Alpharetta council approves driveway exception for 120 North Trace

The Alpharetta City Council voted unanimously to approve an exception allowing a circular driveway with two driveway curb cuts at 120 North Trace, part of the Andover at Northtown subdivision.

City planning staff told the council the request would allow a circular driveway with two curb cuts less than 300 feet apart on a 0.63-acre single-family lot. Staff noted the property was redeveloped with a new home and the applicant cited parking and accessibility for a family with six driving-age children as reasons for the request. Staff recommended approval subject to two conditions included in the staff report.

The applicant's representative, Scott Reese of Romulo Reese & Associates, said the family purchased the property with an active certificate of occupancy and were unaware of the noncompliance until applying for a pool house. Reese said the prior house, built in 1974, had two driveways and the owners intended to bring the property into compliance with engineering and stormwater requirements if the exception were allowed.

Council discussion noted the visual quality of the new home and the historical evidence of two previous driveways. Councilman Hipes said he would normally oppose a request based solely on parking but supported this application because the property historically had two curb cuts.

The council member motion to approve the exception carried unanimously.

The approved exception modifies development-code spacing requirements for curb cuts at this address; it does not change zoning. The council recorded no additional conditions beyond the two in the staff report and did not schedule further actions related to this item.