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Alpharetta-Roswell
Revue News
April 10, 2014 | northfulton.com | 73,500 circulation Revue & News, Johns Creek Herald, Milton Herald & Forsyth Herald combined | 50¢ | Volume 32, No. 15
Roswell sued over UDC zoning By JONATHAN COPSEY jonathan@northfulton.com
HATCHER HURD/Staff
Local library supporters protest shortened library hours in front of the Roswell Library. Some are library patrons who showed up at the library not knowing all North Fulton libraries are closed all day on Fridays.
Readers protest limited library hours
Ask why build new libraries when staff insufficient now? By HATCHER HURD hatcher@northfulton.com ROSWELL, Ga. – Budget cuts have caused the Atlanta-Fulton Public Library System to cut back library hours – even closing most branches all day on Fridays – much to the chagrin of library supporters who gathered April 4 at the Roswell Library to protest the cutback in library services. AFPLS has begun construction on two new libraries in North Fulton as part of the
$274 million library construction program with eight new libraries slated countywide. But that rings hollow to the dozen or so residents who staged a protest in front of the Roswell Library. The protesters chose last Friday to protest at Roswell Library to highlight the fact that it is now closed on what had been Roswell’s busiest day. The county slashed the AFPLS budget by $6 million Jan. 27 in a 5-2 vote, despite levying the first millage increase in
the county in nearly a quarter century. That has forced a 36 percent reduction in public service hours and scores of layoffs. The protesters say it is almost laughable to be building libraries while the doors of existing libraries are locked because of budget cuts. Susan Bergin is one of the protesters who came because she said she was angry. “Ever since I was a little
See PROTEST, Page 30
ROSWELL, Ga. – After more than a year and a half of work and numerous battles back and forth, Roswell passed its Unified Development Code (UDC) in February, which aimed to rewrite the city’s aging zoning codes. Now, the city is being sued over it. The lawsuit is being brought against the city by three residents. One of the plaintiffs, Eric Schumacher, was a former Roswell City Council candidate and was a
vocal critic of the UDC during his campaign. Former Councilwoman Lori Henry and another council candidate, Mike Nyden, round out the trio. The UDC is a single (“unified”) tool that aims to make contemporary development and zoning practices consistent and easily understood by administrators, developers and community members. However, a vocal portion of the city complained the changes were not only forced upon residents, but that resi-
See SUED, Page 6
Alpharetta mulls closing city equestrian center Last regional riding facility By JONATHAN COPSEY jonathan@northfulton.com ALPHARETTA, Ga. – The Wills Park Equestrian Center is a large, 300-stable facility that routinely hosts events throughout the year. However Alpharetta is considering tearing it down. The question of what to do with the facility has long been on the city’s mind. Alpharetta Recreation and Parks Director Mike Perry said it was originally built by Fulton County, on county land, decades ago. When Alpharetta annexed it, the facility became the city’s problem. “In the 1970s, when it was
In the 1970s, when it was built by Fulton County, it was paid for by the whole county...It is no longer funded regionally.” Mike Perry Alpharetta Recreation and Parks Director
built by Fulton County, it was paid for by the whole county,”
See CENTER, Page 33
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