1.  Some major points were missed:

    *  Major reduction in new residential development in all character areas

    *  No new townhomes in any residential character area, only single family detached

    *  Updated Comp Plan will result in a 65% reduction in the number of housing units compared to the current comp plan.  (14,000 current and 5,000 proposed)

    *  Transitional areas in the current comp plan have been eliminated along with allowable mixed use in those character areas

    *  91% of the future land use map shows no changes to existing land uses.

  1.  Mixed use development will be decreased

    *  Mixed use development is currently allowable in all C-1 zoning districts.  The draft Comp Plan only allows for mixed use developments in a compressed area of Tech Park bounded by Medlock Bridge Road, Johns Creek Parkway and East Johns Crossing and some existing but not all retail shopping centers where walkability is desirable.  This is a significant decrease in the amount of land where Mixed Use would be considered.  Furthermore, the mixed use category has been further limited in the updated Comp Plan.

  1.  Low Intensity Mixed Use –

• *^ = Page 212 Comp plan draft

    *  A small area at Bell Road and McGinnis Ferry are currently designated in the 2008 comp plan for mixed use.  No change in this Comp Plan update except it would be recommended for the lowest intensity mixed use.

• • Please view the following pages and note the change for mixed use on the west side of Bell Rd at MGF.
    

• * = Pages 14 & 15 Comp plan draft

  1.  High Intensity Mixed Use –

    *  Barnwell and Holcolmb Bridge is limited to the shopping center that fronts Holcomb Bridge Road and borders the City of Roswell.

    *  Only the much smaller core area of Tech Park is recommended for high intensity mixed use, not the whole area.  The area recommended in Tech Park bounded by Medlock Bridge Road and JC Parkway south of East Johns Crossing

    *  The High Intensity Mixed Use density is lower than what is currently permitted in the Comp Plan for the Medlock Bridge Corridor Area which does not cap density, just height.  The 16 units per acre recommendation is a reduction from what is currently built in the area and the height restriction is being recommended to go down from 8 currently allowed to 5 stories.  Furthermore, the total land area allowed to be in High Intensity Mixed Use is considerably smaller than the Medlock Bridge Corridor Area.

  1.  City’s current residential density is 1.6 units to the acre.  The comp plan update will lessen the rate of growth compared to what would be allowed using the current Comp Plan.  We have a very low residential density in Johns Creek compared to our neighbors, which is desirable and will not fundamentally change via this comp plan except to lower the rate of growth from our current path.

Furthermore, residential density and commercial development are not the only factors that lead to increased traffic.  Single entrance subdivisions and pass through traffic also contribute to traffic congestion.  While you can argue that even one additional square foot of development or 1 unit of housing will exacerbate traffic, it is important to note that since the City’s incorporation, as shown below most of the existing density related to non-single family housing was created in the 1990s and early 2000s prior to the city’s incorporation.  Assisted Living/Senior restricted housing has no impact on schools and have minimal impact on traffic compared to other uses.  The growth in the number of apartment units is less than 1% per year and only included one apartment development.  Townhomes units have increased by less than 1% per year.  Townhomes will no longer be allowed under the updated Comp Plan.

  1.  Dividing and Diminishing Shakerag

    *  The current Comp Plan allows for up to 3 dwelling units per acre for the Shakerag Character Area. The proposed Shakerag area reduces development to no more than 1 unit per acre.  Some of the existing area in Shakerag was cut out and moved to McGinnis Ferry.  It is true that those parcels would remain in the up to 3 units per acre category.  If they were retained in the Shakerag area they would be lowered to the one unit per acre standard.  Staff has received comments that keeping the area North of Bell Road in Shakerag and not moving it to McGinnis would be desirable.  We are reviewing that recommendation with the CAC and staff is also reviewing that specific input received

  1.  Proposed new road along cemetery – inappropriately located

    *  There is no mixed-use development proposed at State Bridge and Medlock Bridge Road.

    *  The private drive was sketched as a concept that has not been reviewed by Mayor and Council.  The idea was to use the existing drive as a new local public street to try to alleviate traffic congestion.  The road (as sketched) would be no closer to the cemetery than the current private drive.

  1.  Roundabouts

    *  The comp plan suggests areas where a roundabout should be studied further if it would help move traffic and improve safety.  The Comp Plan update is not recommending that the roundabouts be installed.  It is recommended that they be studied further.

  1.  Public comment

    *  We are not ending public comment on September 15th.  We will accept and consider all comments up to the point that the plan is approved by Mayor and Council.  The citizens of Johns Creek will continue to have ample opportunity to review the draft plan and provide feedback. The draft plan and all of the information regarding the plan and the planning process are available at www.connectjohnscreek.com<http://www.connectjohnscreek.com/> and the draft plan has already been available for review since June 7, 2017.

    *  Additionally, a public hearing will be conducted and Council will weigh in on the draft and its future drafts prior to the draft being sent to the Atlanta Regional Commission (ARC) for their review.  This public hearing has not yet been scheduled.  The ARC’s review typically takes 90 days.  A final draft will then be issued for another review by the public before going before the Mayor and City Council for review and approval.  All of these phases will have public comment encouraged.

    *  The City is required by law to adopt an update to the Comprehensive Plan by November 2018.  We still have 14 and a half months until our deadline.

    *  There is no deadline for receiving public input and the City welcomes comments and suggestions at any time in any manner in which the public would like to present it to the City.

    *  We encouraged comments on the first draft by September 15th so that we could share these with the Citizens Advisory Committee and Mayor and Council and for considering these comments as staff updates the first draft into the 2nd draft which will be made available for public review and comment.

  1.  Additional thoughts:

    *  The five policy goals were not listed in your post.  These are the key drivers of the whole comp plan:

i. Creating a city-wide multi-modal sustainable transportation network that reduces traffic congestion, increases intra-city mobility, and includes complete streets, cart, bike  and pedestrian pathways that connect neighborhoods to schools, parks, shopping centers, and institutional destinations;

ii. Creating an identity for the city that guides future development while preserving its residential neighborhoods and exceptional quality of life;

iii. Expanding the city’s economic base to retain and attract high tech industries while protecting residential home values;

iv. Providing superior recreational and cultural activities throughout the city, and

v. Developing tools to implement the goals, including developing a Unified Development Code with architectural and site design standards.

    *  The link to the 1st draft of the comp plan is a <http://www.connectjohnscreek.com/> if your readers want to see the actual document and all of the other documents and items related to the comp plan.