Kathi Cook, City of Alpharetta, on Alpharetta’s Growth, Redevelopment, North Point, and Future Community Development (North Fulton Voices, Episode 17)
How does a fast-growing city preserve what people value while continuing to evolve?
In this episode of North Fulton Voices, Kathi Cook, Director of Community Development for the City of Alpharetta, joins Jack Murphy, Nancy Diamond, and Kathy Swahn of the North Fulton Improvement Network for a wide-ranging conversation on how Alpharetta approaches growth, redevelopment, and long-term planning. Drawing on more than three decades of experience with the city, Cook reflects on Alpharetta growth and its transformation into a more connected, walkable community, why mixed-use development has mattered so much, and how projects like Avalon reshaped expectations for quality development.
The discussion also explores Alpharetta’s current comprehensive plan update, what residents are saying about connectivity, tree canopy, green space, and workforce housing, and how public engagement helps shape decisions that will affect the city for decades. Cook also offers a detailed look at North Point redevelopment, including the vision for a sports and entertainment district, green space integration, housing, and transportation connections. This is an important conversation for anyone interested in how North Fulton communities can grow thoughtfully without losing their character.
North Fulton Voices is presented by the North Fulton Improvement Network. The show series is proudly sponsored by John Ray Co. and North Fulton Business Radio, LLC.
Key Takeaways from This Episode
- How Alpharetta growth created a more walkable, connected community
- Why Avalon became a turning point in Alpharetta’s development model
- What residents are saying in the comprehensive plan process about traffic, green space, tree canopy, and housing
- Why redevelopment now matters more than greenfield development in Alpharetta
- What Kathi Cook says about ADUs, housing types, and local flexibility
- The long-range vision for North Point, including a possible sports and entertainment district
- Why public engagement in planning matters more than most residents realize
Topics Discussed in this Episode
00:00 Introduction and Jack Murphy’s housing affordability data point
02:31 Kathi Cook’s background and how she got into city planning
04:09 Alpharetta growth and it’s transformation into a walkable, connected community
04:37 Avalon’s impact and why it changed Alpharetta more than expected
07:18 Comprehensive plan update and current public engagement process
08:27 What residents are saying now about growth, connectivity, green space, and housing
09:49 Mixed-use development, redevelopment, and what the public will support
11:18 Tree canopy, tree-lined streets, and ordinance changes
12:31 How residents should approach and use the comprehensive plan
15:37 ADUs, workforce housing, and local planning flexibility
17:47 Gentle density, condos, stacked flats, and smaller housing formats
19:46 North Point redevelopment vision and the sports and entertainment proposal
22:36 Workforce housing questions tied to North Point
24:12 Transportation capacity and connectivity around North Point
26:12 Tax allocation districts and public-private redevelopment tools
29:08 Permitting timelines and misconceptions about delays
33:53 Brookside, Windward, and office-to-residential evolution
40:12 How the public can engage productively in planning decisions
42:20 Downsizing, seniors, and walkable housing preferences
43:49 Kathi Cook’s contact information and closing call to action from NFIN
Kathi Cook, Director of Community Development, City of Alpharetta
Kathi Cook is the Community Development Director for the City of Alpharetta. Since joining the city in 1992 as a public works engineering technician and construction manager, she has served in a range of leadership roles, including oversight of environmental programs and the engineering department. Her more than three decades of experience give her a rare perspective on Alpharetta’s evolution and the planning, redevelopment, and quality-of-life issues that continue to shape its future.
North Fulton Improvement Network
The North Fulton Improvement Network (NFIN) is a think tank made up of community leaders from a variety of sectors, focused on missing middle housing and the livability challenges confronting North Fulton. We come from the six cities making up the northern half of Fulton County, Georgia—Alpharetta, Johns Creek, Milton, Mountain Park, Roswell, and Sandy Springs—and are working to address the widespread yet little-known financial vulnerability across the region. With stakeholders from sectors including business, nonprofit, faith, government, and citizens, we center our work on five areas of impact; seek to educate the public about these issues; build a network of individuals and organizations with innovative private and public solutions; and connect resources to those in need.
The leadership team of NFIN is Jack Murphy, Nancy Diamond, and Kathy Swahn.
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Jack Murphy
Jack Murphy is a volunteer with The Society of St. Vincent de Paul and is Chair of the North Fulton Improvement Network. He is also in his 21st year of working for the Metro Atlanta Chamber of Commerce.
He has served on both the National and Georgia Boards of The Society of St. Vincent de Paul, responsible for Diversity, Advocacy, & Systemic Change. Jack is currently the national SVDP chair of Systemic Change and Advocacy.
Jack received a BA in psychology from Belmont Abbey College and an M.Ed. from UNC-Greensboro. Jack and his wife, Nancy, a retired elementary school principal, have two grown daughters and two grandchildren. They live in Alpharetta, Georgia.
Nancy Diamond
Nancy Diamond is a Project Manager with Schmit & Associates, a real estate development firm, creating town center revitalization in communities all around the metro area.
Nancy served 8 years as a Roswell City Council member, including a term as Mayor Pro Tem, with liaison positions with Community Development, Transportation, Recreation & Parks, and Public Safety.
In addition to her work with the North Fulton Improvement Network, Nancy has been active in area non-profit organizations, including board leadership positions in the STAR House Foundation, WellStar North Fulton Hospital, and the Roswell Rotary Club.
A native of Atlanta and a 42-year North Fulton resident, Nancy worked at Turner Broadcasting in the early years of CNN, then became a freelancer in sports television graphics. While raising her two daughters, she worked from home, first developing a corporate gift service and later as a mortgage loan originator.
Nancy and her husband, Glenn, now relish the role of grandparents to Owen.
Kathy Swahn
Kathy has resided in the North Fulton area for almost 45 years. She has watched the community evolve from what was “unincorporated Fulton County” to a six-city bustling suburban community. Her history has been marked by a strong emphasis on children: she raised two daughters as a stay-at-home mother, held leadership positions in school PTAs and Girl Scouts, participated in the National Charity League and the North Fulton Council of PTAs, and held the position of chair of the Superintendent’s Advisory Council.
Kathy resumed her career by entering the nonprofit sector. She joined the team at North Fulton Community Charities, running their holiday program, becoming Development Director and successfully managing the $3 million capital campaign for their Elkins Road location. Along the way, she also served on the DFACS Board and chaired the board of the Fulton County Continuum of Care for four years.
After having the opportunity to join in the Greater North Fulton Chamber of Commerce Leadership Program, Kathy was surrounded with a dynamic group of folks who worked to create The Drake House. Since 2004, she served as board chair for the first four years, executive director for nine years, and is now retired. Over those years, The Drake House served over 500 single mothers with over 1,000 children and grew the assets of the organization to over $4 million.
Kathy continues to serve The Drake House on the Advocacy Committee, along with her work for NFIN.
She spends much of her time traveling to the DC area, where her children and grandchildren reside.
Sponsor for North Fulton Voices: John Ray and North Fulton Business Radio, LLC
The North Fulton Voices show series is proudly sponsored by John Ray Co. and the North Fulton affiliate of Business RadioX®.
John Ray is a podcast show host and producer and owns North Fulton Business Radio, LLC, the North Fulton (Georgia) affiliate of Business RadioX®.
John also operates his own business advisory practice, Ray Business Advisors. John’s services include advising solopreneurs and small professional services firms on their value, their positioning and business development, and their pricing. His clients are professionals who are selling their expertise, such as consultants, coaches, attorneys, CPAs, accountants and bookkeepers, marketing professionals, and other professional services practitioners.
John is the author of the #1 nationally best-selling book, The Generosity Mindset: A Journey to Business Success by Raising Your Confidence, Value, and Prices.
John is the host of North Fulton Business Radio and The Price and Value Journey. North Fulton Business Radio, the longest-running podcast in the North Fulton region of Georgia, features a wide range of business and community leaders. The Price and Value Journey focuses on solo and small-firm professional services providers, addressing topics like pricing, value, and business development.
