I went to a Natural Resources Commission (or NRC) meeting last night to hear discussion about this business of City Council deciding to take out 65 trees at the new, new City Center. Turns out, not only were citizens like me not informed about the removal of these 65 trees, but also, the NRC was not informed about the removal of these 65 trees! This seems rather odd, since this Commission is vested by Alpharetta's Unified Development Code with the task of overseeing the Tree Ordinance and advising Council with regard to trees. You'd think that at the very least, the Department Head of Engineering Public Works, under whose oversight the Tree Ordinance is enforced and all exceptions to it, would have informed them of this drastic tree removal plan.
I'm just so disappointed in this Council for their bad judgment in not seeing the opportunity to be forward and progressive by making mature trees centerpieces of life in Alpharetta – even at new, new City Center. I'm disappointed with their treatment of these fine people who serve on this Natural Resources Commission. And although this Council has released a statement that they intend to discuss this tree situation at their August 6th City Council meeting, I am just hoping we will not hear more flaccid, patronizing responses to this outcry.
He also raised the issue about the lack of handicapped parking and service areas around the City Center which to my mind has not been completely resolved. There are many of us worried that more park space will be taken away when they "discover" that these things need done. And then it will be too late to change the design and they will -- oops -- "have to" take away more park space because "there is no other way." This needs to be slowed down and done right. Is it any wonder that the original process was to unveil it one night, then vote it in 3 business days later? The subteam (Belle Isle, Owens, and Mitchell) wanted to pass the bill before we found out what was in the bill because they knew we would not like what was in the bill. If the whole Council had been involved in oversight, might there have been a different outcome?
Again, it was not "this Council" -- it was three members of this Council (Belle Isle, Owens and Mitchell). And ultimately it comes down to the leadership who decided that it would be a good idea to operate in secrecy. My understanding is that not even the Assistant City Manager in charge of the City's PR saw the plans until the day before the first meeting -- at least that is what he told one constituent.
How hard is it to find out the state laws required for handicapped parking and make sure we have it properly addressed before moving ahead with a vote? And why was service to all the other buildings considered, but not City Hall? There was no impetus to fully resolve this before the vote. And how much did we pay the expensive DC architect? It is unacceptable. Truthseeker said it on your other related post -- it is an abuse of government power.
As for Belle Isle, Owens and Mitchell with their backdoor tricks, you are why we don't trust politicians. I can hardly wait for their solution to handicap parking and deliveries. Town Center park, who wanted one anyway?
This is a red herring. 1. Those projects aren't public property being paid for by my tax dollars. 2. At least two of those projects were before our restrictive tree ordinance. 3. Furthermore, the decision to remove all those trees at Avalon was a royal screwup, IMO. But back to the point....... If all those trees needed to come down, then.............. Why did the Bond Committee release renderings suggesting that Brooke Street Park would remain intact? Why did the Bond Committee do roadshows promising HOAs that Brooke Street Park would remain a passive park? Why was the Brooke Street Park property purchased with park bond money which supposedly legally requires them to leaving it as a park? Why do residents have to abide by the tree ordinance while the City does not? You don't advertise one thing to get a vote, then do another. That's called bait and switch.
Perhaps you missed the total plan revision. I am not against building. I am against slime ball politicians selling one plan to the public and having them vote on it. Then in the middle of the summer pass drastic changes quickly and quietly. If they wanted to destroy Brook Street Park tell us the truth up front. Bottom line is everything leading up to the pre bond vote was smoke and mirrors. That is what I find despicable.
Rearranging the design so that City Hall is moved into a portion of the Brooke Street Park area likely only displaces three additional trees. Shifting the parking garage (by pivoting it so that it's on an angle and a bit closer to Publix) probably displaces seven additional trees. As such, it appears as though the difference between the concept drawing and the actual, professionally prepared plan is 10 trees - not 65. Please keep in mind the concept drawing presented to the voters and approved overwhelmingly clearly contemplated the parking garage in almost the identical area where the parking garage is now located. This is what will cause many trees to be removed.
It seems that all of this is being done just so the City can sell property for apartments and condos, something we already have in abundance, but that has not yet been disclosed. I wonder how Avalon feels that it is paying taxes and competing against the City. Rob Forrest, while I respect your right to provide your perspective, you're a retail/condo developer who relies on future zoning approvals for your livelihood, so I understand your wanting to support the City's position.
People may be interested in some facts about how much the new and improved city center has morphed from what it was originally sold as. http://rootsinalpharetta.com/2012/06/alpharettas-downtown-master-development-plan/ http://rootsinalpharetta.com/2012/06/alpharetta-acting-with-haste-to-approve-different-downtown-plan/ http://rootsinalpharetta.com/2012/07/threats-to-a-vibrant-downtown/
http://depts.washington.edu/hhwb/Thm_Economics.html
http://alpharetta.patch.com/blog_posts/the-monetary-value-of-suburban-trees
www.change.org Our neighborhood group posted this and we are adding signatures every minute. Julie, would you or someone start an online petition to stop the current City Center plan. I'm not good at wording it. I've heard so many good comments from people. Someone please compose a STOP THE CITY CENTER PLAN petition. Also, does anyone have an email and/or paper trail to start documenting this change of design and manipulation of city laws? Timeline should be before we voted for the referendum. We need to start documenting our accusations. If we don't stop it now we will be manipulated with these small meetings to discuss particulars all the way to the end of the project.
SAVE THE SPECIMEN TREES IN ALPHARETTA, GA.