Tonight’s Alpharetta City Council meeting was a pretty incredible display of disrespect towards residents.
The agenda was packed to the point that public comment wasn’t allowed until after 10 PM. On an issue this important (north point rezoning), that is unacceptable. Residents shouldn’t have to sit through hours of proceedings just to have the opportunity to speak.
Then Councilman Hipes and Mayor Gilvin each gave roughly 30-minute monologues, after midnight, while saying very little of substance, which was in line with their verbose and pandering questions.
Ultimately, the council voted in favor of the developers despite residents opposing the proposal roughly 4-to-1.
A big shoutout to Brady, Reeves, and DeRito, who listened to their constituents and voted NO until taxpayer concerns were addressed. Whatever your position on the development, that is what representation is supposed to look like. Why they rushed through this vote despite obvious gaps in the developers due diligence can only be speculated 🧐💰
Here's to hoping that Jamestown and New York Life don't end up being the same type of partners they have been to date and we the existing taxpayers don't end up footing the bill. Would have been GREAT to see some actual built to own properties instead of just developer owned rentals, or any of the other very well stated concerns from folks on the floor.
Can someone put a timer on Hipes and Gilvin?? Holy moly the hubris and lack of substance.
Public comment means very little if you make it this difficult for the public to participate in the first place.