Design Review Board approves Phase 1 of Alpharetta District Places with conditions on hardscape, planting and eastern wall finish
6499347 · October 20, 2025
The board approved the Phase 1 site plan, building elevations and landscape/hardscape for Alpharetta District Places on Oct. 17, 2025, delegating final photometrics and awning details to staff and requiring specific conditions for planting clearances, crosswalk materials and the treatment/timing of an eastern retaining wall.
The Design Review Board unanimously approved multiple elements of the Phase 1 package for Alpharetta District Places, a mixed-use project on the Roswell Street/Old Milton Parkway site, after a multi-hour presentation and extensive discussion of site circulation, utilities, landscaping and materials.
Andrew Butler of the Preston Partnership opened with a video walkthrough that showed four buildings (AA through D), two-story restaurants on the corners, a Paseo network that connects the parking lot and park, and a proposed plaza with a new outdoor fireplace between Buildings C and D. Civil engineer Steve Rowe reviewed site engineering: the project retains the existing Old Milton curb cut, adds a Marietta Street curb cut, extends sanitary sewer from Marietta and water from Old Milton, proposes nearly 99 new parking spaces on site, and locates stormwater detention under the parking with outfall into an existing system adjacent to the site.
Rowe said the team will preserve four established trees at the northwest corner (three water oaks and one pecan) and noted one significant construction challenge: removal of an established bamboo stand on the property. There is also a retaining wall between Phase 1 and the future Phase 2 that will require cast-in-place construction and a veneered face; the board and staff discussed possible timing and materials for that wall depending on whether Phase 2 proceeds. The applicant asked that staff be authorized to determine the timing and final material treatment for the wall so the project is not required to add a permanent, visible veneer that may be covered by a future deck.
Landscape designer Natalie Henderson presented a dense plant palette intended to provide year-round interest with Princeton elms, willow oaks, black gum and a mix of flowering shrubs and perennials. The board stressed two recurring points: 1) provide appropriate clearance around trees for long-term health and avoid planting that competes with major tree root zones; 2) avoid highly vulnerable plantings immediately adjacent to parking lot door swings and passenger circulation paths because these areas are frequently trampled.
Hardscape drew extended debate. The applicant proposed a stamped concrete pattern that emulates stone and running-bond brick with a charcoal release color and an exposed aggregate band. Several board members objected to stamped concrete in high-exposure crosswalks and along the public right-of-way. The board required that crosswalks to the right-of-way use the city's standard pavers or natural stone while allowing stamped concrete for some internal plaza areas. The team also described an uncovered "overflow" parking island built in a permeable patterned material.
Several formal motions followed. The board approved the Phase 1 site plan with the condition that photometrics be finalized by staff. The board approved building elevations and materials, delegating awning final selection to staff. Finally, the board approved landscape and hardscape with the following conditions: review planting placement for clearance of pedestrian and vehicle door swings; select groundcover rather than turf under certain Marietta Street oaks; require city-standard pavers for crosswalks to the right-of-way; and require the east retaining wall between phases be faced in brick, stone veneer or a lithicrete pattern per staff direction with timing of installation to be determined by staff pending Phase 2 construction. All votes recorded were unanimous (6-0) with one board member excused after the meeting started.
The board recorded no public comments during this item. The applicant will coordinate final photometrics, awning details and masonry/lithicrete wall treatment with staff before permits are issued.
