Alpharetta residents got a look at the latest site plan for the downtown City Center, which is scheduled to be adopted June 18 after two more public comment sessions.
Streets and a bigger emphasis on commerical development were what quite a few people at the public meeting at questioned about the site plan developed by the city's design team.
The appearance of the plan has the new City Hall sitting within the boundaries of a park being developed with funds from the city's Greenspace bond, and that didn't sit well for many residents.
The designers said they would get the exact acreage of the city park, but it was the same amount as in the last concept plan residents saw.
Even residential–especially apartments–were a concern of residents after they saw an early, less detailed site plan that listed the future commercial development as "mixed use." Mayor David Belle Isle said all that is being considered and voted on is the site plan, not the uses within it. Those uses will involve additional public hearings and comment periods, he said.
After the meeting, Mayor David Belle Isle said the park will be at least equal to the 5 acres of land bought with the Greenspace bond funds, and might be as much as 6 acres.
Changes from the previous concept plan were necessary, Swartz said. He chracterized it as a campus plan, which was filled with paths that were great for pedestrians, but not retailers.
"Very few would locate their store on a purely pedestrian space," he said.
A Jamestown community resident said she was concered because every time she turns around, there are changes to the plan. And now the plan seems geared toward commercial development.
Swartz said they don't want vacant storefronts, which wouldn't be attractive and draw visitors to downtown.
Wednesday night won't be the last chance residents have to comment on the site plan. Although the next City Council meeting is scheduled as a workshop, during which public comment is normally not allowed, they will get to have their say this time.
Public Comment
Wednesday, June 6 – Public Information meeting held
Monday, June 11 – City Council Workshop at 7:30 p.m.
Monday, June 18 – City Council Meeting at 7:30 p.m.
The city is using its online Open Forum feature to invite comments on this site plan. Also online are current and past concept plans for City Center.
The PDF is the wrong one. This is the old one approved by the voters. You need to put the new one up. There is not as much green space and city hall is pushed back into the park area now.