Milton design board approves demolition of several deteriorated homes, sets site restoration conditions

The City of Milton Design Review Board on Aug. 5 approved demolition requests for multiple residential structures, citing dilapidation or code-enforcement concerns and attaching standard post-demolition conditions. The approvals cover several properties, including the late-19th-century Phillips Wright House at 16410 Hopewell Road and houses at 12475 and 12505 Broadwell Road, 13285 Arnold Mill Road and 15425 Thompson Road. The board’s approvals require applicants to complete demolition permit applications, install erosion-control and tree-protection fencing where shown, cap wells or septic systems if present, and level and permanently grass disturbed soil. Board staff described the Phillips Wright House as constructed between about 1890 and 1899 and listed in the Georgia Historic Resources GIS but not in Milton’s historic survey. Staff told the board the structure and outbuildings had been altered repeatedly and are “no longer livable,” and that the current owners told staff they do not intend to restore the home because of the cost and complexity. The board voted 6–1 to approve that demolition. For a pair of properties on Broadwell Road (12475 and 12505), staff said the parcels will be combined as part of a longer-planned development under the Crabapple form-based code that will include single-family homes and attached townhomes. Staff recommended approval of the demolitions with the same site-restoration conditions; the board approved both requests. At 13285 Arnold Mill Road staff reported multiple collapsed or partially collapsed structures and said the buildings are not listed on state or local historic inventories. Code enforcement had issued violations that led the owner to start the demolition-permit process; the board approved the demolition and noted applicants typically have 30 days from board action to remove structures once permits are issued. Board members repeatedly urged preservation where feasible. One member, Danella (board member), said, “I would have much rather seen this house be restored,” when discussing the Hopewell Road property, and another member asked staff whether the disturbance would be seeded if the owner were constructing immediately over the footprint; staff confirmed seeding and post-demolition erosion-control inspections are permit conditions. No new build approvals or final design decisions were made as part of these items; the board limited its actions to issuing demolition approvals and attaching conditions intended to protect trees, control erosion and ensure wells or septic systems are properly closed. The board’s demolition approvals were unanimous or near-unanimous on the items heard, with recorded tallies noted in the meeting minutes for each item.