Milton council fails to override veto

The Milton City Council failed to override Mayor Joe Lockwood’s veto of a controversial rezoning project Monday night. The vote was 3 to 2, with the mayor not voting and councilwoman Karen Thurman recusing herself. Five votes would have been required for an override.

The proposal from Brightwater Homes would have rezoned a 63.5 acre tract of land at 745 Ebenezer Road from agricultural to community unit plan to accommodate 45 single-family homes with a density of .707 units per acre. Neighbors and opponents of the plan had raised the proposed density, concerns about community septic and other issues in opposing the project.

Lockwood had said his veto stemmed not from opposition to the project, but from concern over procedures followed in the April 25 meeting where the proposal was approved, plus a perception that some parties were given an undue advantage. But at least one council member said he thought that the council had made a legitimate decision.