City Springs budget increase approved

A $2.8 million budget increase and a 56-day extension for the completion of certain work at the City Springs downtown redevelopment were approved recently by the Sandy Springs City Council.

The Council, meeting as the Public Facilities Authority, approved the increase in Holder Construction Group LLC’s guaranteed maximum price for the project to $191.8 million. The change order covers such additions as a park fountain, power and water enhancements and acoustical upgrades to the performing arts center.

The development’s overall budget does not change and remains $222.7 million, officials said. The work extension formalizes a request made in December; the planned opening of the project remains the summer of 2018.

City Springs will include a new city hall, 1,100-seat performing arts center, office space for city departments and private-sector tenants, retail, restaurants, luxury apartments and new park space.

Information: http://citysprings. com/ ordinance creating the panel on first presentation, was to discuss it at a work session recently and was expected to be voted on it March 20, a city spokeswoman said.

According to the ordinance, board members would be selected by the Council. They would have to be at least 21 years of age, residents of Milton and subject to the city’s ethics code. The board would select its own officers, adopt its own bylaws and be subject to the Georgia Open Meetings Act.

Initially, half of its members would serve four-year terms and half, three-year terms. After the initial term, all board members would be appointed or reappointed to four-year terms.

Meeting set today on comprehensive plan

North Forsyth County residents will get another chance to comment on Foster Forsyth, the county’s 20-year-ahead comprehensive land use planning document that’s undergoing revisions prior to final OK.

District 4 Commissioner Cindy Jones Mills said she put today’s session together because she had concerns about some suggested changes affecting the district and the process by which they were arrived at. She said residents will have a chance to look at the overall plan as it relates to District 4.

Commissioners made a number of potential changes plan at their March 2 meeting, including the way the county is divvied up into a number of character areas and development nodes. Those changes are to be discussed at an April 13 public hearing after which the document will be sent to the Georgia Department of Community Affairs for its review.

The informal open house is set for 4-7 p.m. today at the Coal Mountain Community Building, 3560 Settingdown Road. A number of county staffers will also attend.