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Alpharetta-Roswell
REVUE NEWS
June 25, 2015 | revueandnews.com | 75,000 circulation Revue & News, Johns Creek Herald, Milton Herald & Forsyth Herald combined | 50¢ | Volume 33, No. 26
FULTON PROPERTY ASSESSMENTS »
N.F. homeowners get sticker shock But commissioners promise to roll back 2015-16 millage By HATCHER HURD hatcher@appenmediagroup.com
The Vicker’s Village proposed mixed-use development at the corner of Canton Street and Woodstock Street in Roswell was approved June 23 with restrictions.
Roswell approves Vicker’s Village Large, mixed-use development faces limits By JONATHAN COPSEY jonathan@appenmediagroup.com ROSWELL Ga. – A proposed mixed-use development in the heart of Roswell’s Canton Street was approved June 23 by the City Council, albeit with restrictions. The Vicker’s Village development is proposed to sit at the corner of Canton Street and Woodstock Street, on the northern edge of the walkable
area of Roswell’s heart. A mixed-use development, Vicker’s was proposed to have 80 apartments and feature a mix of retail and restaurants on the ground floor. The retail, commercial and office space would be about 16,000 square feet in size. The development also features a large public plaza at the corner of the streets, making for a gathering place. The developer, King Lowry Ventures, asked the city for variances to allow a fourth story as well as allowing residential multi-family housing. A buffer variance was also requested.
“The development of Canton Street has caused a significant impact on property values,” said Don Rolader, attorney for the applicant. “[The existing property] is ugly and an eyesore. There are abandoned stores and houses.” Indeed, the development would replace the Vicker’s Automotive store as well as several old and sometimes derelict homes beside it. Despite this, nearby residents organized against the development, seeing it as too large for the corner and too intense for Canton Street. The
See VICKERS, Page 4
NORTH FULTON – Many North Fulton homeowners are expressing dismay if not outrage over their recent property assessments, but that may be somewhat eased by a promise from the Fulton County Commission to roll back the millage rate to revenue neutral. Nevertheless, county officials are preparing for around 40,000 assessment challenges. North Fulton property values are on the rise as the county and state begin put distance behind the effects of the recession on property values. Countywide the preliminary numbers are startling: • Residential property increase of 9.04 percent • Commercial property increase of 45.5 percent • Industrial property increase of 52.0 percent North Fulton residential properties can expect to be higher due to higher appreciation values for property in North Fulton. The good news for taxpayers is the Fulton County Board of Commissioners voted June 17 to advertise a revenue neutral millage rate of 10.911 mills. This is nearly 1 mill less (0.87 mills) than the 2014 millage rate of 11.781. The county set the advertised rate at its June 5 County
Commission meeting, but the commissioners left open the door to reduce the millage rate even further once the new budget is adELLIS opted. However, advertising the 10.911 means the millage rate is capped at that amount but it could be less if the commissioners so desire. Residents are assured of a 7 percent reduction in the millage rate of 11.781. How much of that reduction is eaten up by an increase in the valuation will depend on the individual revaluation. The amount of tax collected will be revenue neutral or a little less than collected in 2014. Every year, Fulton County is required to publicly advertise the maximum proposed millage rate for the current year. Commissioner Bob Ellis said it is important to note that this will not necessarily be the final millage rate that will be applied in 2015. At the meeting, the Board of Commissioners discussed reducing the millage rate further if the digest allows. It will also depend on the county's mid-year revenue and expense projections for the remainder of 2015, Ellis said. The budget should also include a 4 percent cost of living allowance (COLA) for the 5,200 lowest paid employees that will cost $8.8 million and a 2 percent raise for all employees.
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