Alpharetta council approves rezoning and conditional use for Shipping Post at 312 North Main with 10-space parking requirement

The Alpharetta City Council on Jan. 27 approved a rezoning and conditional use to allow a print-and-shipping store called the Shipping Post to occupy an existing 1,300-square-foot building at 312 North Main Street in downtown Alpharetta.

City staff told council the property — developed in about 1940 and now designated mixed use live-work in the comprehensive plan — was proposed to be rezoned from ONI (office/institutional) to DTLW (downtown live/work). Michael Woodman, a planning staff member, said the applicant intends to operate printing, packing and shipping, passport photos, notary, mailbox rental and computer rental services; hours would be Monday–Friday 9 a.m.–7 p.m., Saturday 10 a.m.–5 p.m. and Sunday noon–4 p.m., with four employees anticipated.

Council’s approval was conditioned on staff’s recommended items and an additional requirement that the applicant stripe and maintain 10 parking spaces on the rear lot. The downtown code requires three parking spaces for the proposed use; staff noted the existing paved area could be striped to provide up to 10 spaces. The council vote passed 5–1.

Why it mattered: Councilmembers said the proposed business would add a small retail service to the downtown core consistent with the land-use plan, but several members pressed staff and the applicant on vehicular access and customer safety at the driveway onto Georgia Highway 9 (North Main). A council member described the driveway configuration as “a pretty dangerous situation” if customers must back onto Highway 9; the speaker said the applicant should take “best efforts” to avoid safety risks.

Applicant and staff responses: Applicant Siva Duraisamy told council he supports providing 10 parking spaces and agreed in principle that two-way ingress/egress would be preferable, but he said any expansion of the driveway would require Georgia Department of Transportation review and approval and that the timing and scope of GDOT work were out of his immediate control. Pete, identified in the meeting as the city’s public works director, confirmed the existing driveway functions as a one-car width and that a 24-foot width would be appropriate for two-way access; he said GDOT standards and approvals would factor into whether expansion is achievable.

Planning context and process: Woodman said the property’s mixed-use live/work comprehensive-plan designation supports the requested rezoning. The application was presented to the public at a community zoning information meeting on Dec. 11; one person submitted a comment in support. The Planning Commission recommended approval at its Jan. 9 meeting subject to 17 staff-recommended conditions. Council added the parking and maintenance condition at the hearing and adopted the rezoning and conditional use.

Outlook: With the rezoning and conditional-use approval, the applicant may proceed with tenant improvements and building upgrades described at the hearing (window replacement, roof work and restriping the parking area). Any work that requires state review — specifically driveway expansion that affects access to Highway 9 — will be subject to GDOT approval and separate permits.

Ending: The motion to approve was made by the mayor pro tem and seconded by a council member; the motion passed 5–1. The applicant indicated he would work with GDOT and city staff on driveway and access matters but asked the council not to tie final zoning approval to GDOT’s schedule.