[{"_1":2,"_110":-5,"_111":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,74,86,98],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":56,"_73":56},"mediaId",6311793,"mediaKeyId","2394107-0157023edbea5b91df6b29b69217361d","parentId",2394107,"title","Families, skating clubs urge Albpharetta to help keep The Cooler ice rink open amid owner’s plan to add pickleball","audioSeconds",1026,"startMs",9906000,"endMs",10932000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2394107-0157023edbea5b91df6b29b69217361d&start=9906&end=10932","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2394107-0157023edbea5b91df6b29b69217361d/thumbnail_9906000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6311793/Alpharetta/Fulton-County/Georgia/Families-skating-clubs-urge-Albpharetta-to-help-keep-The-Cooler-ice-rink-open-amid-owners-plan-to-add-pickleball","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6311793-16b4dd28eb1d023be825702090f399a5/orig.mp4?Expires=1771181511&Signature=adTLVMPIFsiHJTHU~cb~D129DrIJs6fV8kgIavyFm5MRN6FdaINQATa2uTb~Nxs0L5olWEUCjqD2-AFfCqcITQUWxEEeudx9OVL8rQqmCKeBUtFNQ78qT7Vg9FvQVxOYRjz99Ft8JzvlR3bFRmw9Pvsr18ZcmmgnFpWdUS9TT02bYVwnGdCBYsoZ3cXLtGwHH8fVh5K6p4kMZWSV5C09GU5OEqi-YgebtUk06O2SdfNJTR4N8v76~Zju1PKfN9Wsh1~qVXQ0ddEGUX6J0I08p9TPPb40TnPBRigqyNFi1avKGoqDQ9O0fG3xGPuCMhgU8pahxISzjbKwpY8QdB5kmg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","","date","2025-02-25T14:54:06Z","article","Scores of residents, parents and coaches addressed the Alpharetta City Council on Feb. 24 to urge city help preserving The Cooler, a privately owned ice rink in Alpharetta, after the rink’s owner signaled plans to convert ice sheets to pickleball courts.

Speakers — including parents, a long‑time coach and board members of Atlanta Fire Hockey Club and the Atlanta Figure Skating Club — recounted decades of local ice programming, regional competition and youth development tied to the rink. The comments stressed the rink’s role in youth hockey tryouts, figure‑skating training and developmental programs and raised concerns about the loss of the only Alpharetta ice facility.

\"For 28 years, the Cooler has served as the home to the Atlanta Fire Hockey Club,\" said Natasha Carey, a board member for Atlanta Fire Hockey Club, noting the program fields travel teams and has produced nationally competitive squads. Carey said an online petition opposing the conversion had gathered thousands of signatures in days and asked the city to explore options to preserve ice availability through August to cover tryouts and the upcoming season.

\"This is a time for expansion, not reduction of ice sports facilities,\" Carey said. Michelle Schreier, another parent, told council that public skate and youth programs fill the rink regularly and that closing one of Alpharetta’s two ice sheets would reduce regional ice availability by about 28 percent. Coach Joshua Schafer, who said he has coached at The Cooler for a decade, urged the council to consider facilitating a temporary rink at Union Hill or other municipal options and said youth hockey generates hotel and tournament revenue for the city.

Council members said they had received many emails and social‑media messages on the subject and expressed sympathy for the ice community but said city authority is limited because the rink is privately owned. Mayor noted the council’s interest and asked skating‑community representatives to meet with city staff and the city administrator to discuss realistic options and possible sites. The mayor suggested staff follow up with the developer/owner and the community to explore feasible interim or long‑term solutions.

No action was taken at the hearing; speakers asked only that the owner consider delaying any conversion for a short period to allow the community and potential partners time to plan a replacement facility and to allow time for an NHL expansion decision that proponents said could benefit from continued local ice capacity.

Why it matters: The Cooler hosts youth hockey, adult leagues and figure‑skating programs that draw participants from Alpharetta and the wider Atlanta region. Community speakers said the rink fuels year‑round recreation, tournament hotel demand and regional sports development; its loss would reduce local access to ice sports and complicate plans for growth in hockey and skating.

What’s next: Council asked community representatives to meet with city staff and the city administrator; the city will not compel or block private redevelopment but said it will explore realistic municipal or partnership options if the community brings viable proposals.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Alpharetta City Council Meeting - February 24, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","Dozens of residents, coaches and parents urged Alpharetta’s elected officials on Feb. 24 to help preserve The Cooler, the city’s only downtown ice rink, after the rink’s owner proposed converting ice sheets to pickleball courts, a move speakers said would displace youth hockey and figure‑skating programs.","taxTitle","Alpharetta, Fulton County, Georgia","taxId",3991,"location","headline","shortSummary",{"_33":75,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":76,"_41":77,"_43":78,"_45":79,"_47":80,"_49":81,"_51":82,"_53":83,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":84,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":85,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":56,"_73":56},6311803,"Alpharetta council defers Fulton Science Academy plan, asks for stricter traffic and safety review",2465,1064000,3529000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2394107-0157023edbea5b91df6b29b69217361d&start=1064&end=3529","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2394107-0157023edbea5b91df6b29b69217361d/thumbnail_1064000.jpg","/articles/6311803/Alpharetta/Fulton-County/Georgia/Alpharetta-council-defers-Fulton-Science-Academy-plan-asks-for-stricter-traffic-and-safety-review","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6311803-c287d0d7d80a0812e1e15b16fb521df1/orig.mp4?Expires=1771181511&Signature=almGw4CkRRKpKV0oMMyfx9m0Hx3nhnAaIP5ZTPeMbRWRlnYh6QxxZIE16O7paRJw8G9z6F0Sk4eiH6LiOAIT57J2k1oMmIBm4xwuvm0Q6CpQ6iDayIDukK0ZC~Zl0ZGn21wSZIrqzhDLsrEeeodtceKrSvYibmJsBxRNag3NVsAxKFEghq9nP6wiHonuA7vPRtRfaRYVgHxjy0JjQQcVUfobdz5ly0qg6-bWiWKwdgKC4JmDgCaMLB9lUDNgfgbZcG9zpLnk~4TKOACcabLW0W2EE8zSMs3jnprF3gRZMBOinfAAgUjwnkdYTuLhHe4lj6PdyH0jsZsNxFyYRIkbWg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Alpharetta City Council on Feb. 24 voted 5–1 to defer a master plan amendment and conditional‑use request from Fulton Science Academy to reuse an existing two‑story office building at 8995 Westside Parkway as a pre‑K through elementary campus serving up to 600 students, returning the item to council on March 24 for further review.

The council’s action followed more than two hours of presentation and questions about stacking, parent drop‑off/pick‑up procedures, pedestrian safety, emergency access and the adequacy of the applicant’s traffic study. Council members repeatedly pressed for a detailed, enforceable traffic and circulation plan and asked city staff to ensure the fire marshal and city traffic engineer are present at the next hearing.

City planning staff described the project as a reuse of an approximately 53,000‑square‑foot office building in the Northpointe overlay and said the applicant proposed a phased conversion: initial occupancy of the first floor for the school while an existing office tenant remains on the second floor through 2028, followed by full‑building use and enrollment growth to 600 students. Planner (City of Alpharetta staff) summarized the applicant’s on‑site stacking plan and noted staff had asked the applicant to adjust the drop‑off point to provide a minimum of 200 feet of exiting stacking at the signalized intersection.

The applicant’s representatives, including Jim Weiner of Make3 Architecture and traffic engineer Abdul Amir, defended the stacking and circulation approach and said the Fulton Science Academy operates a managed drop‑off system at its main campus with staff to escort children from cars. “They move very quickly and safety is critically important to them,” Weiner said, describing staged drop‑off and on‑site attendants to move children from vehicles into the building. Amir said his queuing analysis shows available on‑site stacking and that the proposed layout separates school stacking from circulation for other office users to minimize conflict points.

Council members pressed multiple technical and operational issues: whether the proposed play area would be fenced; how many cars the school’s drop‑off system would actually move per minute; how the projected number of parent vehicles maps to the city’s parking requirement; and what contingency measures exist if queueing backs up onto Westside, Morrison or Hembree parkways. Several council members said they had not received the traffic study in the council packet and asked that the study and any revisions be included with the next hearing.

The motion to defer, made by Councilman Will and seconded by Councilman Mitchell, directed staff to work with the applicant on a traffic management plan and requested the city’s traffic engineer and the fire marshal be present at the next hearing. The motion passed 5–1. The council set the follow‑up hearing for March 24, 2025.

Discussion vs. decision: Council’s vote was a deferral (postponement) rather than final approval; the applicant may revise the circulation plan and submit additional material for the March 24 hearing. The planning staff said the item originally carried 16 recommended conditions from the planning commission; council asked staff to review and, where needed, tighten conditions addressing circulation, temporary traffic control devices and playground fencing.

Why it matters: converting an office building on a busy signalized corridor into a school for up to 600 students raises traffic, safety and emergency‑access questions that affect nearby office tenants, busy intersections and residential commuters. The council’s deferral signals a requirement for clearer, enforceable on‑site management measures before final approval.

What’s next: the applicant will return March 24 with a refined traffic/circulation plan, and staff will provide the traffic study and any additional technical reviews requested by council for that session.","The Alpharetta City Council on Feb. 24 voted 5–1 to defer a Fulton Science Academy request to convert a two‑story Westside Parkway office into a pre‑K–elementary campus for up to 600 students, directing staff and the applicant to produce a more detailed traffic and safety plan before the council reconsiders the item on March 24, 2025.",{"_33":87,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":88,"_41":89,"_43":90,"_45":91,"_47":92,"_49":93,"_51":94,"_53":95,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":96,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":97,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":56,"_73":56},6311788,"Votes at a glance: key Alpharetta Council actions on Feb. 24",7083,267000,7350000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2394107-0157023edbea5b91df6b29b69217361d&start=267&end=7350","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2394107-0157023edbea5b91df6b29b69217361d/thumbnail_267000.jpg","/articles/6311788/Alpharetta/Fulton-County/Georgia/Votes-at-a-glance-key-Alpharetta-Council-actions-on-Feb-24","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6311788-9d101465bb2b96d6cb82b0dbcdf63648/orig.mp4?Expires=1771181511&Signature=hcipk1iT4LbtvkKHat1PZcxMLmcGxJKHEK60MPDfnrg7-0-aOBr-UwI1Dw6ax~k12hzYe3wgqJk5wGDbxP7MmBQ9Zea7gRvuTrajrImHYvWwNnU6P1b8FDRYxm-mAunzj-612nBHlzXzfmigIcg3jTeuyYMlFwzHMTrc4z~5TSIeRttGuz62xzUfywl88Ot5PcK3sZdk0cfy4sz8jRd6v-dZFNL1SJlo4uxli05PVjPu0gfGJX1lRDzq7UVvZwXy9K04hsW4u718c1W~bxlMWC4aq0Zule2wG2nf3E5e4GJFE5ryzg2xWOwyebIxWGvjKfBYINCTMFBO8cN-vm1~jg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Alpharetta City Council decisions, Feb. 24, 2025 — summary of formal actions taken during the meeting.

Votes and formal actions (selected items):

- Recreation Commission appointment: Cameron Klein was sworn in to the Alpharetta Recreation Commission at the request of Councilmember Hipes (oath administered on the record). No separate roll‑call vote recorded; appointment completed with acceptance and oath.

- Consent agenda (minutes, warranty deed, financial management report for period ending 12/31/2024): Approved. Motion by Councilman Dorito, second by Councilman Will. Staff later clarified the consent vote recorded as five in favor and one abstention, with Council Member Mitchell not voting on that item.

- MP‑25‑2/CU‑25‑4 (Lotus Animal Hospital, Oxford Green, Tract A): Motion to approve the master plan amendment and conditional use for a small‑animal veterinary clinic at 5215 Windward Parkway passed unanimously after staff presentation and brief council questions. Motion by Councilman Hipes; second by Councilman Dorito.

- MP‑25‑1/CU‑25‑5 (Fulton Science Academy, Cousins Westside, Pod R): Motion to defer to March 24, 2025 and return with a traffic/circulation plan and with the city traffic engineer and fire marshal present. Motion by Councilman Will; second by Councilman Mitchell. Vote: 5–1 (deferral).

- CU‑25‑6 (Activate Games Alpharetta / Windward MP Pod 4): Council approved the conditional use for Activate Games, an indoor active‑entertainment use proposed at 3020 Windward Plaza. Motion by Councilman Hipes; second by Councilman Brady. Vote: unanimous.

- CLUP‑24‑05 / Z‑24‑17 / PH‑24‑20 (Mayfair at Haines Bridge): Council approved the comprehensive land‑use plan amendment, rezoning and public‑hearing items to allow a 10‑lot second phase of detached single‑family homes, subject to the staff‑recommended conditions and an added condition requiring at least eight distinct elevations (subject to DRB approval). Motion by Councilman Hipes; second by Councilman Mitchell. Vote: unanimous.

- Parks Without Borders memorandum of understanding (Alpharetta / Johns Creek): Council approved renewal allowing reciprocal resident rates for leagues and participants in select sports (baseball, softball, soccer, lacrosse). Motion by Councilman Hipes; second by Councilman Dorito. Vote: unanimous.

- RFP 25‑105 (parks wayfinding and signage): Council awarded a contract to Roswell Signs LLC (Signarama) as the preferred vendor for park wayfinding and general signage. Motion by Councilman Hipes; second by Councilman Will. Vote: unanimous. (Example bid tab showed a model program total of $97,791.80; actual sign installation will depend on funding and project phasing.)

- Fiscal Year 2025 midyear budget amendment (second reading): Council adopted the ordinance amending specified funds and appropriations for FY‑2025. Motion by Councilman Brady; second by Councilman Dorito. Vote: unanimous.

- Contract approval: RightSite Health PLLC (telehealth EMS service): Council approved a no‑cost contract allowing Alpharetta Fire to offer a telehealth option to patients in certain non‑transport cases. Motion by Councilman Will; second by Councilman Mitchell. Vote: unanimous.

Why it matters: The council advanced a mix of land‑use approvals and administrative contracts while pressing a high‑profile school conversion for stricter traffic review. Several items (zoning, CLUP and public‑hearing items) included staff‑recommended conditions that will govern design, circulation and project phasing.

Where to find details: Planning staff reports, conditions and the public record for each agenda item are on the City of Alpharetta website; items with deferral will return to council (Fulton Science Academy on March 24, 2025).","The Alpharetta City Council on Feb. 24 considered multiple public‑hearing and new‑business items. Major outcomes: Lotus Animal Hospital conditional‑use approved; Fulton Science Academy deferred to March 24; Activate Games Alpharetta approved; Mayfair at Haines Bridge approved; Parks memorandum renewed; city awarded a signage contract; the midyear ",{"_33":99,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":100,"_41":101,"_43":102,"_45":103,"_47":104,"_49":105,"_51":106,"_53":107,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":108,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":109,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":56,"_73":56},6311798,"Council approves Mayfair at Haines Bridge phase, requires at least eight unique home elevations and alpha‑loop streetscape",2383,6489000,8872000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2394107-0157023edbea5b91df6b29b69217361d&start=6489&end=8872","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2394107-0157023edbea5b91df6b29b69217361d/thumbnail_6489000.jpg","/articles/6311798/Alpharetta/Fulton-County/Georgia/Council-approves-Mayfair-at-Haines-Bridge-phase-requires-at-least-eight-unique-home-elevations-and-alphaloop-streetscape","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6311798-8a27a2290152eca268b3be7e07ee1e47/orig.mp4?Expires=1771181511&Signature=NGa6kG87j4KwerdQK~eF0XjIk9ROyn87aTXN9ds2C-Z-I5DjzPfUfsLtjPPjNQPiOkNEF4p4wiIuyVSryRX-Hfi8yEo6Ey3xakJbackEKxeUENtZOppgaJLGDN9WWbj-LvBP0drfisaFyYukWdlkfZ-hHg~sDIt8TJVYJWsQSaZO8OfjL75WdqdWOKF1YZvdKLev8TMRbf5D3FEaRjv7A1LNlinqjuR6rPW4mvh9UXQ7MGZtcWgMy48yNpV8G0tmSYHkeqibSJdBTNZjjF4pNX7xs2xDXi4tMLnIP6K7amI5AZw5PsTZucy4UKWt9ZhtUII3c5UQ82PJxtGXCWfz7g__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Alpharetta City Council on Feb. 24 unanimously approved a combined comprehensive‑land‑use plan amendment, rezoning, and public‑hearing application that allows a second phase of the Mayfair at Haines Bridge development, authorizing 10 additional for‑sale single‑family detached homes and carrying revised conditions forward for phase 1 and phase 2.

The developer said the second phase would add 10 detached homes to the existing approved phase 1, bringing the project to a total of 27 detached dwellings. The council vote included an additional condition, requested on the council floor, that the developer provide at least eight distinct elevations for the homes subject to Design Review Board (DRB) approval.

City planning staff described the project area at the southwest corner of DeBoor and Haines Bridge roads and said the proposal changes a portion of the site from medium‑density residential to downtown residential density and brings the parcel into the downtown overlay. Staff noted the project exceeds parking and amenity minimums required by code and that the applicant is providing a 10‑foot landscape buffer along specified edges and a 20‑foot buffer on the south end of the development.

The applicant, represented in part by Barry Dunlop of Paradigm Engineering and developer Jason Joseph, said the phase 1 civil work is nearing issuance of the land‑disturbance permit and that phase 2 was added after the owner offered a parcel that provided a convenient sewer tie‑in and allowed a more cohesive neighborhood. The team said the AlphaLoop pedestrian route will be constructed as part of the project and that the developer would remove the existing sidewalk and install the AlphaLoop closer to the homes to create a more “intimate” pedestrian environment.

Council members asked about the visuals visitors will see from Haines Bridge and the applicant confirmed homes facing the public roads will present front elevations rather than garage doors. Council required streetscape and downtown lighting and asked for a gateway or focal feature at the southwest corner of Haines Bridge and DeBoor; staff said the Cultural Arts Commission will approve the final focal feature and the Homeowners’ Association will maintain it.

Councilman Hipes moved approval with the 26 conditions in the staff report and an additional condition requiring at least eight distinct elevations; Councilman Mitchell seconded. The motion passed unanimously. Conditions require the applicant to construct the AlphaLoop and complete specified streetscape improvements prior to the first certificate of occupancy for the development’s homes.

Why it matters: the decision advances infill downtown‑edge residential development, extends the AlphaLoop pedestrian connection and sets detailed architectural and streetscape expectations for a key entry corridor into downtown Alpharetta.

What’s next: the developer will pursue Design Review Board approvals and finish land‑disturbance permitting to start construction; staff will monitor streetscape and AlphaLoop construction per the approved conditions.","Alpharetta council unanimously approved a comprehensive land‑use, rezoning and public‑hearing package enabling a second phase of the Mayfair at Haines Bridge residential development. Council added a condition requiring at least eight distinct home elevations and confirmed streetscape and AlphaLoop construction requirements.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Families, skating clubs urge Albpharetta to help keep The Cooler ice rink open amid owner’s plan to add pickleball

Alpharetta council defers Fulton Science Academy plan, asks for stricter traffic and safety review

Votes at a glance: key Alpharetta Council actions on Feb. 24

Council approves Mayfair at Haines Bridge phase, requires at least eight unique home elevations and alpha‑loop streetscape