New home growth in Milton.

Courtesy Carolyn Aspenson; Appen Newspapers

October 04, 2013

MILTON, Ga. – Milton new home construction permits increased in 2012, and the city expects them to continue to rise for the remainder of 2013.

In 2012, Milton approved 317 new residential building permits. To date this year, the number is 210.

"We obviously can't determine a final number for this year at this time," City Planner Robyn MacDonald said.

In 2007, there were 603 permits issued, but the number dropped significantly in 2008 to 189.

Recent Carolyn Aspenson

MacDonald said the numbers have increased since 2009, when only 44 permits were issued.

She said there are currently about eight builders in Milton with new and existing communities building or preparing to build about 337 new homes, with about 40 of those being townhomes.

"Ryland has 76 homes at The Manor at Hopewell," MacDonald said.

The other communities range from about five to 63 homes.

The city factors these numbers along with the population increase into developmental planning such as traffic patterns and roadwork, parks and recreation development and the city budget.

"The increase in homebuilding permits is an expected trend for the city of Milton, and our numerous long- and short-term plans contemplate the growth," said Jason Wright, communications manager for the city of Milton.

"Our population doubled between the Census of 2000 and 2010, and we do not by any means expect it to stagnate, which is a good thing because it indicates our desirability," he said. "Thus, our Comprehensive Land Use Plan, Parks and Recreation Master Plan and Comprehensive Transportation lay out long-term growth strategies that contemplate the type of numbers we're now seeing."

Wright said the city's three-year strategic plan works in concert with the long-term plans to achieve residents' desired outcomes.