[{"_1":2,"_121":-5,"_122":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,74,85,97,109],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":56,"_73":56},"mediaId",6253095,"mediaKeyId","3183022-4be585813ff599a324021641191789df","parentId",3183022,"title","Council reviews draft FY2026 priorities; staff seeks feedback ahead of a future vote","audioSeconds",232,"startMs",131000,"endMs",363000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3183022-4be585813ff599a324021641191789df&start=131&end=363","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3183022-4be585813ff599a324021641191789df/thumbnail_131000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6253095/Alpharetta/Fulton-County/Georgia/Council-reviews-draft-FY2026-priorities-staff-seeks-feedback-ahead-of-a-future-vote","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6253095-701869edf4555bb1e7577962120335ec/orig.mp4?Expires=1770394323&Signature=HmFgBqIJta~L4RGhjra3ipRBHereV1TD3GeLDVZ1r-Gia7CrvewHFQhDv~Pa2wke448Pxu02RWbIy5BW30GqvkFsrXAE1VscQobsJvCPaQFMMJqzF~GuyZThKqsCgUdBQptKooVkMJT9xb9bKIA9jif9a01J6aztALp7cEbKT98o5YWDKBMsjVUH4PC5u0wUGdC1z2iY9fh14FEHdcnBZt9ymBfVs1fDhzAcuC2FckDm9y9zYDrVUCKRxejSflg~vzfz-~sPv2iaj2OxlMvP4VJ901zkIEj1FoGU67mv5G-3T9TYULmExh~njAfCORZsK4w4j9qf0uvsIOwI6dbs5A__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","","date","2025-05-03T00:17:17.397Z","article","At the start of the April 28 meeting, staff introduced the draft City Council priorities for fiscal year 2026, consolidated after the annual retreat into 10 strategic priorities and associated deliverables.

Assistant or staff lead (Mister Lagerbloom) said the document condenses the council’s retreat input into a set of priority columns that align with the city’s performance‑tracking platform, ClearPoint, and to the newly redesigned city website. The priorities highlighted included strategic growth and redevelopment of the Northpointe area, public safety and being “a safe and welcoming community,” communications, downtown Alpharetta, the Alpha Loop/greenways, parks and culture, infrastructure and facilities maintenance, economic development and workforce/staff focus, and transportation and traffic.

Staff emphasized the list is not ranked; the 10 priorities are presented as equally important and will be tracked in ClearPoint and revisited at future retreats. Council members asked whether the order implied ranking; staff clarified “It’s not numbers 1 through etcetera...they’re 10 of equal importance.” Councilmembers were asked to review and return comments to staff over the next several weeks; staff is planning a later vote by resolution to adopt the priorities formally.

What to expect next

Staff will incorporate council feedback, finalize the priorities and present a resolution for formal adoption; the priorities will be tied to ClearPoint performance measures and reported back to council periodically.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Alpharetta City Council Meeting - April 28, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","City staff introduced a draft list of 10 FY2026 strategic priorities developed after the council retreat and requested council feedback before bringing a resolution forward; no vote was taken at the April 28 workshop item.","taxTitle","Alpharetta, Fulton County, Georgia","taxId",3991,"location","headline","shortSummary",{"_33":75,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":76,"_41":77,"_43":78,"_45":78,"_47":79,"_49":80,"_51":81,"_53":82,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":83,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":84,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":56,"_73":56},6253100,"Council authorizes eminent domain payment for small right‑of‑way in ******* Street corridor project; resident questions appraisal",0,14611000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3183022-4be585813ff599a324021641191789df&start=14611&end=14611","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3183022-4be585813ff599a324021641191789df/thumbnail_14611000.jpg","/articles/6253100/Alpharetta/Fulton-County/Georgia/Council-authorizes-eminent-domain-payment-for-small-rightofway-in-Street-corridor-project-resident-questions-appraisal","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6253100-aecae2e20040ee976afef338a6351a81/orig.mp4?Expires=1770394323&Signature=KVVz3JlkF-GmFcLKJeUSvF2Q76U1gaK7ZGC7~qRDMZQpe0veQZ9KOH181rHyLRHGiZk-ppyy4UYNLdeKZ7X6wo1WZB79UC3wAa4oCIRz8gGVpGdxQZAKzjvtcWyvrBhBB-by3gLPsWfeED-~EVk3529fwbjvRixIZH6Dv3x3msBDjUuPv4rSHaz89XbobTeXx-gjTV~vsicIynKpy9cv4BzRRZdCSzrEXkmcS4GdVHMGnT0Y0t5vvWuiXT0EbT6jraIV2Jd-xkqIZv7DXPs6lk-p3J9KGDOCVdNbVd2T~G8zYy0rUOjcEWEvLnS8G~IN9o9JGCYUyrXUg3wf5oh6Jw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The City Council voted April 28 to authorize the city attorney to pursue eminent domain to acquire a 686.3‑square‑foot fee interest and related temporary easement needed for the ******* Street corridor improvements project; the city will deposit $18,900 into the court registry as the just‑compensation figure from an updated appraisal.

City attorneys explained the updated appraisal increased the amount from a prior August 2024 appraisal figure of $15,400 to $18,900 after the council requested a new valuation. The interest sought is a small strip of right of way with existing site improvements and landscaping. The resolution authorizes the city attorney to exercise the city’s powers of eminent domain if necessary to obtain the property rights required for the corridor work.

A nearby property owner spoke in opposition, saying she was not provided with appraisal backup and believes the compensation is too low. She also submitted a separate quote estimating higher landscaping replacement costs than the credit shown in city materials. “I still don’t believe that that is an equitable amount of money for it,” she told council during public comment and asked that the appraisal use a more recent comparable sale that she said was omitted.

Council approved the condemnation resolution 5–1. The council record did not show individual roll‑call votes in the transcript, but the mayor declared the motion approved by majority vote.

What the action does and next steps

- The council authorized acquiring the property interest either by negotiated purchase or, if that fails, by filing eminent‑domain proceedings and depositing the appraisal amount ($18,900) with the court.
- The city will continue efforts to negotiate with the property owner; if negotiations fail, the condemnation process will proceed and statutory procedures will govern determination of final compensation.
- The resident who spoke asked the council to reconsider the appraisal methodology; the transcript shows the council heard the comment but proceeded with the resolution.

Speakers quoted or cited in this article are those who spoke on the condemnation item at the April 28 meeting and are listed in the article’s speakers field below.","Council approved a resolution authorizing condemnation of a small fee interest needed for a corridor improvement project, with the city to deposit $18,900 as just compensation. A nearby property owner raised concerns about the appraisal basis and landscape replacement costs.",{"_33":86,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":87,"_41":88,"_43":89,"_45":90,"_47":91,"_49":92,"_51":93,"_53":94,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":95,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":96,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":56,"_73":56},6253105,"Council designates John C. Weatherford House as historic, moving it from contributing to designated inventory",415,2268000,2683000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3183022-4be585813ff599a324021641191789df&start=2268&end=2683","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3183022-4be585813ff599a324021641191789df/thumbnail_2268000.jpg","/articles/6253105/Alpharetta/Fulton-County/Georgia/Council-designates-John-C-Weatherford-House-as-historic-moving-it-from-contributing-to-designated-inventory","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6253105-d4800094b7580e63a93665cdc4bb05fb/orig.mp4?Expires=1770394323&Signature=BYso7454VEhZgcb3kAerfsCSjUi7m7Gqi14MVYusFdP2w3aGn8TIWYjKpIgPqQOpI69xmI4zQEuDE5XFBc52MIk0yZA6uqmEpWiYSIcepHdMpUV8Z7BorvqKrF3ri1ZUo-Z1xmkmC7EtrqMlsJC3qV-qZwYd6iHbAmBxxQlnX8ushYeGnz5UrJV-q4gHQ2hcifS8Xbvsy0r9Q2Xg-hLHlpnK2h6c0jY13gUaCSlYW-VjtgRVbK6DWs5HHeL4H2fcNv8jpZ7CnJFXpn14vbn3bu~e4iu2VrgrNuHMQdSjaPMjKwAMaqHw2Wxm6Yszw~HAHdssnwPbD9zBa5IvI1w60Q__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Alpharetta City Council on April 28 unanimously approved a request to designate the John C. Weatherford House at 193 Canton Street as a designated historic structure, moving it from the contributing inventory to the designated historic buildings list.

Planning staff said the house, constructed between about 1910 and 1920 and roughly 2,800 square feet, meets the code’s criteria for designation as an outstanding example of its era and for its architectural and cultural significance. The property was part of a 2021 zoning approval that required the house be saved, restored, and designated historic as part of a 17‑lot subdivision on 2.4 acres. The Historic Preservation Commission reviewed the application on April 17 and recommended unanimous approval; the downtown consultant has already provided comments on a forthcoming certificate of appropriateness for the restoration work.

Council members asked how the city enforces preservation after designation; staff described the certificate‑of‑appropriateness process. “If the commission does approve their proposal to restore or rehab the structure, the staff, city staff will then review a building permit and confirm that what’s on the building permit is what the Historic Preservation Commission approved,” staff said. The city has building and site inspectors who monitor compliance during construction.

Developer and applicant representatives said they are working with the downtown consultant and intend to retain as much original material as practical. “We are gonna do everything within our power to keep anything and everything we can from the original structure,” said one applicant representative.

The council approved designation on first reading and then passed the ordinance on the second reading at the April 28 meeting without public opposition.

Why this matters

The designation protects a local historic resource and makes the property subject to the Historic Preservation Commission’s review for exterior changes. Staff process and enforcement through certificates of appropriateness and building‑permit inspections are the city’s primary tools to ensure restoration work maintains historic character.

Speakers quoted or cited in this article are those who spoke on the historic designation item at the April 28 meeting and are listed in the article’s speakers field below.","Council unanimously approved historic designation for the John C. Weatherford House at 193 Canton Street, preserving a 1910–1920 folk‑Victorian structure as part of a larger 17‑lot subdivision approval that requires the house to be saved and restored.",{"_33":98,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":99,"_41":100,"_43":101,"_45":102,"_47":103,"_49":104,"_51":105,"_53":106,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":107,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":108,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":56,"_73":56},6253109,"Council approves Portman Brookside mixed‑use plan with conditions after multi‑hour review",5942,4523000,10465000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3183022-4be585813ff599a324021641191789df&start=4523&end=10465","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3183022-4be585813ff599a324021641191789df/thumbnail_4523000.jpg","/articles/6253109/Alpharetta/Fulton-County/Georgia/Council-approves-Portman-Brookside-mixeduse-plan-with-conditions-after-multihour-review","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6253109-d431aae9a0080a2c784bf12adcf94235/orig.mp4?Expires=1770394323&Signature=HslvUZ69KSK4N6taAqrB-lAWMjOo6uSKlKqw~4ZP-TnBaOntVVu85rPfFJeIGSgwMn3cd8UrHBMKWyq~Hw~XXstb6mTSeXiNvK4lVlPl6U~haVmyoaNqjuuOVBd3Q3zRQtdv~3ZFj4jf1Db-eeILutv3M4sATSX~qjis12FRD9EJ4LPp2h3FkViSv11xJvM4~lfjhXgRwviq95ujNUax1InUtpZ55qPKju8iTH5ZB0lIfM5V5fFGxWpGnStQAhkUTvNWNWqCWys~UTPjWYNbjHPcZU77yW1BQMwieafxp4kkuFuOa4sffWKiRJuxqgdrArikzm5P~bom8DIGl1J~tw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Alpharetta’s City Council on April 28 unanimously approved a comprehensive rezoning, master‑plan amendment and conditional‑use request from Portman Holdings for the Brookside MP pod A site, authorizing a mixed‑use redevelopment that includes a 5‑story for‑rent building, 75 for‑sale townhomes, about 60,000 square feet of retail/restaurant space, a 30,000‑square‑foot office conversion and roughly 13.75 acres of open space and greenway connections.

Staff described the project as a redevelopment consistent with the Brookside Small Area Plan and the 2040 comprehensive plan’s direction to retrofit older suburban office parks to more walkable, mixed‑use activity nodes. The applicant sought multiple approvals including a future land‑use map amendment, rezoning from ONI to MU (mixed use), conditional uses for dwelling units, and variances to reduce minimum lot size in the MU district, modestly increase the shared‑parking reduction (from 25% to 27%), and slightly reduce required driveway separation along Brookside Parkway.

Planning staff summarized technical elements: the plan retains one existing office building, demolishes the other, places a five‑story rental building that wraps a six‑level parking deck, locates a retail village and provides multiple multiuse path and greenway connections, and proposes that some off‑site trail work to connect to Big Creek Greenway be constructed by the applicant in exchange for impact‑fee credits. Staff recommended approval with 42 conditions; two drafting clarifications were added so building heights read “the lesser of the stated number of stories or number of feet.”

Council questions focused on parking, phasing and public‑access parking for Brookside Park and its amphitheater. The developer and consultants presented a shared‑parking study concluding peak parking demand would be 922 spaces on a weekday and 909 on a weekend; the site will provide about 975 shared spaces (excluding the townhome garages). The council asked for stronger conditions to ensure shared parking is not restricted later; staff agreed to add clarifying condition language. Council members also pressed the applicant on how to ensure the townhome phase is delivered and whether apartment certificate‑of‑occupancy timing would comply with the city’s housing policy (the city’s rental‑housing study recommends limiting annual rental entitlement to meet a target owner‑occupancy ratio). Staff recommended allowing the 335 rental units but delaying certificates of occupancy for those units until 2027 or until certain retail and office conversion milestones are reached.

Council added two project‑specific conditions at the public hearing: ask the applicant to either (a) reduce and reconfigure the R‑7 townhome parking area to create a continuous circulation connection to Brookside Parkway, or (b) obtain, if feasible, an additional curb cut in coordination with neighboring property owners and state/local approvals; and require a total of 15 street parking spaces to serve the townhome area with placement to be determined by the applicant and staff. Council also asked for better visitor parking for the townhome cluster. The developer said it would adjust plans to provide additional guest parking in the townhome area.

On housing, staff and the applicant described the project’s target renters (primarily young professionals and empty‑nesters) and noted the rental building is not designed as student housing. Planning staff provided the city’s school‑impact calculation showing an estimated 11 to 166 additional students across three schools if all proposed residential units produced the upper bound of expected student yields; the work included standard county school impact methodology.

The project will be built in phases with the rental/retail/office components in phase 1 and the townhomes in phase 2; staff and the applicant agreed on conditions tying rental CO issuance to delivery of street‑level office conversion and substantial progress on the retail village. Council also required clearer language that shared parking facilities remain available to all users and cannot be privately restricted by subsequent property owners.

The council approved the project 7‑0 with the additional clarifying language and the two new conditions described above. Staff will finalize the conditions and the applicant will return to city review boards for design approvals and building permits.

Why it matters

- Scale: The redevelopment repurposes underused office park land for mixed use next to Brookside Park and Georgia State’s Alpharetta presence, including a proposed Big Creek Greenway connection the developer will help construct.
- Parking/transportation: council accepted a modest shared‑parking reduction supported by a parking study but required guarantees that shared parking remain available to the public and project uses.
- Housing balance: staff tied rental certificates of occupancy to a 2027 timing window and to project milestones so the city’s rental‑unit trajectory remains aligned with housing‑policy goals.

Speakers quoted or cited in this article are those who spoke on the Brookside redevelopment at the April 28 meeting and are listed in the article’s speakers field below.","The council unanimously approved Portman Holdings’ Brookside mixed‑use redevelopment — 335 rental units, 75 for‑sale townhomes, retail and office conversion — subject to 42 staff conditions and additional amendments requiring clarified building‑height phrasing, a parking/turnaround solution and extra townhome street parking.",{"_33":110,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":111,"_41":112,"_43":113,"_45":114,"_47":115,"_49":116,"_51":117,"_53":118,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":119,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":120,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":56,"_73":56},6253115,"Alpharetta council delays decision on Charlotte Drive curb-and-gutter removal after drainage, maintenance concerns",313,530000,843000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3183022-4be585813ff599a324021641191789df&start=530&end=843","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3183022-4be585813ff599a324021641191789df/thumbnail_530000.jpg","/articles/6253115/Alpharetta/Fulton-County/Georgia/Alpharetta-council-delays-decision-on-Charlotte-Drive-curb-and-gutter-removal-after-drainage-maintenance-concerns","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6253115-479a2f23263ffaf41491e9b36211b869/orig.mp4?Expires=1770394323&Signature=duMrGvvK61DLZ1AX9WqwdZXTIhvLtakW8X3SmR4iyCNb33PCYzzGdrXKDG0bYGq2vFegasbxpkkaNmQyT3UYH~i4tBA9VkZ7v2l5L1bR6wThHJusI8zSBr~Myepg1vkuSDuWMu7Zb5uwuXTXJ7EBZQXcHpWgbpNy~s782o38qv~4lLto--cSY1motsGEATF9-h~1uGIL5KRkaZXLXS2bQV9ZE6RVO1J8qK4M6Y7tpP5Uo1FL~g39tVj417gnFCFt9Eyg1useIbYH9lYo6Jk1RKd8mHUH4ypf03Z-ITkpNP4n1mnbI5wn5n~t1DVn4MBjVSu1TSIIhTwwZDoMJKH8HQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Alpharetta City Council on April 28 deferred a developer’s request to remove a curb-and-gutter requirement along Charlotte Drive and approved a separate motion to shorten the waiting period for a zoning rehearing.

City staff had presented two linked requests from DRB Group: a variance to reduce the UDC waiting period for council consideration from 12 months to 6 months, and a change of condition to remove condition No. 7 that currently requires curb and gutter along the property frontage for a proposed 41‑lot, single‑family subdivision on about 36.78 acres at 12265 Charlotte Drive. Director Cook told council staff recommended approval of the 6‑month reduction and supported the change of condition subject to added drainage and sidewalk conditions.

The change‑of‑condition request drew extensive public comment and council questions about stormwater, pedestrian safety and long‑term maintenance. Several residents said they worry about increased runoff and ponding if curb and gutter are removed. “My only concern with this application is the stormwater runoff entering into our neighborhood and creating problems,” said a Preserve on Charlotte Drive homeowner during public comment. Another resident opposed removal because she said the curb had provided a buffer for pedestrians and that many people walk the corridor to nearby parks.

The applicant, represented by Cameron Heath and civil engineer Christopher (last name in transcript), said the proposed design will meet the city’s stormwater rules and that “keeping the water as close to the grass as possible is actually better to prevent gutter spreading and water ponding into the road.” The developer also offered to construct an off‑site sidewalk connection to the Rucker Road roundabout and to allow impact‑fee credits for that work.

Public Works and the city stormwater engineer recommended that, if the curb requirement were removed, a drainage system be designed to address runoff, and they asked that responsibility for ongoing maintenance be clarified. Director Cook said staff proposed adding a new condition requiring an off‑site sidewalk connection and that “the streetscape design shall include an appropriate drainage system.” Council members pressed whether the city could place long‑term maintenance obligations for a public right of way on a future homeowners association; the city attorney said enforceability against successors in interest would need further review.

After discussion, Councilman Will moved to defer the change‑of‑condition request to give the applicant and staff more time to supply a drainage design and to let the city attorney examine successor‑liability questions; Councilman Dorito seconded. The council approved the deferral 5–1. Earlier in the hearing, council approved the variance shortening the waiting period from 12 to 6 months; that motion passed unanimously.

The council did not adopt a final condition placing maintenance responsibility on the HOA at the April 28 meeting; Director Cook said staff could draft language to clarify maintenance expectations but the city attorney flagged enforceability questions that require more legal review. The council will revisit the Charlotte Drive change‑of‑condition after staff and the applicant provide the additional drainage plans and any clarified legal language requested by the city attorney.

Details and context

- Project: proposed 41‑lot, for‑sale single‑family subdivision on ~36.78 acres at the northeast corner of Charlotte Drive and Rucker Road (rezoned Oct. 21, 2024).
- Actions at the April 28 meeting: council unanimously approved a variance reducing the waiting period for reconsideration from 12 to 6 months; the council then deferred the change‑of‑condition request (to remove curb and gutter) by a vote of 5–1.
- Staff recommendation: approve the waiting‑period variance and approve change of condition with a revised condition that would remove the curb/gutter requirement but add an off‑site sidewalk connection and require an appropriate drainage system.
- Public concerns: resident reports of existing backyard ponding and a previously high water table in spots; requests for stormwater studies and assurance that runoff will not be diverted into neighbors’ properties; pedestrian safety concerns.
- Developer responses: proposed drainage inlets/pipe system and maintenance plans, and a willingness to address design and to work with public works; applicant said the long‑term stormwater management “has to be the same or better” than predevelopment.
- Outstanding legal point: city attorney advised more study of whether requiring HOA maintenance for drainage features in public right of way is enforceable against future property owners.

What’s next

Council deferred a final decision so staff can review a drainage design that does not assume curb and gutter and the city attorney can analyze the enforceability of any maintenance requirement; the council set a new hearing date when that material is available.

Speakers quoted or cited in this article are those who spoke on the Charlotte Drive items at the April 28 meeting and are listed in the article’s speakers field below.","The City Council deferred action on a developer’s request to remove curb and gutter along Charlotte Drive and to shorten a required waiting period, citing outstanding stormwater design questions and liability concerns about requiring homeowners to maintain drainage in public right of way.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Council reviews draft FY2026 priorities; staff seeks feedback ahead of a future vote

Council authorizes eminent domain payment for small right‑of‑way in ******* Street corridor project; resident questions appraisal

Council designates John C. Weatherford House as historic, moving it from contributing to designated inventory

Council approves Portman Brookside mixed‑use plan with conditions after multi‑hour review

Alpharetta council delays decision on Charlotte Drive curb-and-gutter removal after drainage, maintenance concerns