Planning commission recommends denial of Hanover/Meta plan to convert Windward Park parcel to 315 rental units, citing loss of office and parking shortfall

The Alpharetta Planning Commission on Nov. 6 recommended denial of a master‑plan amendment (MP‑25‑08), conditional use (CU‑25‑13) and multiple variances (V‑25‑17) proposed for Pod 66 of Windward Park. The applicants — the Hanover Company (development) in coordination with Meta (property owner) — requested amendments to allow a five‑story, 315‑unit for‑rent apartment building in place of a previously entitled 134‑unit for‑sale condominium building, reduce on‑site office and retail square footage, and obtain variances related to balcony sizing, first‑floor ceiling height, parking count and distance from units to off‑street parking. After extensive staff presentation, applicant testimony and public comments both for and against, the commission voted unanimously to recommend denial and forwarded the matter to City Council (staff‑identified council date: Dec. 1, 2025).

Staff presentation and recommendation Staff summarized the proposal and the changes from earlier entitlements (2015 and 2023). The request would increase residential units in Pod 66, reduce total office entitlement from roughly 500,000 sq ft under earlier plans to about 252,000 sq ft under the applicant’s materials, and shift retail/service square footage. Staff highlighted several issues: the requested parking reduction (from 685 required spaces to 580 proposed, a 105‑space deficit), a proposed reduction in first‑floor minimum ceiling height from 14 feet to 12 feet for some leasing/amenity areas, and an increase in the maximum allowed pedestrian walking…