August 24, 2017

Nothing epitomizes the debate in Milton over land use more than the townhouse development across from Cambridge High School (CHS).  I have not met a single citizen that approves of what has become a very visible eyesore in Milton.  However, there was a silver lining in that property’s rezoning.  The rezoning battle marked a turning point in the discussion over land use in Milton.  The seeds were sown for what has become a citizens’ revolt against reckless development in Milton.

The CHS rezoning followed a classic pattern that has played out repeatedly in Milton.  The Planning Commission–our commission dedicated to land use issues and appointed by Council–unanimously recommends against a rezoning (or ordinance, etc.).  Citizens overwhelmingly oppose the rezoning.  Ignoring both the Planning Commission and citizens, Council approves the rezoning, with little or no rebuttal (or even acknowledgement) of the Planning Commission and citizens’ objections.  With the CHS rezoning, Council Member Matt Kunz even bragged that the rezoning had preserved greenspace.  What greenspace is he referencing . . . that thin strip of land along Cogburn Road, perhaps?

Of course, the apologists for the CHS development have their excuses all lined up for why they were “forced” to approve the CHS rezoning.  The first excuse is a classic that we hear repeatedly.  Some Council Members will tell you that the City would have been sued by the developer/property owner and would have lost.  This is malarkey.  Want to guess how many times in 11 years the City has been sued over a zoning action and lost?  ZERO.  This excuse simply does not hold water.  And in any case, the threat of a lawsuit should not matter.  Our Council needs to have the courage to do the right thing—whether a lawsuit is a real threat or not.

The second excuse implicitly acknowledges that the CHS development is an eyesore.  However, the nearby residents are blamed for rejecting supposedly more palatable options, such as a senior living facility and a church.  However, this was a false choice.  The CHS property was zoned AG-1, meaning that homes on one-acre lots was the default option.  Instead of (a maximum of) 8 or 9 homes on one-acre lots, we got 27 town houses.  The developer was gifted three times the density he was allowed under existing zoning.

So what is the point of this cautionary tale?  The point is that development is Issue #1 in Milton.  There is still a lot of undeveloped land in Milton.  If we build out the remaining land at 2-3 times the density allowed under AG-1, our quality of life is going to suffer.  Think about (more) congested roads, (more) overcrowded schools, and decreased property values.  You don’t have to look far—Alpharetta, Roswell, Johns Creek—to see the pernicious effects of unconstrained development.  We can still tread a different development path in Milton.  However, time is running out.  Now is the time for City Council to adopt a zero-tolerance policy for these irresponsible rezonings.  Council needs to JUST SAY NO.

Tim Becker