J u n e 1 6 , 2 0 2 2 | 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 7 , N o . 2 4
Crabapple expands event sites By CHAMIAN CRUZ chamian@appenmedia.com MILTON, Ga. — There’s a new place for events in downtown Crabapple. The Milton City Council approved a use permit June 6 for an indoor auditorium at 12630 Crabapple Road, Suite 340, with the condition that there be no more than 120 people and no amplified music on the adjacent outdoor patio. The space, owned by Orkin and Associates CEO Adam Orkin, consists of 2,895 square feet of interior space and 900 square feet of outdoor space on the third floor of the Crabapple Market mixed-use development. Orkin and Associates plans to lease out its rooftop to individuals or small groups for events such as business networking, off-site meetings and graduations. In February, the City Council approved a definition for an “Assembly Hall, Indoor Auditorium” and a requirement for anyone who wants to open one in the Crabapple or Deerfield districts to go through the multi-committee public hearing process. Orkin and Associates is the first to apply for this type of use permit. While the Planning Commission questioned whether there would be enough parking available before recommending approval, Zoning Manager Robyn MacDonald said there were 532 available parking spaces near the business, which was more than the 524
Milton OKs expansion of business group
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Homeowners group files ethics charges against city official By CHAMIAN CRUZ chamian@appenmedia.com
CHAMIAN CRUZ/APPEN MEDIA
Orkin and Associates at 12630 Crabapple Road, Suite 340 is now allowed to rent out its space as an indoor auditorium after the Milton City Council approved a use permit stipulating that there be no more than 120 people at one time and no amplified music on its adjacent outdoor patio. thought to be needed based on square footage and other tenants. Moving forward, events will be permitted in the space from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. Sunday through Thursday, and from 7 a.m. through 11 p.m. Friday and Saturday. Orkin said he expects most of the activity to occur during the day. He is expected to abide by noise and other regulations. Councilman Jan Jacobus moved to approve the use permit, which received a second from Councilwoman Andrea
North Fulton charity seeks food donations
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Verhoff. The measure passed unanimously, with Councilwoman Carol Cookerly absent. In other business at the June 6 meeting, Engineering Project Manager Robert Del-Ross said Milton has brought in $33.98 million, not including interest, through the first Transportation Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax approved in 2016. The .75 percent sales tax is used for transportation improvements such as
See PERMIT, Page 3
OPINION
Library honors past with historic wood
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MILTON, Ga. — The White Columns Homeowners Association has filed an ethics complaint against Milton City Councilman Paul Moore for casting a recent vote on a matter could be a conflict of interest. Moore denies the allegations and calls the charge an attempt at intimidation by the HOA that he, himself, belongs to. At its May 2 business meeting, the City Council voted to defer deciding whether to sign an agreement with White Columns so the HOA could recoup half of its purchase and installation costs for traffic calming devices in the neighborhood. HOA President Tony Palazzo said at the meeting White Columns has had an ongoing “speeding problem” and is actively taking steps to make the streets safer for children and residents. The 440-plus residence community is home to the White Columns Country Club, which has approximately 1,000 members and has reported problems with speeders. The
See ETHICS, Page 12