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Monday, March 14, 2011

Milton Explores City Center Concept.

Courtesy WSBTV.com

MILTON, Ga. -- Leaders in one North Fulton city are soliciting ideas to shape a future city center.

Milton's Crabapple Crossroads already boasts a few restaurants, some shops and single family homes, but city leaders told Channel 2 Action News reporter Mike Petchenik that they want to expand on the concept and finish what Fulton County started developing before Milton incorporated nearly five years ago.

“I don’t want to see typical suburban sprawl in the city of Milton," said Mayor Joe Lockwood.

To that end, Lockwood said he would support building a city center with amenities for residents, but he would like to see it contained.

"We could possibly define the limits and develop that area to put all the needs and the things our citizens need, but not let them sprawl outside of those boundaries," he said.

The city's hired Roswell-based planner Lew Oliver to help guide them. Oliver told Petchenik his company has helped develop other mixed-use projects, such as Vickery Village in Forsyth County.

"We’ll be looking at ideas that are very progressive, but at the same time, very traditional," he said.

Oliver said that could include closing off the area to traffic and building housing for an older demographic while preserving the farm land surrounding the development.

“It’s very rare that you see this quality of landscape this close to a metropolitan area," he said.

Oliver said he will present three possibilities to the City Council: Create a self-contained live, work and play village; create several small developments that aren't contained to one area; a mix of those two concepts.

"I think Crabapple can be a leader in Metro Atlanta as far as having a progressive land plan," said Oliver.

Lockwood told Petchenik he would also support building a dedicated City Hall on the property. The city currently operates out of an office park.

“I look forward to having this as an area that people are proud to have and that people who come visit Milton. It’ll stand out to them as really a special place," he said.

To see the story with video, click here=>
http://www.wsbtv.com/news/27191976/detail.html

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