All:
As most folks know, Accessmilton.com is a website focused on community involvement; bringing together a voice for all who live and work this area. Many times, we receive an email sharing a point of view. When asked to post it, some folks decline as it was only meant for certain eyes. Today, however, that was not the case. Many thanks to Kurt for sharing this with us.
- AM Staff
Friends and Neighbors,
We live in a very unique and desirable area of Metro Atlanta. If you are at all like Julie and me, the country feel with large lots and abundant green space is what attracted us to this area almost 8 years ago. I also believe that greater control over how our area is developed is the primary reason over 86% of us voted to create the new City of Milton last year. With this new City comes an opportunity to really help shape its future especially when it comes to commercial development. I have become involved in local zoning of Milton when our quality of life was being threatened by over development and believe most of us feel the same way.
Quick Background
The City of Milton is currently operating under a Comprehensive Land Use Plan (CLUP) http://fultonecd.org/focusfulton/index2.htm that was adopted by Fulton County prior to the formation of the city of Milton. This Land Use Plan defines the type and amounts of development that is allowed in NW Fulton County. For example most of NW Fulton is currently zoned AG-1 - meaning 1 house per acre; septic only and no sewer. The CLUP also defines Crabapple, the Birmingham Crossroads and Arnold Mill as Neighborhood Nodes, which means currently no more than a total of 100,000 sq. ft. of commercial and office space is allowable.
Current Opportunity
There isn't one City Council Zoning meeting where a developer or team of developers doesn't ask the City Council for "special allowances" that increase the density, reduce setbacks and buffers or change zoning from Residential to Commercial to "improve" their investment. These developers, by the way, rarely live in Milton and will not have to live with the increased traffic and higher population. See for your self by attending the next City Council Meeting. The City of Milton is also currently redeveloping the land use plan with a number of City Council Members looking to increase the density and commercial/office space currently allowed. These limits have provided the protection that has been the major reason Milton has not taken on the characteristics, higher density and overall feel that developers have created on the east side of highway 400. Once these limits are changed we, as citizens, and even the City Council will be powerless to control the growth. Once an exception is made for one parcel the owners of surrounding parcels can use the court of law to get the same exception regardless of the City Council's stance.
Call to Action
I encourage all of you to take an active role in the development of the area we live in.? You can make a huge difference just by being informed on the issues and letting the Council Members know how you feel at their meetings or via email. I believe they need to hear from residents more than they are hearing from the development community. Here's what you can do:
Email the City Council Members with your thoughts (addresses below)
Attend a City Council Meeting Third Thursday of every month
Ask Questions -We have a responsibility to be informed and educated citizens especially on matters that effect our quality of life. Learn as much as you can by visiting the following sites:
http://www.cityofmiltonga.us/
http://fultonecd.org/focusfulton/index2.htm> http://www.bhalliance.org/mission/landedu.asp>
Vote in the upcoming election on November 6th and elect people who are more concerned about our quality of life than those interested in uncontrollable growth. Provide input into the development of the new Milton Comprehensive Plan and help chart a path for the City of Milton's future. Please visit the City of Milton's website for more information:
http://www.cityofmiltonga.us/compplan/intro.html
It's as simple as our quality of life vs the developers return on their investments. Please let me know if you have any questions or would like more information on how to get involved. We will never have an opportunity or the influence like this again.
Mayor Joe Lockwood > joe.lockwood@cityofmiltonga.us
Karen Thurman District 1> karen.thurman@cityofmiltonga.us
Julie Zahner Bailey District 2> julie.zahnerbailey@cityofmiltonga.us
Bill Lusk District 3> bill.lusk@cityofmiltonga.us
Neal O'Brien District 4> neal.obrien@cityofmiltonga.us
Tina D'Aversa-Williams District 5> tina.daversa@cityofmiltonga.us
Rick Mohrig District 6> rick.mohrig@cityofmiltonga.us
PLEASE FORWARD THIS EMAIL TO ANY AND ALL NEIGHBORS! - Kurt Nolte
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39 comments:
The "For Lease Birmingham Village" is a great example of the failure of the master plan.
A nail salon will definitely ruin the quality of life in Milton
I know just what to do!" Bailey laughed in her throat.
"I'll make empty vows in return for their vote."
And she chuckled, and clucked, "I've got a great con.
"Armed with yard signs and lies I'll simpily plough on"
As the Bailey and friends formulated their schemes,
Based on no growth theories and crazy extremes,
The MiltonWhos, calmly, while dreaming their dreams.
Said re-Elect Bailey, with a gleam in their eyes,
while about Santi's record told many lies
The plan was enacted,
The ballots were cast,
The sham made the voters return to the past.
Bailey was gleeful, and started gloating,
before all the Whos had completed their voting.
"We now have a mandate!" Bailey said with a laugh,
Even though, of the votes, they received only half.
With snickering Julie in the role of their speaker,
The prospects for Milton have never been bleaker.
"The plans that we've outlined, we won't be revising,"
said Bailey, "You know I simply ABHOR
Compromising
I know just what to do!
Santi cried to his engineers.
I will tell them what they want to hear, pour honey in their ear.
And he chuckled, and chuckled I've got a great con.
Armed with money and lies they will become my pawns
As Santi and friends formulated their schemes.
Based on sewer and the wiping out of trees and streams,
The MiltonWhos, realized their charming city would soon be just a pipedream.
They said do not elect sewer Santi do not fall for his lies
For it is our city that will be compromised.
The plan was enacted,
The ballots were cast,
The Miltonwhos thought they could breathe at last.
Santi was deceitful, and his developers foreboding
they pushed harder for variances before all the whos finished voting.
"We now have a variance! Santi said with a laugh,
Even though the whos voted against it, rural preservation has come to pass.
With sewer Santi as the developers preacher,
The current council for Milton proved to be even weaker.
The plans that were outlined, we will quickly revise,
Milton will change in a blink of their eyes.
But hope stirred in the heart of the Whos.
They will gather together, protest and petition,
even bring in the national news.
For you see this is their home and the taxes they pay.
In the end the whos will have their way.
And the lady who said,
"If I ran the zoo."
Finally got her wish,
But didn't know what to do.
The lions got loose
And so did the bears.
People'd come in threes
And leave in pairs.
Hundreds threatened,
And dozens did sue.
Everything went wrong
At that poorly run zoo.
And when Julie Bailey
Let know where she stood,
The consequences there
Were not at all good.
And when they took the crown
From Queen Julie’s head
Oh, say can you say
The things that that lady said.
The queen's seat, I am
Sorry to say
Were destroyed by voters,
Eaten completely away.
She went into the road,
And was hit by a bus.
If only the voters
Had not made her rush.
Saying, "Will you please go now!"
Led her to attack.
Too bad no one on the curb
Yelled "Julie step back."
The primary reason the planning has failed is because it was designed as a "no growth" plan as oppossed to a "control growth" plan.
The Birmingham plan is, was and will always be a complete failure because its basic purpose was to stop any reasonable development. The plan remains unbuilt and will remain so until it is changed. What is built is obviously a financial failure because of the restrictions placed on the property and the business owners/tenants.
No one, not even St. Julie,is going to hold back the tides of change. Can they be controled? Of course. Can a city set standards? Of course. But when a group of people try to stop everything, and in affect try to run everyones business they are doomed.
You may not see the tomorrow but as sure as the sun rises, Milton will change. I beleive it is our elected officials jobs to set reasonable standards, make sound plans, and expect growth to come and to be absorbed into the community. To believe it can be brought to a halt by electing this candidate or that one is pure folly and dooms our city.
People wake up! The Birmingham and Birmingham development is failing because the rent is so high! Julie does not control that! She does not control how many people shop at the Publix! The developers wanted in and they got in! Now it is time for them to take responsibility and say - hay maybe this wasn't such a good idea after all. Julie and many other people stood up and said “if you are going to force your way in- then it needs to fit in with the landscape- That's it! I bet Publix is for ever grateful that the voters made them build such a small store. Or then again, they can just blame poor sales on Julie!
Kim Swiacki
Kim, Your understanding of the situation is very over simplified. Rents are controled by cost. There is no way in hell you can inteligently say that the goons didn't raise the cost of construction, restrain the type of businesses, and generally try to stop the development.
It's a design flop because master plan was designed by people who were anti business and didn't have a clue what they were doing.
They never wanted it there under any circumstances. And it is a monumnet to what mirco management, control freaks end up doing
What do you mean by Goons? Who are the Goons? Who are "They".
Kim Swiacki
"They" be the people [led by Ms. Bailey] who using scare tactics, lied to the community, tried to stop any development, while at the same time "planned and overlay" [on property they didn't own with money they didn't have and architects they couldn't and didn't pay] to make sure any reasonable successful development
was impossible.
And "They" be the people who now take credit for the "controled" rezoning and The "For Lease" Birmingham Village shopping center.
And now "They" be feeding you more of the same.
So who are the goons?
They are Neal O'Brien and Gordon Hunter. One will sell you a Christmas tree and one a crock of @$#%&*!
I am interested in this. You have so much information that you feel is correct on this because you are who? and you got this information from who? where?
(in ref. to "property they didn't own, money didn't have, architects didnt' pay" statement)
State where you learned of this information so we can all be educated on the facts like yourself please. If this is factual give the source and state your name.
Lisa Cauley
What this world needs is another nail salon in a strip mall. This country is starved for nail salons. By all means it wouldn't be American to not have a foreign owned nail salon in the strip mall next to my neighborhood.
If a person had enough land to support a strip mall and wanted to have a full service liquor store, pawn shop, tatoo parlor, H&R Block, nail salon, Del Taco and a brothel, reckon he could get approval if he offered support to Mohrig, O'brien, Santi, Lusk and Thurman?
This is all comon knowledge but feel free to ask Julie a few questions if you wish and feel free to post your answers, if you wish. Glad you want facts.
1] Did the Birmingham Civic Association [ later the BHA] hire an architect from Washington D.C. to do plan an overlay to control any development on the 4 corners of Birmingham Road and Birmingham Hwy?
2] Did you own the property or have the support or permission of the property owners?
3] Could you pay the architects for the plan they did or did Fulton County finally bail you out with tax dollars?
4] Did you Illegally put up signs on someone elses property saying "Comng soon Wal-mart K-Mart?" to scare people.
Where did "you" learn of all of this information, and state who you are. I will be glad to ask Julie Zahner Bailey about these things, but you need to post your name for credibility.
L.Cauley
Seems I remember something about the late Bob Fulton being heavily involved in the overlay work and was advising the group.
With all due respect, I do not want credibility, need credibility or desire approval from anyone. I KNOW THE FACTS and they are the the truth as best I recall it.
I didn't do it, they did. I am not accountable for their actions.
I am merely a concerned citizen who has seen tax pay money WASTED by Julie's groups and her crazy planning.
Not to be smug but
"Common knowledge is common knowledge." many, many people recall these events, it's not a big secret.
I do not know how long you have been here but, as best I recall, those are SOME of the facts.
Bob Fulton did eventually bail out Julie's BCC or BHA and pay their tab [at taxpayer expense because the BCC BHA could NOT pay the bills they had accumulated] Fulton County essentially rehired the same firm to redo what they had already done and not gotten paid for from Julie's group. I believe it was over $100,000 Julie's group couldn't pay but I'm not sure of the exact number.
Now think this one over, If you've done one job and not gotten paid [by Julie's group] and the County hires you to do the same job and will probably pay you for it]. Just how much effort are you going to put into doing it a second time?
Please I invite you ask Julie or one of these so called "Experts" why the Birmingham Cross Roads is so screwed up. Ask them who is the idiot who DEMANDED single family residential be planned next to a Ga Power station on the SE Corner.
I assume you also do not know she worked on TAKING "yes that is spelled TAKING" all the lands along all the stream beds to make a connecting horse/bicycle trail system in North Fulton.
Perhaps "Taking" is too strong a word "Forcing all developers to donate" would be closer to the truth.
Now ask yourself this question Mr. Mrs. Subdivision Homeowner. If my subdivision developer is "required" to give land to make connecting trails for other people to ride/walk on through a portion of our subdivision along every stream bed in North Fulton County. How much is my Homeowers Association going to have to pay in insurance premiums to cover our exposure to the liability of people walking, riding horses/bicycles through the woods along a stream, [maybe right next to my house maybe all hours of the night]Who is going to have to pay for this tremendous excess liability coverage in my subdivision? Who is going to prick up the litter? Who is going to police all of this private land we are forced to make public.
From where I sit, I think, The woman is dangerous and plans her ideas with other peoples money and other peoples property. The facts speak for themselves.
I apologize for mentioning Bob Fulton since he can not defend himself. Will assume $100,000 was spent on architect fees. Not all is lost, this is money that did not go to South Fulton.
Regarding effort put into, first or second time around, is unknown and should not be an issue.
Is B'ham Crossroads really screwed up...could this equate to the beauty is in the eyes of the beholder. The S.E. corner is being saved for the future sewage treatment plant. It will adjoin the Oglethorpe Power sub station.
"Taking" is hard to do unless you allow them to do so. Premiums for Homeowners Association insurance will probably be about the same as if a sewer trunk line is placed here rather than a trail. Would hope horses will be required to have head and tail lights when riding at night.
The "POSSE" is not a paid group..no additional expense for policing the trail. If we didn't have subdivisions we wouldn't have as many problems would we? There are liabilities to living in same. If you don't believe it, ask O'Brien.
You allege past activities, did the trails come to fruition? Did walmart or kmart build. Wasn't all this activity before Milton was established.
Now tell us what she did as a council member that makes you think she is dangerous.
From where I sit, don't think this lady is nearly as dangerous as "MoM"!!
Oh, by the way, I forgot to sign my name on my statements above, as I don't really need the "credibility" because I am a big Santi supporter. See me drive my beat up old Toyota around and put up his signs in land owner and developers properties.
Bill Fantozzi
"If beauty is in the eyes of the beholder" then economic flop is in the eyes of the bottom line.
Vacant is vacant and unbuilt is unbuilt
Wal-mart nor K-mart were never planning to build it was SCARE tactics plain and simple. If that's the kind of information you want you council memebers putting out to get you all riled up. Have at it. You've got yourself a true candidate in Ms. Bailey
The only Santi sign I have seen in someone's yard/homeowner is that of David Chatham, aka Developer. As a matter of fact they are on all of Chatham's neighborhoods as well as all other neighborhoods under construction, and down the hwy 9 corridor, littered. What's amazing is Santi signs went there first, then Mohrig and O'Brien piggybacked onto those properties as well. Wherever there is commercialism or a potential for development you will see a Santi sign. No brainer.
BOO!, that's a scare tactic, plain and simple, riled up yet. If so contact infamous four for referral to see shrink.
ONCE AGAIN, Now tell us what she did as a council member that makes you think she is dangerous.
Please refrain from stating what she might have done as an infant, teenager or college student. Keep it to council time frame.
Please don't shout.
A review of her web site shows;
"Initiated the Birmingham Master Planning Process"
Mrs. Bailey is running on her 12 years of dedicated blah, blah, blah.
Her 10 years with the BHA [formerly BCC which couldn't pay their bills]
She is also running on her experience in land planning and past "proactive participation in the NW Overlay".
If she chooses to run as a planner, then I believe that the voters should look at the success [or failure] of what her "proactive participation" produced.
Complete failure.
The unbuilt Birmingham Master Plan [a la Bailey planning] is a financial disaster and is what this City is facing Square in the face.
"Economic flop is in the eyes of the bottom line"
Does this mean you are a developer, council candidate who is favoring developers or a supporter of both.
Vacant is opposie of filled and unbuilt is opposite of built, right.
Now we know you are not a card carrying member of the SCARE CREW, right.
Didn't know I was shouting, this one is low tone.
Can read and know what her web site shows. Have you ever embellished an employment resume?
All I wanted was what she did or did not do in her official capacity as a council member that scared you.
Was Neal O'Brien flying Santi's plane over the Milton Roundup, I hear that his only credentials is that he knows how to fly a plane. I guess he could be usefull in flying them all to another meeting somewhere, yeah, lets keep him on Council. Let's look at his long list of accomplishments for our community and this area, okay, none, done. That was quick.
You can bash Bailey all you want, Santi and O'Brien have done nothing in the area worth mentioning and Mohrig sleeps at City Council. Instead of Bashing Bailey why don't you attempt to lift up and promote the others you seem to support, nothing to say about them is there? Boring! Snoring! Bashing her won't get them re-elected or Santi.
Embellishment is definitely in the eyes of the embellisher.
Today [during her term in office] she is telling the community she is "A former Corporate executive."
You may call that resume embellishment if you choose. I call it a bald face lie.
And I do not believe voters desire to be fed "Embellishments." I believe they want and deserve the truth.
I can't believe she said she is "a former Corporate executive", boy that scares the hell out of me.
Well it is obvious you are not going to answer the question, to the contrary, you are grasping for straws by beating around the bush.
I will say "calf rope" which means I give up on trying to get a straight answer.
"Sarcasm is the wit of the ignorant"
I agree with somebody not sure who that a candidate's past actions as well as what he/she did while in office should be considered.
And I do think politicians should be very honest with the public.
Concerned but quiet
Bill Fontozzi - you do not reside in Milton. What is your great concern with our city??
Perhaps you own acreage here that you want to develop? Fine but watch what you push for.
Bill Fontozzi, don't give out any information about your intentions to invade our city. If too much is known, some of us know-it-all's might let our steamboat mouth overflow our rowboat rear end and we would not want Doug Nurse to write about it.
You do not want us to take the CLUP to you either...that could be ugly.
Perhaps the Birmingham development has some space left to lease because there is not enough demand at that location. The development looks fine and fits with the area. I live in Crooked Creek on Hwy 9 and when my wife and I drove past the Birmingham development we were impressed with the classiness of it and started casually looking for a house in that area. That area will age well and 10 yrs from now current issues with lack of renters will not be an issue. Yes, a developer might take it in the shorts in the short run. But these are folks that are making tons of money anyway anc taking massive risks. I know many personally but have only so much sympathy. No reason to feel bad for these guys. The neighborhood looks good. It will age well. And that area is a great investment. If any developer at Brimingham Crossroads would like to sell - let it be known in this column and I will find a way to contact you :-) I can raise the funds.
Be prepared for the onslaught from the anti Bailey group (ABG)....they may think you are trying to help her get re-elected.
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