Alpharetta planning commission approves parking reduction and gated access for Dogwood Square senior housing

The Alpharetta Planning Commission on June 5 approved a parking special exception and a variance to allow gated access for Dogwood Square, a 100‑unit low‑income senior housing development at 555 Janice Lane, as part of a planned rehabilitation of the property.

Staff described the request as a reduction in required parking from 90 spaces to 86 spaces (a decrease of four spaces) and a variance to permit gating of the private Janice Lane. Staff said the building serves very low‑income seniors and physically handicapped residents and that the requested changes would support rehabilitation work, improve resident safety and deter spillover parking from the adjacent Maxwell mixed‑use development.

Michael (planning staff) explained that Dogwood Square is a 3.1‑acre, five‑story residential property built in 1987 that provides 100 units and serves low‑income seniors and physically handicapped individuals. He said a parking variance was previously granted in the 1980s that reduced parking from an…