Alpharetta strengthens powers for non-HOA neighborhoods

By SHELBY ISRAEL shelby@appenmedia.com

ALPHARETTA, Ga. — The Alpharetta City Council has amended the Unified Development Code to allow a neighborhood not represented by a homeowners association to set design and building standards if a majority of property owners approve.

City Council voted 5-0 March 6 to approve the amendments.

Councilmembers John Hipes and Brian Will were absent. The amendments allow the neighborhood to adopt design standards to prevent incompatible development.

For the city to consider a residential infill overlay district, 30 percent of the property owners must support it, and the percentage increases to 75 percent for the city to adopt the district. Councilman Jason Binder succeeded in a proposal to lower the 75 percent majority to twothirds, which passed unanimously.

Resident Michael Buchanan said he supported an overlay district