In a 6-0 vote, City Council chose to bar the acceptance of applications for land disturbance permits on properties in agricultural and residential districts, including AG-1, R-1, R-2, R-2A, R-3, R-3A, R-4A and T-2.

Citizens wanting to learn about Milton's conservation subdivision ordinance plans should attend the Community Zoning Information Meeting at City Hall Tuesday, March 25 at 7 p.m.

"By enacting this moratorium we thoroughly evaluate the possibility of requiring conservation subdivision design in Milton," said Kathy Field, community development director for the City of Milton. "We hope to encourage better development patterns and facilitate the preservation of green space."

Mayor Joe Lockwood said the moratorium is a short-term tool used to maintain our current state while staff and officials evaluate possible modifications to Milton's code.

"The important thing to realize in all this is that we, as a city council, remain committed to preserving and enhancing our rural character," said Lockwood. "Our vision of being a distinctive community that embraces small town life and heritage remains strong"

The conservation subdivision, which sets aside an amount of land for conservation, is one of many options among Milton's growing list of conservation and lifestyle initiatives. These include a conservation plan and smart growth strategies like form-based coding, transfer of development rights and community-based master planning.

To learn more about rezoning cases currently in the regulatory process, click here.