City Council Discusses Road Closures, New Businesses

Plans to abandon a part of Bell Street as part of the School Street development project were put on hold after a citizen requested additional access to the street during Thursday's City of Acworth Mayor and Board of Aldermen meeting.

Walter Blaylock, of 4398 Northside Dr., would lose vehicle access to his backyard if the proposed closures were enacted. Assistant City Manager Brandon Douglas and the rest of the Board of Aldermen decided to delay approval of the road closure, which would have occurred during the meeting, and consult with Blaylock to address the issue. As a result, the new closures will be advertised for a period of four weeks before they are voted on during another city council meeting. The project is intended to turn parts of Bell Street and School Street into pedestrian walkways.

This discussion was one of five public hearings held before the regular meeting of the Mayor and Board of Aldermen. These discussions would have taken place at a work session held on Monday, but city government was closed in observance of the Fourth of July.

A further public hearing entailed a property owner asking for a variance in city codes to allow a business to be constructed on a constricted plot of land. Kirk Buttle wishes to subdivide a 2+ acre piece of property he owns and allow the construction of a Christian Brothers Automotive shop on a plot that is less than 150 feet wide, violating city codes. Additionally, Buttle wishes to receive a variance that will allow the shop to operate next to a public park. The new tenant has also agreed to plant a landscape buffer that will obscure the view of the shop from the park.

Additionally, a clerical error in zoning that has implications in taxation was addressed. A family that owns four lots between Main and Grogan streets recently discovered that three of the four lots are incorrectly zoned commercial when they should be residential. Although the family does not intend to build on the lots, the taxes are higher than they should be. City staff combed through archives and found no evidence of the properties ever being zoned commercial.

Douglas was again in the spotlight when he explained the city's comprehensive plan and short term work program. Each municipality in Georgia is required to complete a comprehensive plan in order to be a qualified local government. This allows municipalities to collect impact fees and receive state grants. The short term work program is crafted every five years and municipalities must advise the state yearly on any major changes to it. The modified work program will be sent to the state as a result of Thursday's vote.

Chief Michael Wilkie was on hand to show the city council and the assembled citizens the newest honor bestowed on the department. The FBI National Academy's Georgia Chapter awarded Acworth's men in blue with the Phyllis Goodwin award, recognizing their support of the state's FBI Academy chapter and their dedication to the community.

The department's heavy involvement with the Horizon Field project and their ongoing were large factors in the awards process.

“I'm quite proud of the men and women of the department,” Wilkie said. “This award recognizes everyone.”

Additional items from Thursday's meeting were as follows:

• Business owner Brandon V. Brooks applied for and was granted an alcohol license for Creekside Tavern, located at 3150 Cobb Pkwy.

• The consent agenda, save item L, was passed almost unanimously. Alderman Tim Richardson voted against item C, which appointed alderman Tim Houston to serve as Acworth's voting delegate to the Municipal Electric Authority of Georgia’s Election Committee, with Alderman Bob Weatherford serving as the alternate.