Politics & Government

Alpharetta Residents Like Most of City Council's Downtown Plans

Parking garage, building locations concern city residents at first public information meeting.

What do you want to do with downtown Alpharetta was the question raised by City Council at a public meeting Thursday night, and the local residents who attended had plenty to say.

Alpharetta has proposed redeveloping its downtown by building a new City Hall, adding a , a five-acre park and all the infrastructure needed, including parking.

Thursday night was the first of four planned meetings designed only to hear what residents want on the city's 22 acres of downtown land–and what they don't want to see. Three more meetings are scheduled, and the public can also weigh in on the plan online.

Find out what's happening in Alpharetta-Miltonwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Alpharetta Finance Director Tom Harris said because two previous bonds will be retired in 2013, city residents won't have to pay more taxes if a new $29 million bond for this project is approved by voters in November. He said the difference in the cost of the old bonds and the new could even mean more tax relief. The City Council didn't want to contemplate the bond referendum failing, but said local residents should look forward to a policy of tax relief either way.

Several residents weren't happy with the size of a parking garage depicted on conceptual drawings designed to start conversation about what the city wants to happen to downtown.

Find out what's happening in Alpharetta-Miltonwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

"I think parking is better in front of the businesses, right in front of the businesses," said Tom Miller.

The parking garage would provide spaces for 70 to 75 city employees at City Hall, 125 spaces required by the public library branch and for employees in downtown to free the few spaces that are in front of businesses, said James Drinkard, assistant city administrator.

Much of the 450-space parking garage would be lower than Main Street because the property drops heading back from Main to Haynes Bridge.

Even hearing that, several residents wanted to see underground parking to open the site up even more. That isn't off the table, Mayor Arthur Letchas said. The additional cost would have to be weighed with what residents want.

Haynes Bridge, which splits the property now, would shift east to align with Brooks Street.

Residents wanted to know how long it would be to complete the project if the bond passed, and Community Development Director Diana Wheeler said two to two and a half years. The Atlanta-Fulton County Library has plans to open its new downtown branch in 2013.

Drinkard said the work to shift the last section of Haynes Bridge Road north of Old Milton Parkway to the east would be the first phase of the project because of the library's schedule.

Kyle Caswell told City Council they need a citizens' committee to work with staff and the city consultant, Urban Collage, to make sure residents get what they want. That suggestion was taken by the council members present, and Caswell was "drafted" to work on what will be the bond committee. The City Council is not allowed to lobby for a bond referendum once it approves putting it on the ballot.

Realtor and city resident Brian Patton liked Caswell's idea to shift City Hall on the plan so that Main Street would be lined on both sides with retail shops and businesses. He said that would encourage people to walk from shop to shop and help revitalize downtown.

Victor Hawa looked south on the plan, saying it doesn't show connectivity with Publix. He said if he wanted to come downtown to shop and have dinner, followed by a trip to the grocery store, it would require him to get in the car and drive the short distance to the downtown Publix. That defeats the walkability of the plan.

Drinkard said talks have begun with Publix to incorporate it into the downtown plan, but that's the next level of detail in the plan. The next several weeks are about figuring out what people want on the city's property, and where they want it.

The next meeting will be June 30 at 6 p.m.


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