from the Highway 9 road project, are transportation changes part of this Plan? Possibly. The Plan could recommend new roads, multi-use paths, bike lanes, or other transportation-related projects.
Could there be zoning or other changes recommended as part of this Plan? This is a possibility though hardly a certainty. The overall focus is much more on design than density. In other words, the Plan will offer a vision for what the community and City leaders think will best fit this area and what it should look like.
Is the design and construction of the 21-acre Deerfield Parkway active park part of this plan, or is it distinct? The planning processes will be separate, as well as related public engagement, with Milton’s Parks and Recreation team driving the park planning process. That said, the Deerfield Implementation Plan team recognizes how the new park will be vital to this area. As such, there will be regular, close coordination with Parks and Recreation team.