By Annie Piekarczyk / Staff

The re-occurring theme surrounding North Fulton county operations is a lack of funding for services and poor economic activity.

Alpharetta Councilman-elect Chris Owens, scheduled to get sworn in Monday night at Alpharetta City Hall, along with Councilman-elect Jim Kennedy, says those are the two most significant issues facing the city right now.

As a former city contractor and a business owner, Owens has been involved in the city since 1994, and a resident since 2005; he also currently serves as an Alpharetta Citizen Stakeholder for the North Fulton Comprehensive Transportation Plan Committee. Having hands-on experience working with the city will be to his advantage as he tackles his new position, looking for ways to deliver services more efficiently and cost effectively.

“We are realistically facing further declines in tax revenue due to fluctuating real estate values and the numbers of assessments under appeal at Fulton County,” said Owens. “We must also position ourselves to continue attracting people to live, work and do business in Alpharetta. We have valuable community resources and active leaders who I know will work together to market our community and prepare for future growth.”

Those resources and active leaders Owens referred to include City Staff, the Greater North Fulton Chamber of Commerce, the North Fulton Community Improvement District and Alpharetta’s own Development Authority Board.

FIRST THINGS FIRST

The first thing he’d like to accomplish is working with staff to open Westside Parkway from Old Milton parkway to Webb Bridge road. This “key component,” Owens said, will improve traffic flow and reduce congestion in the area for residents. A “total transportation solution,” would include getting the maximum efficiency from Alpharetta’s existing transportation system; i.e. better timing of traffic lights, intersection improvements and technology that can help traffic move more efficiently.

Improving the quality of life for residents is a top priority for Owens. “To help make sure the City continues to deliver world-class services to our citizens at the best possible value,” he said.

Additionally, he is motivated to improve transportation options in Alpharetta – for automobiles and pedestrians as well as bikers. “The difficult part in that equation,” said Owens, “is funding. And we must become creative with the money available while learning how to do more with less – just like everyone else right now.”

Aside from transportation, Owens looks forward to working with Council and Staff on the issues to be addressed with the city’s upcoming Comprehensive Land Use Plan update. The plan is a document, which, according to Owens, plays a vital role in the city’s future development patterns.

Ultimately, Owens hopes the mayor, council and staff can continue the city’s history of success by being open and flexible to new ideas in an ever-changing world.

“Alpharetta has a rich history and it is my hope that the city will continue to be an ideal location for people to live, work and play – with options and opportunities for everyone,” said Owens. “A well balanced and planned community that can provide an unmatched quality of life, for someone’s entire life, is my goal.”