Alpharetta City Council Calls Economic Development Plan 'Sloppy'

Alpharetta City Council members refused to accept an economic development plan that cost the city $100,000. At least one council member called the plan sloppy and a cut-and-paste job during the council's meeting on Sept. 6.

Council met on Tuesday night because was closed on Monday, Labor Day.

Market Street's CEO, Mac Holladay, at a joint City Council-Planning Commission work session on Aug. 29. At the time, council members in particular asked Holladay why parts of the plan were out of date. The city's new plans for its downtown redevelopment plan not only were absent, but the city center plan was called on indefinite hold. That, at least, was partially excused because this economic development plan was produced before City Council announced its new plans, though .

Also left out of the economic development plan was the by North American Properties, which is moving forward with creating its new designs and plans for the property on Old Milton Parkway. That meant Westside Parkway's uncertain status was a little clearer as well, though this wasn't acknowledged, either.

None of the questions raised by City Council and Planning Commission members were answered when the plan was formally presented to City Council Tuesday night, leading Councilman Chris Owens to question how it could be adopted.

"I recall quite a few comments offered by council about the report and about the presentation," Owens said. "I haven't seen a revised report come back that we can approve," Owens said.

"Personally I feel like we are getting a canned report," he said.

"I just haven't seen any of this feedback, so I'm just not sure we have anything we are ready to adopt," Owens said.

Councilman D.C. Aiken spoke more strongly about the plan.

"If I'm getting paid as a consultant, I would have had it changed. Not to mention, it doesn't compare us to anyone our size," he said.

"It was sloppy, and I'm not going to approve it," Aiken said.

Staff was directed to get Market Street to update the report and bring it back to City Council for possible approval.