Council approves multiple variances for 12,000 sq ft daycare at 1501 Georgian Park with 12-foot replanting buffer

The council approved multiple variance requests for a proposed daycare at 1501 Georgian Park, including reduced front, side and rear building setbacks, allowances for retaining walls and a temporary disturbance to the required landscape buffer along a portion of the site.

Applicant Chris Gunn said the site is steep — with elevations dropping substantially from the Georgian Park side toward the commercial plaza — and that topography dictates retaining-wall placement and some temporary disturbance to the landscape buffer during construction. Gunn said the project proposes a roughly 12,000-square-foot daycare building with approximately 10,000 square feet of playground (the applicant noted Georgia childcare licensing typically requires 16,000 square feet for outdoor play but that the applicant secured a reduced footprint through design). He told council the landscape buffer disturbance request is for construction only and that a detailed landscape plan under review would replant shrubs and trees to restore screening.

Property owner Robert Vassy spoke in favor, telling council he had held the property since 2009 and supported the daycare plan. Council members expressed concern about tree removal and root damage during construction but were reassured that the applicant will replant and coordinate with the city engineer. Council approved the variances and the council motion incorporated a change: the landscape buffer disturbance allowed during construction will be limited to 12 feet (reduced from the initially proposed 17 feet 1 inch), and replanting requirements will be enforced during permitting.