Brian Vanderhoff's North Fulton Real Estate Blog

The new, 321,000-square-foot Johns Creek High School was on full display June 20, when the community got its first look at the facility during an open house attended by hundreds of students and parents.

Johns Creek Mayor Pro Tem Bev Miller and Council Member Dan McCabe joined school officials, State Rep. Mark Burkhalter and Fulton County Commissioner Lynne Riley for the school's official ribbon cutting.

The 40-acre campus at 5575 State Bridge Road includes a 2-story facility with 96 classrooms/labs, 4,000-seat football stadium, 1,800-seat gymnasium, sports fields and tiered courtyard. There is also a greenway path and footbridge, bordering the campus and connecting to the planned Johns Creek Greenway.

Faculty and administration will welcome 1,100 students (ninth-12th grade), when school returns Aug. 10.

Labels: bev miller, johns creek high school, New High School

The Fulton County Board of Education is reviewing its planned construction projects in light of updated enrollment figures and declining SPLOST revenues. One of the projects that directly impacts neighborhoods zoned for Milton High School is the construction of the new high school at the corner of Bethany and Cogburn Roads, originally scheduled to open in 2013/2014. A vote by the BOE to delay construction of the new high school could result in overcrowding at Milton. According to statistics provided it would place it among the ranks of "mega-schools" with approximately 2,823 students (873 over capacity of 1,950) by the year 2013 / 2014.

Many Milton residents are asking that the current construction schedule remain intact because of the overcrowding issues that would result at Milton High School if the schedule were delayed. Community input on this issue is important. Emails noting your opinions will provide valuable input to this process.

The Board of Education meets Thursday, March 19, 2009, to prioritize projects.

Contact information for the BOE members:

Julia C. Bernath bernath@fultonschools.org
Linda P. Bryant bryantlp@fultonschools.org
Gail J. Dean deang@fultonschools.org
Catherine E. Maddox maddoxc@fultonschools.org
Katie C. Reeves reevesk@fultonschools.org
Linda G. Schultz schultzl@fultonschools.org
Ashley Widener widenera@fultonschools.org

Fulton County Superintendent, Dr. Cindy Loe at loec@fultonschools.org

Labels: building schedule, city milton, fulton county board of education, milton, New High School

Depending on who you believe, the Fulton County School System moved its plans for a high school off Freemanville Road after community complaints from deep-pocketed neighbors, or because a preferred parcel - unavailable two years ago - suddenly became available.

Regardless of the version, the school system formally purchased a 64-acre parcel of land at southeast corner of Bethany Bend and Cogburn Road late last week, where it will build the new high school.

The 117-acre parcel it also owns on Freemanville Road, previously planned for the high school, will now house only a future middle school, with any unneeded acreage eventually sold off once final site plans are developed. The high school is scheduled to open in August 2012, followed by the middle school opening in August 2013.

The new high school site at Cogburn/Bethany sits directly across from Kings Ridge Christian School, and not far from St. Francis High School. Hopewell Middle School and Cogburn Elementary School are about a half-mile south of the the intersection at Cogburn and Windward Parkway.

The Bethany/Cogburn parcel was purchased from developer David Chatham for just under $20 million, according to sources, and is already in the early stages of development with considerable clearing and turn lanes already in place. Chatham had planned to develop the parcel for residential properties, but apparently had a change of heart likely due to the slump in the housing market.

Alpharetta School Board member Katie Reeves said the Chatham property was a top consideration when the board searched for property a few years back, but was not pursued for a number of reasons.
"When we purchased the property on Freemanville, the site at Bethany and Cogburn was considered," maintains Reeves. "At that point, given the economy of the moment, we did not have a willing seller. With the property being actively developed [at that time], it was thought not to be in the best interest of the system or its taxpayers to pursue that route."

That route would probably have included condemnation proceedings and other legal action to wrest away the property, whereas the Freemanville site had a willing seller.

Reeves said circumstances developed in the past six months to change the situation. The Freemanville parcel was purchased with the intent of placing a high school and middle school on the site, similar to the set-up for Milton High and Northwestern Middle. But after viewing site plans developed by the architect, it became apparent topography concerns limited usable land.

"In order to build our prototype middle school, we would have had to build a three-story high school, which was just unacceptable," said Reeves.

At about the same time, the Chatham property became available, providing the perfect solution. In addition, the budget for Fiscal Year 2009 included funding for land, allowing the board to buy the site without dipping into reserves. Reeves said it was a win-win for everyone – the community and the school system.

"The Bethany/Cogburn site allows for access from two different streets – a huge plus for a high school campus. It is also in close proximity to a major highway and central to our target search area.

"The fact that it is one of few sewered sites large enough to accommodate a high school campus is a plus as well," said Reeves.

It's proximity to Ga. 9 and Ga. 400, as well as its sewer access, all made it prime property for the school system.

Labels: bethany road, city of milton, cogburn road, Freemanville Road, New High School

Opponents of a planned high school in Milton are upset with the City Council because, they say, a resolution to the Fulton County School Board wasn't tough enough.

The City Council resolution on Monday called on the school board to consider the concerns of nearby residents who worry about the environmental impact of the school on nearby creeks and rivers. Residents have been especially vocal about the prospect of having a large septic tank to handle the school's waste and about the expected runoff from the school.

Some opponents made a presentation with an environmental engineer, and asked the City Council to intervene. The city has no authority over where schools are placed by the school board, which acts independently of municipalities.

The resolution fell short of condemning the selection of the 116-acre site. Instead, it asked the school board to consider working with the City of Milton to conduct additional tests, and to coordinate with regulatory agencies to ensure that the new high school is designed and built in a safe and environmentally sound way.

Lisa Cauley, chairwoman of a group called Protect Milton, felt the City Council wimped out.

"We feel the City Council should have insisted the school board find an alternative site, since our reports and studies conclude Chicken Creek cannot handle any additional bacterial load," Cauley said Friday.

"We are confused, disappointed, frustrated about their stance," she said. "We were expecting something teethier. For some reason, they watered it down."

Councilwoman Tina D'Aversa also had hoped for the resolution would be worded stronger, but she said the council concluded the city lacked the authority to make demands on a co-equal government. And she said there was some concern that a strident resolution might alienate the school board.

"There was concern that a stronger request would cause greater pushback from them," D'Aversa said. "We think that if they will review the environmental studies, they will reach the same conclusion on their own."

Labels: city of milton, fulton county school board, New High School, planned high school, protect milton

An unprecedented four maps have been drawn up showing proposed attendance lines for two high schools in North Fulton that will shift with the opening of the new high school in Johns Creek in August 2009.

In past redistricting, staff brought three proposals back to the community before settling on a final proposal. The complexity of setting zones in a densely populated area, along with many large subdivisions and neighborhood alliances, made a fourth map a necessity, noted school officials. This could make the process of getting down to one map a challenge for staff members

"We usually have three maps, but we wanted to get all the ideas and options out there [for community review]," noted Patrick Burke, chief facilities officer for Fulton Schools, during a community meeting last week.

At the May 5 meeting at Autrey Mill Middle School, more than 300 area residents turned out to see the first batch of proposed attendance lines for Chattahoochee, Northview and the new Johns Creek high school for the 2008-2009 school year.

The maps were drawn up following the comments received by residents at the first meeting in April. Burke said every comment and suggestion received was considered – taking up more than 11 pages of notes - although not every one was incorporated.

"We tried to use input we gathered, but as you can see we haven't met all the [suggestions]," said Burke, who has been the chief planner for Fulton Schools for a decade. "Staff has to balance all things."

During last week's meeting, residents again broke into small working groups to discuss the pros and cons of each of the four proposals.
Burke said the school system staff is now in the process of taking those new comments and suggestions as they work towards one map to be presented to the Fulton County Board of Education for final approval. The community will have a final chance to present comments to the staff at the third community meeting on May 20.

"After May 20, staff participation on the attendance lines will be done and [the map] will go to the school board for further action," explained Burke. "It's scheduled to be considered by the board in June, with final action in September."

That schedule gives the community the entire summer to lobby for further changes to the attendance lines, although historically, board members have made only minor modifications to the staff recommendations.

New attendance lines are only affecting Northview, Chattahoochee and the Johns Creek site in the current redistricting. The other high schools in North Fulton will undergo redistricting in three years when the high school on Freemanville Road in Milton opens in 2012.

"We are leaving some overcrowding in some area high schools in anticipation of 2012, when it will be addressed," said Burke, who said redistricting for the Freemanville high school will begin in the spring of 2011.

The new high school site in Johns Creek opens 2009 August on a 70-acre site at the corner of State Bridge Road and Medlock Bridge. Its location, just a few miles from Chattahoochee and Northview high schools, presents difficult decisions in setting the school boundaries.

In many instances school boundaries must be to the north and west of the school location to draw in students, as opposed to being at the center of the attendance zone.

In determining boundaries, staff works from a set of criteria established by the Fulton School Board. There are primary criteria for attendance lines, then secondary criteria if needed.

The main consideration is geographic proximity to the school. However, in the current circumstance, that would put fewer than 1,000 students at the new school, said Burke.

"We can't just send the closest kids to the [new high school]; we've got to go further north to make the numbers work."

So tough decisions must be made to maintain an attendance balance at the three schools.

For instance, sprawling St. Ives Country Club subdivision is zoned for the new school on two proposals, even though it borders Northview High along one entrance to the subdivision. This is the case at several neighborhoods, including subdivisions along Kimball Bridge Road and Parsons Road, meaning a vast number of kids may attend a high school that is actually further away from their closest high school.

The four proposed maps and the list of criteria are available at fultonschools.org/redistricting. Residents unable to attend either of the first two community meetings are encouraged to send their comments to Burke via e-mail.

Labels: fulton county schools, Johns Creek, New High School, Redistricting

The BHA has had a significant number of questions and concerns about the Fulton County Board of Education proposed site for the new High School on Freemanville Road and based on the information currently available the Board of Directors opposes the site for environmental reasons. We will continue to follow the new and upcoming facts. Additional updates are also available on the Protect Milton website.

Elevated Water Tank Update


Last week Councilmember D'Aversa sponsored Wayne Super, Milton resident, Hal Weideman, Civil Engineer and Alec Rickenbacker, Pritchard Mountain, LLC to the Council's work session for a factual presentation opposing Fulton County's desire to build an elevated water tower in the City of Milton. The Mayor and City Council agreed to vote on adopting a resolution opposing the elevated water tank: favoring either a booster-pump-only solution or designing the elevated water tank in conformance with the area aesthetics and overall land use plan for Milton.Public comment and Council vote on this matter will occur at the City Council meeting on Wednesday, February, 20th at 6PM. The City's action will have an impact on the Fulton County Board of Commissioners.Please attend the City Council meeting as a show of support for the Council's affirmative vote. You will also have two opportunities to make a public statement during this meeting if you wish. Regardless, your attendance will greatly matter and influence how the Council votes.

Sewer Plant in NE Cherokee


We face an issue that could forever change this area. A Sewer Plant is proposed in Cherokee County to provide sewer service to the Northeast Region of Cherokee County and areas of both Forsyth and Fulton Counties. Many of you participated in an earlier letter writing campaign which caused the Environmental Protection Division (EPD) to grant a public hearing in March. In a very short period of time Milton residents generated 145 letters. THANK YOU!!But our work is not finished. We must now generate thousands of letters asking for this plant to be denied. Please read the following which contains information you will need to fax, e-mail or mail your signed letters. Brief Description of the Permit ApplicationCherokee County Water and Sewerage Authority (CCWSA) has requested a permit from the Georgia Environmental Protection Division (EPD) to construct a $25 Million sewage treatment plant on Cokers Chapel Road, off E. Cherokee Drive. This plant would provide sewer service to the Northeast region of Cherokee County and potentially Forsyth and Fulton Counties. According to the Metro North Georgia Water Planning District Plan, this plant will also provide treatment for wastewater produced in the Etowah Basin portions of Forsyth and Fulton Counties to effect regionalization. They will pipe raw sewerage from both of these counties all over NE Cherokee County to be brought to the plant off E. Cherokee Drive. What happens in NE Cherokee County will have a direct impact on rural Milton.In addition to the risk of sewer is the risk of high density development that will bring more students to our schools, drive up traffic counts, increase storm water run-off and negatively impact our already impaired waterways within the COOSA basin. Do we have enough water for this explosive growth?This is a perfect example of where we need to be aware and involved in what happens at our borders to ensure this unique region maintains its rural character. Many in Milton and Cherokee County believe that the introduction of sewer in rural areas may be detrimental to the infrastructure and to our way of life and do not want it brought to our rural areas. You have a chance to help stop this plant from further polluting our water and becoming a springboard to unbridled growth, but only if you act by March 2, 2008. 1. Sign the letter and print your name and address. Please have all members of your family, 18 years of age or older, sign the letter available on the BHA website. We need to have all letters returned to CCRG by 3/2/08 they will deliver them to EPD at the public hearing.

Labels: Alpharetta, BHA, Fulton County, milton, New High School, North Fulton