Milton City Council, Planning Commission Eyeball Plan

The Livable Centers Initiative is one step closer to action.

Consultant Eric Bosman made an hour-long, yet rapid-fire presentation of the Livable Centers Initiative Monday night before a joint work session of the Milton City Council and Milton Planning Commission.

The initiative outlines the future for the corridor along GA 9 from Bethany Bend south to Mayfield and east to GA 400, and including Deerfield Parkway.

The initiative was funded by $100,000 — with a $25,000 city match — from the Atlanta Regional Commission in February 2011.

Bosman, a consultant from Urban Collage, reminded the group that they began seeking public input on the plan in August. Since then they have gathered 25 written responses and 492 completed surveys. Citizens also have had four public meetings during which to shape the plan.

During his talk, Bosman emphasized that the plan needs to translate to reality. Planning needs to be “realistic and viable from a market standpoint,” Bosman said.

The LCI goes before the Planning Commission on March 27.

“March 27 will be the beginning of the review and approval process through the city of Milton; it will first go to the planning commission for their review and comment," Bosman said. "I believe then they will make a recommendation to the city council. The city council will then have a first read and a second read as they do with any major initiative or ordinance through the approval and review of the plan as a policy document for the city of Milton.”

On April 9, a public hearing will be held allowing for final comment from citizens. Once passed by the city council, the LCI then becomes a very important document.

“The Livable Centers Initiative plan becomes an amendment to the city’s comprehensive plan,” Bosman said, “so it becomes a policy document for the planning commission and the city council to use in order to make future land-use, transportation, infrastructure and capital improvements decisions.”

After adoption of the plan, the area becomes eligible for two $4-million project grants.

Twenty-nine percent of the study area is in the city of Alpharetta and Alpharetta is participating as well. In fact, Bosman will make the same presentation on March 19 before the Alpharetta City Council and Planning Commission.