Milton Consultant Reveals Crabapple Master Plan
A plan by Lew Oliver of Whole Town Solutions connects neighborhood streets and uses green space to move residents around.
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The master plan for Crabapple redevelopment revealed at Milton City Hall Monday evening caters to pedestrian and even golf cart traffic while preserving Milton's historic architectural style. The public reaction seemed overwhelmingly positive.
For the first time, residents were able to see how roads, businesses and neighborhoods would be laid out to support Lew Oliver’s vision of less commuter traffic and more accessibility for pedestrians and low-speed vehicles such as bikes and golf carts.
One citizen went as far as to compliment Oliver during the question and answer portion of the meeting, “I would like to thank you and the city for what you’ve done,” he said, “ I think it’s very appealing.”
According to Oliver, not everyone has been so supportive. He’s read plenty of blogs recently that support pro-traffic in Crabapple and scoff at the idea of horse and golf cart accessibility.
Supporting more traffic is a bad idea said Oliver.
“If you build more roads you will fill them up,” he said.
The plan featured two roundabouts on Crabapple and Mayfield roads on opposite sides of the community to divert traffic away from the city center.
During his presentation, Oliver showed images of downtown Dahlonega to give the audience an idea of what Crabapple could be. This received plenty of positive head nods and whispered comments from the crowd.
With a lot of history in the area, Oliver believes in keeping the integrity of existing structures instead of building over them.
“Old buildings can take on a new life,” he said.
He showed several photographs of existing buildings in the area followed by sketches of what could be done to revitalize them. Alison Park, a Crabapple resident of 20 years, owns one of the buildings Oliver featured and was pleased with his vision for it.
She brought her own sketch to the meeting to share with Oliver and was surprised to see how similar the two were.
“It was a beautiful rendering. Exactly what I would expect from Lew,” said Park.
She eagerly looks forward to the future.
“I’m all about what he’s doing. This plan is about the people who live here” she said.
Many were also in agreement about Oliver’s plan to widen sidewalks and add more green space to the area. According to Oliver ,such things can increase "a high degree of sociability and a lot of happy people.”
While the reaction Monday evening was positive, there is still a long way to go. The City Council still has to approve the master plan before any physical changes are made to the Crabapple area. Oliver said ways to get the plan used might include giving individual property owners zoning incentives to preserve or develop their properties following the plan, or even in trade for swapping out some more rural land for development within Crabapple.
For more information on the Crabapple redevelopment visit Milton City Hall.
Lee at rootsinalpharetta.com
11:03 am on Tuesday, April 12, 2011
I wonder what blog Mr Oliver is reading. ;-) I don't know any that are pro-traffic. No one is.
Even mixed use proponents will tell you that the retail businesses there can't support themselves on locals only. There has to be a way for those from the outside to travel there. The small shops and restaurants in Crabapple have to have folks from outside Crabapple come and spend money. Creating "friction" and encouraging horses over cars is not practical or realistic. At the end of the day, I believe developers simply don't want to pay for road improvements. That's truly what's driving this (no pun intended).
GA Jim
11:59 am on Tuesday, April 12, 2011
Mr. Oliver has the Vickery development on his resume. I suggest Miltonians drive through that "award winning" development to look at all the vacant properties before moving forward.
Bob Pepalis
1:26 pm on Tuesday, April 12, 2011
Did you attend Monday night's presentation? If so, what did you think about the different elements of the plan?
Travis Allen
1:27 pm on Tuesday, April 12, 2011
GA Jim, I'm hesitant to lend much support to your opinion regarding Vickery as there is so much more at play there than just design. You can't compare a completely new developement to an existing character area. And I feel Vickery failed because of those running the place, the downturn in the economy and the high rent in the retail portion.
I think what is best for Crabapple is the designe that is being presented here, yes, I know it slows down traffic, but at the same time it doesn't encourage more traffic which adding more lanes would do. A better mix of the familiar and local in the retail scene would be a great benefit as well. I see Crabapple as a potential Freeport, ME, but not necessarily full of Outlet stores, just the same feel of smalltown with a main thoroughfare running through or around the scenery.
I'm obviously partial to the historic aspect of Crabapple and it's potential as a "downtown" area for Milton, and agree with Lee that Crabapple's future depends on money coming in from elsewhere, but at this point I have yet to see any better ideas come in than what was presented last night.
Patti Silva
8:12 pm on Tuesday, April 12, 2011
I was only able to view part of Lew Oliver's presentation last night but from what I saw and heard, I am very pleased. I do not have any previous experience with this process, so what do I know, but I never imagined I would hear such out of the box ideas with town planning/city government, and I believe Milton is thinking ahead of the curve considering the City has only had a few years on their own. Overall, I'm very enthusiastic about Lew Whole Town Solutions design and look forward to see how much of, and how close to, this "vision" actually materializes. And, may I point out that, the Crabapple Community Center is still drawn in the Plan..... YES!!!!
Threeboysmom
10:27 am on Wednesday, April 13, 2011
I wonder if any of the business owners and Mr. Oliver know of the Fulton County School Board's plan to redistrict over 400 families from Roswell High School to Milton High School. These families would travel east on Crabapple Road and then left on Birmingham Highway. Please let them know you are opposed. Their emails can be found at fultonschools.org.
Mary
3:48 pm on Wednesday, April 13, 2011
How does the City of Milton plan to accommodate the extra traffic that will be coming from communities along Etris Road, Crabapple Road, Houze Road, etc. after Fulton County Schools redistricts North Fulton County? Families from neighborhoods a stones throw from Roswell High School's door will now be driving through the historic Crabapple area on their way to Milton High School every morning and afternoon. Have the local businesses considered how that traffic nightmare will affect their customers? I certainly will be avoiding not only that intersection, but will be staying off Crabapple Road/Mayfield Road and bringing my business elsewhere. There is already too much traffic congestion. I can't imagine how horrific it will be if Fulton County Schools approves the current draft plan.
Travis Allen
3:55 pm on Wednesday, April 13, 2011
Good question Mary, but I think the better question would be why doesn't the BOE have to answer that very same scenario?
I keep looking at Crabapple and I'm unable to find an answer short of tearing out a neighborhood to install a larger road.
Mary
4:15 pm on Wednesday, April 13, 2011
Exactly. So can we count on the City of Milton and the local businesses to speak up? No one wants to add traffic to that already over burdened intersection, but unless Fulton County Schools hears from someone other than parents directly affected by the change they will fail to listen. A big blunder is about to be made and we will all suffer for it -- added congestion on our local roads, decline in business revenue for the businesses unlucky enough to be caught in the gridlock, businesses and parents no longer willing to financially support schools because there is no guarantee of continuity. The school system is too big to see what they are doing to our little corner of the county.
Lee at rootsinalpharetta.com
4:25 pm on Wednesday, April 13, 2011
...and then reality set in.
I'm sorry Crabapple but you need more roads. Label me pro-traffic if you wish. At the end of the day, people have to get to work and to school. Bicycles, horses and golf carts are simply not a practical solution to traffic around here.
No Name
5:15 pm on Wednesday, April 13, 2011
There is a lot of land in Lancaster, PA for those who enjoy the Amish life. And then there are those who deal with reality....