HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes - MGG - 07-10-201411 TO �T ORIGINAL
OWS MILTON GROWS GREEN COMMITTEE
f BEEN JULY 10, 2014 MINUTES [ACCEPTED]
Date: July 10, 2014, 6:30 to 8:10 PM
Place: Executive Conference Room, Milton City Hall, 13000 Deerfield Parkway, Milton GA 30004
Attendees: Jack Lindon, Francia Lindon, Cindy Eade, Jennifer Griffiths, Julie Zahner Bailey, Julie
Pinckney, Margaret Lamb, Gail Gill and Lynna Lee.
I. Agenda: It was posted on the City's web site.
II. Minutes: March, April and May approved.
III. Updates and New Business:
Adopt -A -Road and Adopt -A -Stream: Jennifer Griffiths announced a new reporting program
for both programs. She explained the new Setmore website she has set up for us
(miltongaadopt.setmore.com) that will streamline our reservation process for supplies for A -A-
R and A-A-S supplies. It also will allow people to "write reviews" about the event, number of
bags and volunteers for A-A-R, and volunteers for A-A-S (they also input information into the
State of GA EPD website. We can put the link on the City's website. Julie Pinckney reported
that the City has funded another $1500 for A-A-R replacement signs, which will allow us to
order 15 sets. Julie will confirm which active groups will get new signs.
Milton's Conservation Effort: Laurel Florio introduced herself and said she was brought on by
the City in April to provide direction to the City's conservation planning effort. Tom Daniels,
Professor at U of PA has been hired to do a Green Print utilizing the already existing City's
Comprehensive Land Use Plan, Milton Trails Plan, and the Planning Dept. Land Use
Documents. A Green Print is a very important component of the conservation initiative. There
will be a public meeting with Tom at the end of July to provide input. Laurel will get Cindy the
date so MGG can be present. Tom will be spending time meeting landowners. Preserve Rural
Milton has been helpful in talking to landowners about their options such as tax incentives, etc.
to conserve land. Laurel has also spoken to landowners, developers and realtors. Jennifer
Griffiths asked, "What does good conservation look like?" and "What is our vision for Milton
10 years from now?" Laurel responded that is a question that takes a lot of cooperation between
the City and the Community (public) and believes Torn will address this. Laurel is also talking
to land trusts, researching the changes made to the Farm Bill that may have an impact on our
landowners; equestrian farms have to be in the business of breeding horses to qualify for
conservation incentives in the Farm bill, as it currently stands. Julie Zahner Bailey questioned
how Laurel is getting the word out to the community. Laurel said she has started with a blog to
educate people (found on front page of City website). Lynna Lee mentioned that her property is
13 acres, some on floodplain and wondered if there were any reductions in taxes available if
part of her land was put into a conservation easement.
Laurel mentioned one of the options for conserving land is a "conservation subdivision."
Typically, 40 % of land is conserved as greenspace. Net number of lots ideally would be the
same as allowed under current zoning. Conservation has to be voluntary. There will always be
landowners that need to sell and we can't stop that, but we need a balance. Jack mentioned that
he senses the City is really behind this conservation effort, but never really knows for sure so if
we can have a huge turnout for Tom's meeting, it will send a positive signal to the City of the
interest from the community.
Milton Grows Green Committee Meeting Minutes, July 10, 2014 [ACCEPTED]
ALL MILTON GROWS GREEN DocumENI5 ARE PR=D ON RECYCLED PAPER WIIf f AT LEAST 35% POST - CONSUMER CONTENT.
Julie Zahner Bailey said she has never come across a good conservation subdivision ordinance
in Georgia. If not done properly, unintended consequences occur. So we have to address what
are the risks? "Cherokee County is a perfect example of what not to do." Milton's AG1 zoning
allows for 1 acre per home but only on buildable land which in many cases, due to soil
percolation (septic), does not always equate to 1 home per acre. Julie cares very much about
conservation, and at face value, a conservation subdivision looks great. But in Cherokee County
developers are getting more density because they can use the acreage of non -buildable land in
their plan and therefore, it actually increases density. She believes you need to have a
subdivision plan drawn up first to establish what the number of homes a developer would
legitimately be able to build.
Jack mentioned Serenbe as a good example of a good conservation subdivision in Georgia. Julie
said it's easy when you only have 2 landowners to accomplish this. Julie Pinckney asked for a
definition of a conservation subdivision, and Francia responded that it is a subdivision where
the homes are clustered together and the green space conserved around the homes. She used
France as an example. When leaving France, flying over countryside, you get a good picture of
the topography and how land has been developed. There are villages surrounded by lots of
working farms and green space. Contrast this to Atlanta. Looking down while flying into
Atlanta, it's just subdivision after subdivision and urban sprawl. The difference is dramatic
when viewed from above.
Laurel said the whole conservation movement has to be a cooperative effort. In Athens, GA
they went from one acre to 10-acre minimums so conservation subdivisions are not that
valuable. Julie ZB said she tried to get this before the City was formed. People cried property
rights. Laurel said people do have property rights, and in many cases, it is a matter of education
and communication because in conserving your property, it can end up being for the collective
good, you will be giving up something. But if leaving a legacy to your children or the
community is perceived as a positive for property owners, it could be a win -win situation.
Often, these discussions have to be made on an individual basis and can't be addressed on just
a blog. Signs from Preserve Rural Milton help.
Laurel said everyone coming to the end of July meeting with Tom will have an opportunity to
fill out a form so that their opinion can be heard, in case there are too many people that want to
talk. Cindy will send an email out to everyone about the meeting once time and date have been
set. Julie ZB suggested breaking up into small breakouts to give people the chance to comment
that might not want to do so, in a large group. Laurel said Tom has done many of these kinds of
meetings but she will pass on that suggestion. Margaret suggested that Tom be forewarned that
the community is concerned about the traffic and additional kids in schools and those
challenges may come up at the meeting. Francia said she read an article claiming that
development never really pays for itself in terms of infrastructure costs. People need to know
that and what the actual costs are. What indirect costs for development do the taxpayers pick
up? This might be another pro for conservation. Green infrastructure may be far less costly.
Impact fees are a way to partially fund conservation. Julie Zahner Bailey said she tried to get
impact fees early in the City. Try to tie impact fees to the actual costs to the City and taxpayers.
Jack asked whether MGG could have an individual meeting with Tom. Cindy suggested MGG
writing Tom and expressing our views if we don't have a private meeting opportunity.
Evergreen Schools: Lynna won't be able to be Evergreen expert, as she is working full time.
Cindy mentioned that she met with two STEM coordinators, one for Milton schools, and they
are very supportive of the Evergreen Schools Program and will get us a meeting in front of the
curriculum support teachers. Lynna mentioned she hoped that we could get their support for a
school wide recycling program, instead of the individual and not efficient way it is being done
now.
Milton Grows Green Committee Meeting Minutes, July 10, 2014 [ACCEPTED]
MGG Structure Reorganization: Jack reported that a subcommittee has been working on
changes and are considering a 7-member board. Outlined the basic structure and there was a
discussion about the terms for officers. Julie Zahner Bailey said with as much as it took to get
MGG started and the passionate people involved, she cautioned about limiting the good
volunteers with term limits. Cindy said they can still be involved in a big way but it's important
to be grooming new leaders. Suggestion from Lynna that the Director of Education (which
involves the school work) needs to be either a 2-year term or the one-year term goes from June
to May instead of Jan. to Dec. Cindy suggested that those who are interested, come join in the
subcommittee working on the bylaws and iron out the details. Suggested lunch next week.
IV. Old Business
• Birmingham Park Rejuvenation: Jack mentioned that if MGG showed a real interest in
Birmingham Park, by helping to clean it up, restore the worn out areas, etc. maybe we could
have Earth Day there again. Cindy explained that there are some ownership issues at the park
and since it's not an improved park (ADA accessible) it will not be used for Earth Day in the
foreseeable future.
• Bell Memorial Park: Jack reported that Mark Law found a landscaping company to dig up the
beautiful Japanese maple at Bell Memorial to try and save it for replanting.
• Septic System Education Meeting: Looking at possibly putting this together for the community
in September with Better Together, along with Cleanscapes (a program from UGA).
Meeting Adjourned at 8.10 PM
ATTEST:
Francia Lindon, Secretary
Milton Grows Green Committee Meeting Minutes, July 10, 20I4 [ACCEPTED] 3