thank you for all the "see also" references to other articles. Several of these I have not read but am spending time doing so....

Can the parking deck be reduced? As much as many would like to see that, I don't think so b/c of what the bond ordinance states:

Any brochures, listings or other advertisements issued by the City of Alpharetta or by any other person, firm, corporation or association with the knowledge and consent of the City Council and Mayor of the City of Alpharetta, Georgia *shall* be deemed to be a *statement of intention* of the City of Alpharetta concerning the use of the proceeds of the bonds.

However, development pod 3 was engineered in the Master Plan to accommodate an additional 637 parking deck spaces.

Mr. Attig, this is not mob rule. It is people participating in the process. Sometimes ugly, sometimes uncomfortable, but it is uniquely American. Not many people would want the Soviet system you advocated.

RE: Haynes Bridge Road
At the August 13, 2012 Council meeting, I voiced concern that at its June 18th meeting, Council appeared to reserve the right to--in the future--widen the re-aligned Haynes Bridge Road as it passes Brook Street Park. (The City's website has audio tapes of all council meetings. To hear the discussion I reference, go to meetings and agendas, click on the June 18th Council meeting tape, and then forward the tape to 1:18).

At the August 13th Council meeting, I clearly articulated that I understood that the re-aligned Haynes Bridge Road is currently being built as a two lane road. I supported that road when I thought the City Center plan was going to be the one presented to the public prior to the Bond Referendum.
However, the "new" City Center plan, adopted on June 18th after only two weeks public notice, calls for a significant increase in commercial/retail space which will result in much more traffic than the "Bond" plan. Increased traffic means idling cars and flaring tempers OR widening roads.
Widening the road would cut into the park and further degrade the buffer between the City Center and the residential neighborhoods.

I am asking Council to (1) confirm and/or explain the June 18th discussion and (2) enact whatever legally binding law is necessary to ensure that Haynes Bridge Road, as it travels along the park, is never widened so that the buffer between City Center and the residential neighborhoods is protected.

Councilman Kennedy's reply in another thread:
"The expectation is that people who live around downtown Alpharetta will still use the new Haynes Bridge. Those who live up toward Windward and farther north into Milton or Forsyth County will use Westside Parkway or GA 400.

Traffic counts have not been done because Westside Parkway was opened not too long before the summer school break when traffic is lighter. Now that traffic is getting back to "normal", counts will be performed over the next few months."

Here: http://alpharetta.patch.com/blog_posts/observations-on-city-center-input-session-2

This doesn't make sense to me. The traffic on Haynes Bridge that dumps onto Academy Street isn't going to divert to 400 or West Side Parkway, since the majority of the traffic is Westbound (i.e. turning left from Haynes Bridge onto Academy).

Why would someone headed for Windward use Haynes Bridge at all?

I haven't mapped it out, but we live off Cogburn Road and typically take Hwy. 9 to Academy Street to Haynes Bridge if we're heading to the mall area.

It just feels so much further to take Cogburn to Windward to Westside, I guess I'll have to map it out.

Mr. Allen, I think your best choice is what we are going to have to do which is hwy 9 to Old Milton left turn, then right turn on Haynes Bridge. Our subdivision will have to go north on hwy 9, U-turn then south on hwy 9 to get to town or points south. Add in increased traffic and wait times for increased population and congestion.

Academy Park and surrounding neighborhoods will probably be the ones using the new Haynes Bridge threw the park to get to Publix. If they drive strait on Academy St. To hwy 9, try to turn left into Publix, that could be a problem. Wonder what the road plans are for that piece of road?

Paula...where will you be coming from that you would have to U-Turn on Hwy 9?

Correction : through the park

I believe that the presentation by Mr. Schwartz thoroughly explained in detail how and why each of the design components was selected for the project. It is obvious that he believes that this is the absolute best plan for of success the site. It is unlikely that he would be saving his best plan for later. Now we are considering taking the opinions of the untrained citizenry to make changes to the plan based on their unprofessional ideas. This makes absolutely no sense. When we make decisions about buying new fire trucks do we ask the public what type of truck and accessories they would like to see on the trucks? No we do not. We leave that to the professional firefighters who are capable of making those decisions based on professional experience.
I believed that we need to continue to follow the procedure that we have started on. We have had several opportunities for public input, we have had a bond referendum approved, the City Council has approved the plan and now we need to proceed with building.
I also question the validity of those comments that are posted without using their names. It indicates to me that they are either embarrassed by their comments or they lack the courage to back up their position with their name.

Mr. Attig, I understand your frustration. All the plans presented so far are well thought out . Honestly, they are so much better than the variations from years past. The land scape design, the use of space, the fact that we can ad buildings at a moderate rate.

Our concerns for keeping the great trees are valid. Making sure the traffic flow works for the community is important. I think of this as more of a tweaking process.

Hi Mr Attig. I agree and I'll post my full name - Stacy Lee Guy. Disclosure is a great thing. I advocate for it a lot. How about you disclose how much commercial real estate you own in downtown Alpharetta? How much would you stand to gain from large-scale development in downtown? What business do you conduct with the city? For me, the answer is "none" to all of these questions. I question the validity of those who advocate for development when they may financially benefit from it.

The city does open the floor for public comment when considering large purchases like fire trucks. That argument is a weak one.

I question the validity of comments from people who think that public comments should no longer be asked for. It's ironic really. But in the end, we should welcome and encourage comments - for and against, anonymous and not, financially beneficial or otherwise. I welcome yours, so why won't you welcome mine?

My personal choice is still Center City 1. The rendering we thought we voted on. I like the campus style. An Undisturbed park setting. I think it balances the west side. Center City 2 has incredible gardens, mirrors the west side, brings Academy Park right to the City Center. Brings much activity into the center of town with lots of small streets....and cars. Both have merit. My personal choice is CC1 conceptual plan.

@No Name above:
yes, everything you said...
Signed,
One of the natives

Re comments that the architects know best and therefore developed the best design possible to deal with traffic, iI would like to remind folks that the architects drew the plan without the benefit of traffic studies. As Mr. Kennedy explained, there has been no traffic studies yet. So...the plan would have been tweaked anyway.

re putting through streets in city center, I took friends to Canton street in Roswell today. The traffic was very heavy and dining outside not very pleasant. I really think we would have a huge competitive edge in Alpharetta if we could offer some outside dining free from direct car noise and exhaust.

In a perfect world or in fantasyland it might be possible to have outside dining without streets. The planners have learned from experience that it just doesn’t work. Businesses will not locate in that environment without streets. If the city were to complete the project with a pedestrian environment only would you be willing to open a restaurant in the City Center?
I have been to Canton Street in Roswell several times lately and from the looks of things no one seems to be too concerned about traffic fumes. I have found that just about all of the food services establishments are doing quite well in spite of the traffic.

It's interesting to read the previous two comments - because the architect for this project in his presentation last Monday night, and also City Council members themselves, have emphasized the walkability and pedestrian and "campus" feel of the City Center project. In this context, one would think such a project would pull the dining back and away from direct car noise and exhaust fumes.

It was agreed that all parties liked the idea of a campus type atmosphere. However, the architect also made it clear that in an effort to have a vibrant environment with restaurants and shops it was going to be necessary to have street access. He also pointed out that these are not thoroughfares. Think of streets more like Old Roswell Street and Old Canton Street on the west side of Main Street.

As much as I prefer the campus-like setting, I can see the need for streets. Maybe it could be designed with an eye toward a pedestrian-only mall if/when the area becomes established?

Then again, maybe a pedestrian only mall could be Alpharetta's niche since every other town is doing exactly the same thing we are (generally speaking). How many downtowns can reasonably be sustained if they are all pretty much carbon copies of one another?

There is some worry that people will use the through streets as a cut-through, especially during peak traffic times. Seems like it would be really useful to have that traffic study data first.

As much as a pedistrian only seems like a good idea, Mr. Schwartz pointed out that many cities who have tried that concept by closing off streets to pedestrian only mall settings have in recent years abandon the idea and have now opened streets up to traffic and parking. With Main Street and Haynes Bridge Road bordering the the City Center they both seem to be more likely choices for traffic movement. Think of using the streets of The Avenue Forsyth as a cut through to save time. It really doesn't seem to be practical.

Interesting article on pedestrian malls.
http://www.concentratemedia.com/features/pedestrianmalls0175.aspx?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+ConcentrateMedia+%28Concentrate+Media%29

More ped mall data.
http://www.nfta.com/pdfs/Appendix%20A.pdf