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City Council sets priorities for 2022 By SYDNEY DANGREMOND sydney@appenmedia.com JOHNS CREEK, Ga. — City Council members are now on the same page entering the second month of the year. During a two-day retreat Jan. 28-29 council members decided on a slate of strategic priorities that will receive the most staff attention this year and will be funded in the fiscal year 2023 budget. The seven-member council focused on five items, including the Town Center, Legacy Center for the arts, transportation, Cauley Creek Park and economic development.
Center stage: Town Center
The prior City Council passed the Town Center Vision and Plan in October which identifies 192 acres in the Technology Park area for potential redevelopment into a live-work-play destination. Each of the newly elected council members and mayor campaigned on development of the Town Center, and it had already garnered support from the two sitting council members, Erin Elwood and Chris Coughlin. While the city only owns roughly 14% of the land identified in the plan, city staff has already put together preliminary plans for construction around Creekside Pond north, the body of water located directly behind City Hall. Council members saw options for development of the area at a Jan. 24 work session and are expected to continue discussions of land use at their Feb. 7
SYDNEY DANGREMOND/APPEN MEDIA
City Manager Ed Densmore oversees day one of the City Council’s strategic retreat at City Hall Jan. 28. Densmore told the Herald he hopes the retreat will become an annual event to help council and staff establish priorities. work session. Early plans show options for an outdoor amphitheater, boardwalk and greenspace improvements around the pond. Also on Jan. 24, council members voted unanimously to update the city’s Comprehensive Plan to include the Town Center Vision and Plan. The vote formally added the plan as a supplemental amendment to the city’s guiding docu-
ment for development and eliminated contradictions between the two plans in areas of land use Next steps for Town Center include engaging with local property owners, hosting events in the Town Center area to increase community buy-in, developing marketing materials and starting construction of a trail along Medlock Bridge Road to increase foot traffic in the area.
See RETREAT, Page 21
New department head plans to grow economy
► PAGE 5
Legislature ponders education initiatives
► PAGE 7
King’s Ridge scoops up property for expansion
► PAGE 17
Fulton County Commissioner will not seek fourth term FULTON COUNTY, Ga. — Board of Commissioners Vice Chairman Liz Hausmann announced Jan. 25 that she will not seek a fourth term on the Fulton County Commission. Hausmann’s term HAUSMANN in the District 1 seat ends on Dec. 31. “Thank you to the citizens of Fulton County for the confidence they have placed in me to serve the community that I hold dear,” Hausmann said. “I am proud of our record of improvements in Fulton during my tenure. It has been the honor and privilege of my life to serve North Fulton.” Commissioner Hausmann also served as a founding member of the Johns Creek City Council from 2006- 2010 and on the Fulton County Board of Education from 2002-2006.