Politics & Government

Economic Development Plan Holds Few Surprises for Alpharetta

City Council, Planning Commission note the city already was working on many suggestions.

An economic development plan submitted to Alpharetta by its consultant seemed to be old news when listening to what Mayor Arthur Letchas had to say after a presentation to a joint City Council/Planning Commission meeting.

The city center project, opening Westside Parkway, pushing for development at the Prospect Park site, simplifying the permitting process and working on traffic are all things Letchas said Alpharetta already works on.

"I think this is a good plan," Letchas said after MarketStreet CEO Mac Holladay made a presentation to the council members and planning commissioners.

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"The council is working on these things," Letchas said.

As far as downtown, the mayor said the city is promoting the city center project as best it can so voters know what is being presented in the November election. A bond referendum is scheduled to fund a new city hall, a parking garage and developing the green space within the 22 acres.

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Opening up the stretch of Westside Parkway between Old Milton and Webb Bridge looks promising as well.

"That is looking better and better all the time," he said, with Prospect Park's new owners making that and development at the Old Milton Parkway site more likely.

The mayor acknowledged businesses need to feel more at ease with permitting, and the city has been working on that.

Councilman Chris Owens acknowledged the plan, which had its original draft presented in May, got its start before City Council restarted its downtown redevelopment plans. But he asked Holladay to update the plan with new information and data.

"We've had the opportunity and the luxury of saying no to people for the past 15 year if something came along that we didn't like," Owens said.

Councilman Mike Kennedy, one of the driving forces on getting the new economic development plan created since his time on the Alpharetta Development Authority four years ago, wanted to hear concrete steps the city could take to retain some of its biggest employers, such as McKesson and AT&T.

Holladay told the City Council they need to develop a connection with the local executives at those companies.

"It's amazing what happens when you make a visit, go sit down with somebody, and say, 'How are you doing, what can we do for you. What are the issues taht you are facing that we can make an impact on'," the MarketStreet CEO said.

Holladay said the greatest advocates the city can have are the companies that already are in the city, sharing experiences with their clients and suppliers. He'd get the names of those supporting companies, customers and suppliers to try to talk them into relocating here.

"Acknowledge that you have a list of companies that certainly almost every city of your size would die for. Don't lose them," he said.

That keyed to Holladay's main point, that the city needed to be aggresive in its work to attract and retain businesses. The plan suggests ramping up economic development spending to $400,000 in the next few years. The city should not just fill its vacant economic development coordinator post, but also add an associate to help out.

Answering Council member Cheryl Oakes' comments on the different needs of the younger generations, Holladay said that the young married couples want something very different than the young singles. The young singles aren't that concerned with the education system. They want to have a place to ride their bike, walk from work, have a drink with friends or have dinner.

The Planning Commission will consider the economic development plan at its meeting Thursday, Sept. 1.


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