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Tuesday, October 11, 2011

In Their Own Words: Hans Appen, Candidate for Alpharetta City Council

Appen faces Michael Cross in the Post 5 race.

EDITOR'S NOTE: This is one of five articles being posted today, Oct. 10, about Alpharetta City Council candidates, with quotes and video about individual candidates. Hans Appen, an account executive and circulation manager at his family's newspaper company, said he has a lot to offer voters on City Council. He said he has the energy, time and "a lot of passion for what goes on here in Alpharetta." And he doesn't have a lot of commitments that would tie up his time. What should go into the city's Comprehensive Land Use Plan is simple, Appen said. If there's a demand, put it in the plan. If not, leave it out. "It doesn't need to get more complicated than that," he said. Appen support the new downtown center. "Look at all the events that …

In this Article:

Milton High School

In Their Own Words: Michael Cross, Candidate for Alpharetta City Council

Cross faces Hans Appen in the Post 5 race.

EDITOR'S NOTE: This is one of five articles being posted today, Oct. 10, about Alpharetta City Council candidates, with quotes and video about individual candidates. Michael Cross said he has studied hard on what attracts people to Alpharetta, using the time spent on the Alpharetta Development Authority to figure out what makes them want to move here, and what makes them stay. "I have an understanding of what that takes," he said. "I came here for a reason and I'm staying here for a reason." Cross told the audience at the Kimball Bridge Coalition Candidates' Forum on Oct. 9 that he has spent the past decade working at a successful law firm, helping businesses get through regulatory hurdles and employment challenges. He said he helped "work…

Michael Cross

12:20 am on Thursday, October 13, 2011

Many thanks to the Kimball Bridge Road Coalition for organizing the debate - and thanks to Embassy Suites as well for hosting the event. I think we have excellent prospects in Alpharetta, but I believe it's very important that we act now. Other cities are aggressively providing incentives to attract employers and jobs. Other cities have invested in the development of downtown amenities. It's time…   more ›

In Their Own Words: Ron Carter, Candidate for Alpharetta City Council

Carter faces off against Donald Mitchell for unexpired term of Post 1 seat.

EDITOR'S NOTE: This is one of five articles being posted today, Oct. 10, about Alpharetta City Council candidates, with quotes and video about individual candidates. Ron Carter, who has been general contractor, designs custom homes and a Planning Commissioner told the audience at the Kimball Bridge Coalition Candidates' Forum that he viewed the forum and the elction as a job interview by the voters. The voters own the "$60 million corporation called the city of Alpharetta," Carter said, and they are hiring four new board members and a CEO–City Council members and a new mayor–to run the city. Carter said a lot about the city center project, saying his experience puts him in a prime spot to be on City Council. "I can absolutely help in that …

Ron Carter

7:08 am on Saturday, October 29, 2011

Alpharetta has been blessed with excellent City Council Members and I believe my added experience can be a very valuable asset in revitalizing our downtown.   more ›

In Their Own Words: Donald Mitchell, Candidate for Alpharetta City Council

Mitchell faces off against Ron Carter for unexpired term of Post 1 seat.

EDITOR'S NOTE: This is one of five articles being posted today, Oct. 10, about Alpharetta City Council candidates, with quotes and video about individual candidates. Donald Mitchell, a business owner with 22 years of experience, said he's fought hard for downtown revitalization, spending about 22 hours a week in his efforts. "I personally believe, if you really believe in something, that's what you spend your time doing," he said at the Kimball Bridge Coalition's Alpharetta Candidates' Forum on Oct. 9. Economic development is a priority of the Post 1 candidate, who seesk to fill the unexpired Post 1 term. Alpharetta doesn't have an economic development director on staff, but Mitchell said he believes the city needs two people workng on it–…

Tuesday, August 23, 2011

Downtown Alpharetta Restaurant Patrons Can Walk Out With Alcohol

Existing restaurants with liquor licenses can let customers take plastic cup with drink out to walk and shop.

Downtown Alpharetta restaurant patrons can now walk out of the businesses with a drink in hand without breaking any law. An initiative backed by the Downtown Alpharetta Trade Association to allow patrons of restaurants in a downtown district to take a single drink with them as they go walking and shopping within the district. The beer, wine or liquor must be in a plastic cup provided by the restaurant that holds no more than 16 ounces. Cans, bottles and glasses are prohibited. Each person is limited to a single cup. And it has to come from one of the restaurants within the district. So you can't show up downtown with a cooler full of beer and tailgate at the Farmers Market on Saturdays. All other city laws are still in effect, including …

In this Article:

Smokejack, The Coffee Pot, 52 Bistro, and 1 more ›

Wednesday, August 17, 2011

Lions Club to Host Mayor's Talk on City Center Plans

Arthur Letchas will describe the latest plan for downtown Alpharetta at the Aug. 25 meeting.

  • GOVERNMENT
  • Wednesday, August 17, 2011

Mayor Arthur Letchas will speak on Aug. 25 to the Alpharetta Lions Club on the city's latest plans to redevelop 22 acres of downtown property. The meeting will be , at the Adult Activity Center at North Park on Thursday, Aug. 25 at 7:30 p.m. It will be  open to the public. In May, Mayor Letchas and the Alpharetta City Council unveiled redevelopment plans for 22-acres in downtown Alpharetta.  The Alpharetta City Center plan creates a large public park, new library, new City Hall, structured parking, as well as realignment of Haynes Bridge Road.  The city owns all property within the proposed development.  “The City Center redevelopment has been a key goal for the Mayor and we are excited that he will share his time to talk to Lions and …

Tuesday, August 16, 2011

Downtown Alpharetta Visitors May Get to Walk Around with Beer, Liquor

The City Council approved a first reading of an ordinance change allowing restaurants licensed for alcohol sales to allow customers to go outside with a single drink in hand.

With one more reading of a change to its alcohol ordinance, diners in downtown Alpharetta will be able to step outside of restaurants with a beer or a drink in hand without fear of arrest. The Alpharetta City Council approved the first reading of an ordinance change requested by the Downtown Alpharetta Trade Association (DATA) that would allow patrons of downtown restaurants with liquor licenses to carry a single drink in a plastic cup outside as they go to other businesses within downtown. "That would be the common practice, not limited to festivals and events," said Assistant City Administrator James Drinkard. "And it would be any business that is currently licensed to sell for consumption on the premises that would be able to sell on …

Sunday, August 7, 2011

LCI Buzz Words Sure to Upset Even When Not Part of City's Plans

Affordable housings bonuses aren't part of Alpharetta's plans, but ARC supplied form includes them.

It was almost midnight before the Alpharetta Planning Commission got to the Downtown Livable Communities Initiative update, but Kyle Caswell was awake enough to realize the report required by the Atlanta Regional Commission contained some buzzwords that wouldn't please some city residents. "This is always used as cannon fodder for the urbanization team," Caswell said at the Aug. 4 Planning Commission meeting. Community Development Director Diana Wheeler said the ARC set up the forms, which included the terms. The update is a checklist that the city must send to ARC so the city can remain eligible for future funding. Potential projects aren't required, but must be identified, Wheeler said. "We know that we must have a surface parking lot …

Comment_arrow

Just Deb

1:19 pm on Thursday, August 18, 2011

Thank you No Name. That's a great article. I am so happy to see Agenda 21 in print. It's real and it's insidious. Thanks again for sharing the link.   more ›

Friday, July 15, 2011

Alpharetta Residents Help Consultants With Character of Downtown

Property and business owners across Main Street from redevelopment site want money spent on their side of the street for improvements.

Alpharetta asked for input on its downtown development plan, but some business and property owners wanted to know what will be done in their part of downtown. On Monday, City Council will approve putting a $29 million bond referendum on the November ballot to fund its downtown project on 22 acres of city land. Plans include a new city hall and a parking deck, a five-acre park plus the infrastructure to support the 22-acre project. The Atlanta-Fulton County Library system will build a new, 25,000-square-foot branch on the site also. Jim Parsons, who owns several buildings across from the City Hall parking lot, complained that the plan ignores the rest of downtown and he'll lose parking in front of his buildings. Engineering and Public Works…

Thursday, July 14, 2011

Alpharetta Holding Third Public Meeting on Downtown Plan

The City Council wants voters to approve a bond referendum that would fund infrastructure and public buildings in downtown.

In just a few hours Alpharetta residents get yet another chance to tell City Council what they want downtown to look like. When that body's downtown redevelopment was reintroduced, city leaders promised to make it "your" downtown. Today's meeting will be at 6:30 p.m. at Alpharetta City Hall. After a review of the financing for the project and requirements, city staff and consultants have been bringing residents up to speed on the latest ideas. Then the residents are asked to add their comments and suggestions. Last week residents moved buildings around on a map of the site, trying to figure out where they wanted the different features of the 22-acre site. City Hall was moved around, as was the parking deck. Many residents wanted to move …

In this Article:

Alpharetta City Hall

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