Should the reasons you purchased your home be protected by those given power or should such be cast aside, forcing citizens to “accept change” unless, of course, you are an elected official or part of social circle? If you are of the “accept change” mindset, then one could assume that you are ok with zonings being changed as well so innocents can move on due to their reasons for purchase not being protected? Life is so short…
Often throughout this country, property owners will unite regarding a new proposal that could hinder their way of life in a negative way. As my parents always said, “you don’t buy a home, you purchase an area.” Case in point is why they bought our farm in 1978 = it was in the country offering all the reasons referenced earlier. To tour the area by air from that year and see what it was like, go to www.historicaireals.com and type in “13075 Bethany Road 30009.”
We referenced our “Right to Quiet Enjoyment” being violated and stolen by the Bullies earlier. (Again, a double standard and ignorance of State Law coming on that topic coming up…)
Reason #2 Property Was Purchased: “Safety” – *NOT PROTECTED*.
As a boy, I would bike up to Crabapple with siblings and friends to purchase a Coke and candy bar. We went everywhere as there was only about 3,500 people in all of Alpharetta, Johns Creek, and what is now the “City” of Milton. The innocence of true country life is priceless. Today, that is but a memory.
Broken beer / liquor bottles, skoal cans, cigarette butts, and tire trenching’s are regular occurrences in our pastures and along our frontage nowadays.
For any open road neighborhood (O.R.N.) resident, all take their lives into their hands by simply picking up the litter and utilizing their driveway. Three people have been killed in front of my parents’ place alone in recent years with countless wrecks. I now use my vehicle as a barricade if I choose to check my mailbox. Speeding and roadside trash are constant and daily.
By chance, a speeding car was caught on tape leaving the roadway just a few houses north of me. If any member of the family that owned the property next to where the car landed where checking their mail at the time, they would have been killed. Later, I would find out not one member of the infamous “City” of Milton Council reached out to that neighbor or others regarding that incident. NOT ONE.
One recent Fall, an officer would share that he arrested one teenager coming from Murder High School going 98mph. Curious, how many of you would like your kids to check mail under the same circumstances?
Speaking of elected officials who benefited from the “City” of Milton system, here is a quick rundown.
First, former Milton Council Member Joe Longoria. His seat ended in January of 2022 after 12 years. Controversy was constant prior to his election regarding the gating and abandonment of Club Creek Drive; a city owned taxpayer funded road.
Those who lived in Crooked Creek Subdivision, including Mr. Longoria, complained constantly about speeding and traffic on this road which went through said development. Many open road neighborhood residents can relate.
However, no one had ever been killed on this throughfare.
I was on the first committee for the comprehensive land use plan and constant advocacy was that all roads be interconnective for emergencies and ease of traffic flow. Thus, the majority were against any type of privatization. Well, upon his election and a few months down the road, magic would transpire again as Club Creek Drive would become abandoned, privatized, and gated. Taxpayers who covered maintenance on this road prior received no refunds. No doubt Bethany Road is next on the list. More on Council Member Longoria later…
I have never met Council Member Carol Cookerly in person. I did request that she come for a visit on our property to discuss various topics inviting her husband also. She refused only willing to meet at “City” Hall in Crabapple. The Cookerly’s own a horse farm on Providence Road right at the Bethany / Providence intersection.
The Green Space Bond has been a good thing; anyone will tell you. There is a committee that considers which parcels to pursue. Funny, how one of the biggest green space bond purchases (over 80 acres) to date surround the majority of the Cookerly’s property. Convenient.
Many on the corner of Bethany and Mayfield asked the “City” to purchase 68-year-old English Farm behind us to preserve more land and history. Even though there was plenty of bond money left, the committee walked. Soon, you will see another beautiful farm destroyed for another cancerous subdivision.
Tell me again about “rural”. Tell me again about “historic”.
Cowart Road, another city owned taxpayer funded street, is blocked and has been for years. Former City Manager Chris Lagerbloom would later respond, “I wouldn’t worry too much about that road…” Word on the street is that Lagerbloom’s parents and State Representative Jan Jones are good friends. Mrs. Jones was also the driving force behind incorporating the area.
She lives on Brittle Road which ties right into 
Cowart Road within a stone’s throw – both gravel. It was also stated that the road was blocked due to bordering Summit Hill Elementary; insinuating it would be unsafe for children walking to school. Look around – how often do you see kids walking to school today?
What you do see are tennis moms a plenty backing up traffic onto main roads to drop their offspring. Evidently, school buses are for lessors. With that argument, however, then wouldn’t all roads be blocked near any school? Bottom line is quite simple – taxpayers pay for the maintenance and use of roads owned by the government they fund and should have full access to them.
And what about the infamous sign ordinance debate from a few years ago? Council Member Paul Moore was front and center advocating an HOA approach for those who never purchased in an HOA. Yet when he recently ran for his current council member seat, all over the infamous “City” his campaign signs were in violation of his own ordinance including one on former Council Member Laura Bentley’s property while she was in office. Adding to that, former Council Member Burt Hewitt violated the same sign ordinance while he was in office by having a campaign sign too close to right of way. There was a brief story about it on WSB-TV. These three were never citied or warned.
Who can forget the Montana’s Bar and Grill drama? A business that had operated in the same location for years was known for what bars do – music, booze, etc. Then, a subdivision is built right behind it. Guess what?!?!
Residents in the new subdivision would complain about the noise from said bar violating their “quiet enjoyment”. Council Members of the time took field trips over. Eventually, the owner would have to spend $80k in sound proofing equipment.
This is another example that shows that those given power in the infamous “City” of Milton refuse to acknowledge state law as Georgia is a “Buyer Beware” state.
Those within the “The Rural City of Milton” only apply certain laws depending on the particular demographic or individual. To be clear, all county and municipalities must abide by and adhere to State of Georgia Law. Funny how no council field trips were taken to properties exposed to constant noise pollution since The LIE arrived.
When the “City” assembled a bankrupt country club off of Dinsmore Road and then an estate on Freemanville Road via the greenspace bond, a bordering resident was extremely bothered. During a public meeting, Mayor Joe Lockwood asked the “City” Attorney if the “City” wanted to, could they sell some of the recently acquired land to the bordering property owner… Be advised, the citizen in question might have been referenced earlier in this writing.
Regarding Mr. Lockwood, he and I knocked doors together in 2005. He was running for mayor while I was focused on a council seat. His common pitch was “Even though I am a developer, I won’t build in Milton…” With his folksy Kentucky style, the line worked well, getting him elected as the first Mayor of Milton. When the housing crash of 2008 hit, many started seeing his construction signs within city borders…Crabapple and Webb Road to name two.
I spoke to him by phone about violating his campaign promise and he replied, “I have to do what is best for me and my family…” Understood.
However, what about the same ideology for others wanting to protect their family’s assets, lifestyle, and future as well?
Around 2009 / 2010, T Mobile Cell phone company had various sites within “City” limits on their radar for cell phone towers. Our property, due to its’ location and the high ridge in back, was site #4. Having a cell tower on our property would have generated roughly $3500.00 per month. Mom desperately needed these monies as she wanted to finally restore the home she dearly loved.
The “City” of Milton as well as the hypocritical “Milton Mob” arrived with pitchfork and fire stating how they didn’t want to see cell towers on the 
horizon, how it affected subdivision values, etc.
Curious, none of those in this horde were concerned about how the subdivision product they purchased, which destroyed innocent farmland, affected the way of life for long standing residents. The “City” blocked T-Mobile, and with that various court cases ensued.
Eventually, the landowners won. John Bogino, owner of Seven Gables Farm on Hopewell, was one of them. His case took four years and went all the way to the Supreme Court before he could claim victory.
After which, I reached out to our T-Mobile contact expressing our willingness to move forward. He told me that they had since made other plans. So do the math…four years equals 48 months. 48 x $3500 = $168k. What dreams Mom could have made a reality with her beloved home with such funds. That goal would never become reality.
Today, I still find design and decorating articles cut out from “Southern Living” and “Home & Garden” in various furniture drawers with notes written – ideas that would never graduate to reality. Those given power within the “City” of Milton are hypocritical dream killers.
And for those lacking simple economic common sense, taxes continue to go up on remaining landowners. They never go down. Keeping vanishing properties “rural” requires cash and lots of it. Monies must be generated somehow.