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M ay 9 , 2 0 2 4 | A p p e n M e d i a . c o m | A n A p p e n M e d i a G r o u p P u b l i c a t i o n | 5 0 ¢ | Vo l u m e 1 9 , N o . 1 9
Milton officials tackle strategies for coming year MILTON, Ga. — Milton officials parsed through sustainability initiatives, public art, land use, transportation and parks and recreation at their annual planning retreat May 3 at Avalon in Alpharetta. Members of the City Council heard from city departments heads, including Community Development Director Bob Buscemi and Public Works Director Sara Leaders, about transportation infrastructure and land use planning. City officials discussed two items related to land use, the Deerfield Implementation Plan and incentives for residents to hold onto their larger lots. Councilmembers referenced properties with 10 or more acres throughout the discussion of lot sizes. The key takeaway from the land use discussion is that Milton wants to make it easier for residents to hold onto their farms, rather than subdividing and selling it off to residential developers. City Manager Steve Krokoff said an agricultural exemption does not fit for the city, but lessening regulatory requirements on large lots may make them more manageable for owners. The discussion then transitioned to commercial areas in the city. Located in eastern Milton, the Deerfield area includes the Bethany Bend, Ga. 9 and Windward Parkway corridors. City officials are looking to revamp Deerfield to reflect Milton’s unique heritage and character.
See STRATEGIES, Page 24
HAYDEN SUMLIN/APPEN MEDIA
Fulton County Schools Superintendent Mike Looney, left, discusses workforce development with executives from Gwinnett Technical College, Ford Motor Co., Amana Academy and Fiserv at the May 1 North Fulton Futures Summit.
North Fulton Futures Summit keys on economic growth By HAYDEN SUMLIN hayden@appenmedia.com SANDY SPRINGS, Ga. — A team of industry experts provided perspectives on economic development May 1 at the annual North Fulton Futures Summit. City officials and business leaders packed the Studio Theater at City Springs to hear about
City sets focus on Deerfield ► PAGE 3
housing availability in the region, efforts to return to the office and the development of workforce talent. While the 2023 summit featured a panel of the six North Fulton mayors, this year’s event heard more from the business community and educators. The summit is sponsored by The Greater North Fulton Chamber of Commerce.
Ga. 400 contract heads to market ► PAGE 6
In his introduction of the first panel, Alpharetta Mayor Jim Gilvin said it’s critical to have a conversation about housing when talking about economic development. “We’re living at a time when the entire Metro Atlanta area is growing faster than we can keep up with,” Gilvin
See SUMMIT, Page 8 OPINION
Gardening tasks in month of May ► PAGE 27