Planning commission approves Sandy Springs Subdivision plat; engineering punch list remains

The Planning Commission voted to approve the final plat (PA01-2025) for Sandy Springs Subdivision Number 5, moving the project to the next step in the city’s approval process while leaving outstanding engineering punch-list items to be completed before the City Council acts.

Tom Oster and John Evanston of Sandy Springs Development Company told the commission the street for the phase was installed in December and that the developer has contracted to finish a series of punch-list items; they reported that 129 of about 130 prior-phase lots had been sold and estimated approximately $250,000 in tax and permit fees to the city for the remaining phase. The developer also said it executed an easement agreement with the Deerfield Homeowners Association to provide access to a pond for maintenance.

Building, housing and planning staff and engineering said they have reviewed the submittals but identified outstanding items. Councilwoman Smetkowski reported she had a color-coded list showing 22 items: five completed, 13 started or contracted and five not yet started. She said council is comfortable with planning sending the plat to council for final action but cautioned that council will expect more progress before voting to accept the plat.

Commissioners approved sending the plat forward; the transcript records that Commissioner Andrew Patterson abstained from the vote because he lives in Sandy Springs.

Next steps: engineering will continue to work with the developer to resolve the remaining punch-list items; the final step is council acceptance of the plat or receipt of bonds or warranties for incomplete items before acceptance.