Board denies parking reduction for affordable housing phase in Anthem complex

The City of South Fulton Zoning Board of Appeals denied a request to reduce required parking spaces for a proposed affordable-multifamily phase in the Anthem development on June 26, 2025.

Tuan Duong, a civil engineer with Atlas Technical Consultants representing the developer, described the proposal as an affordable housing multifamily phase constrained by easements and site geometry. The application (V25-006) sought to reduce the parking ratio from the zoning requirement to one space per one-bedroom unit; the plan showed 78 spaces where 87 were required, a shortfall of nine spaces. Duong said existing easements and required buffers left only a narrow buildable area and that the developer balanced unit count against parking when designing the site.

Staff recommended denial. Commissioners questioned whether the number of units could be reduced, whether shared parking agreements with adjacent developments were possible, and whether limited parking would create safety or enforcement problems. Commissioner motion to deny was seconded and carried.

Board members noted the site owner is Fulton County and the developer proposed the affordable housing product on county-owned land; several commissioners emphasized the need for safe, adequate parking and suggested that any shared-parking solutions be identified and secured before a variance could be considered. No alternative remedies or conditional approvals were adopted at the hearing; the motion to deny carried and the variance was not granted.

The decision leaves the developer to redesign unit counts or pursue alternative solutions such as off-site shared parking agreements or changes to easement layout prior to a future application.