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Council approves Spirit of God Church site-condition changes with architectural oversight added
Summary
Council approved changes to zoning conditions for Spirit of God Christian Church, including a 170-seat cap and a requirement that final architecture receive council review after Design Review Board consideration, while staff preserved tree-save buffers and on-site parking requirements.
The Alpharetta City Council voted unanimously on Sept. 22 to approve change-of-condition requests from Spirit of God Christian Church for a property at 1200 Upper Hembree Road, subject to conditions including a cap of 170 seats and additional language requiring that final architectural approval come back to council after DRB review.
Staff presentation explained the changes were necessary to meet on-site parking requirements (the revised plan now provides 101 parking spaces, exceeding the 85 spaces needed for a 170-person facility) and that tree-save areas and a 50-foot undisturbed buffer adjacent to residential property would be preserved as depicted. Staff recommended approval of the site-plan changes but opposed removing the prior condition that required a residential-character gable roof; council ultimately added language to require final architectural approval by council after DRB review.
Pastor Randall Knighton (Spirit of God) said the congregation reduced its earlier building footprint to meet parking and that the modern-flat-roof design "fits who we are in 2025." Nearby resident Dennis Rice sought clarity on whether revised drainage plans would remove any previous proposal to route stormwater through adjacent yards; staff and the applicant said the revised plan does not send stormwater through neighbors' properties. Architect Jim Macht (presenting in favor) noted material choices and suggested a hybrid approach might be possible.
Council members repeatedly noted sensitivity to the residential character of the surrounding neighborhood and asked that final architectural details reflect context. With the added condition for final council review of architecture, the motion passed unanimously.
Next steps: DRB review followed by final council review as required by the added condition; staff to ensure retaining-wall, drainage and tree-save conditions in the approved plan are enforced.
