Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Streetlight Infrastructure topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Council reviews Highway 9 smart streetlight pilot; members split on aesthetics and costs
Summary
After installing two test smart streetlight fixtures on Highway 9, staff sought feedback; councilors voiced concerns that the modern fixtures clash with downtown character, requested comparative cost information and asked for alternative designs with similar technology.
City staff presented two installed smart streetlight fixtures on Highway 9 as an aesthetic pilot and asked council for feedback on whether to proceed with a corridor installation.
City administration emphasized the workshop was limited to appearance feedback; the internal camera and analytics technology had been seen by staff in other municipalities and in a regional proof-of-concept but had not been fully tested locally. Council members separated their comments into three areas: the fixture’s aesthetic fit with Alpharetta’s historic downtown, the illumination and technology benefits (including improved night vision and enforcement potential), and the cumulative cost to install smart fixtures pole-by-pole.
Councilman Hipes asked for comparative cost figures between a standard fixture and a smart fixture so he could weigh value proposition; staff said light-for-light cost was comparable and the technology cost had been folded into the budget allocation for cameras. Several councilors — including Councilman Mitchell and Councilman Brady — said they were not sold on the modern fixture design for the downtown core and asked staff to explore other vendors or designs that provide similar technology in a form more compatible with Alpharetta’s historic streetscape.
No formal vote was taken; staff said they will collect additional aesthetic feedback and provide cost comparisons and alternate design options if council requests them before any corridor-wide decision.
