Planner recommends approval of columbarium at Sandy Springs place of worship; neighbors raise screening, noise and property-value concerns

Planner LoQita Willums recommended approval of a conditional-use permit to allow a columbarium at an existing place of worship in the ARE2 zoning district in Sandy Springs, while members of the public raised concerns about screening, noise, trespass and property values.

The staff recommendation was presented during a Planning Commission public hearing; staff said the permit could be approved subject to a set of conditions, including maintaining screening plantings, parking- and drive-aisle screening, and compliance with applicable cemetery and funeral-services regulations noted in the staff report.

LoQita Willums, identified in the presentation as a planner, told the commission that staff had reviewed the application and recommended approval with edits to several conditions. Willums said conditions numbered 3A and 3B were to remain unchanged, while language in conditions 3C and 3D had been edited. The staff presentation described screening for parking…