City building development staff presented a multi‑topic update covering recent certificates of occupancy, ongoing commercial projects, and two variance applications scheduled for public hearing.

Mister Griffin summarized residential status changes: several single‑family COs issued in Connor’s Landing and Mirror Lake (Water Mist 2, Fairway 16, South Harbor 2A) and multiple townhome COs (Emery, Starlight). On commercial work, Griffin said Tanner Lab and a morgue expansion received a certificate of occupancy, and the Tanner Women’s Center had received a land‑disturbance permit for initial site work.

Griffin reported the Connors Road retail property — previously referred to as "Connors Road Liquor Store" — is revising civil plans and will be reviewed for preconstruction once comments are satisfied. He also updated the council on a 400,000‑sq‑ft speculative building along Rockmart Road/Highway 101 (Crow Holdings) with a building permit application in review and noted coordination with GDOT on truck traffic and intersection safety.

Staff said Tractor Supply is preparing for a temporary certificate of occupancy to allow internal staging and employee training and that Whataburger’s land‑disturbance permit is pending submission of a contractor contact before issuance.

On variance requests, interim community development director Bridal Carter previewed two items returning Tuesday. For the Connors Road liquor/retail façade (VA‑05‑25), the applicant supplied an engineer’s hardship letter arguing that installing full brick on a 25‑foot tall entrance wall would require foundation and structural changes; staff reiterated the code requires full brick but said the applicant offered a Nichiha (fiber‑cement) façade as an alternative if the council approves a variance. "It is your burden of proof as the engineer to make sure that the city council is aware that these are the structural concerns," Carter said; staff has recommended upholding the code but offered conditional approvals if council elects to allow alternatives.

For a Smith & Kindred Group site on Connors Road (VADash06Dash25), Carter said the applicant asked to reduce a 20‑foot parking‑screen landscape strip to a much smaller frontage to accommodate a building footprint; staff recommended denial for the north frontage reduction (20 to 5 feet) but recommended approval for a modest west‑side reduction (10 to 8 feet). Councilmembers expressed concern that granting the north reduction before tenant uses are finalized could set a precedent and asked applicants to provide more detailed tenant/parking information at the hearing.

Both variance items will return Tuesday with applicants and engineers present to answer questions.