Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Land Use Access Variance topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Residents oppose request to cut required access points for 47-unit Evans Mill-area development
Summary
Developers asked to reduce the city's required access points from four to three for a proposed 47-unit residential project near Hunters Hill and Bramblewood. Residents told planners the change would worsen traffic and emergency access; the developer plans to appeal to the Board of Zoning Appeals.
A developer seeking a variance to reduce the city's required number of access points for a proposed 47-unit residential development faced sustained opposition from nearby Hunters Hill and Bramblewood residents at Stonecrest's Community Planning Information Meeting on Oct. 9.
Michelle Battle of Battle Law, the applicant's counsel, told staff the plan would add 47 units and that, when combined with adjacent subdivisions, the area would exceed the 300-unit threshold that triggers a four-access-point requirement. Battle said the team proposes access through Foxcroft Court and two Hunters Hill streets, and that an earlier plan to use Reynard Trail and Fox Den Trail was revised after the DeKalb County fire marshal objected.
"We are proposing to add an additional 47 units to the site," Battle said, and she told residents the applicant will update its traffic report to reflect removing the Reynard access.
Battle said the fire marshal informed the developer that an emergency-only designation would not be permitted: "We did ask if that, could be a emergency access only. The fire marshal indicated no." She framed the change as necessary to comply with current access-management requirements and said the client intends to pursue the matter before the Board of Zoning Appeals.
Residents said the proposal would harm traffic flow, emergency response, and quality of life. Hunters Hill resident Doris Johnson disputed the fire-access claim, saying emergency vehicles recently entered the neighborhood without issue: "All the battalion trucks, the fire trucks, the ambulances, everybody got in there. No disruption, no harm done." Gloria Jackson, whose driveway abuts the proposed four-way stop, said she "will never be able to get out of my driveway" if the project proceeds and estimated dozens of additional vehicle trips.
Other commenters raised similar worries about congestion and safety. Rachel Ziegler, president of the Hunters Homeowners Association, said traffic measures placed in yards do not reflect real driving patterns and predicted long queues: "47 more houses, the line will be back down" toward the main arterial. Bob Foster of Bramblewood said the neighborhood houses many seniors who walk locally and said the project would "interrupt our neighborhood." Dave Marcus asked whether the lot was landlocked; Battle replied the lot abuts three stub streets and therefore is not legally landlocked.
Staff and Battle said a traffic study was submitted and would be updated; Battle said the project's no-build and build analyses indicate similar level-of-service ratings after changes. Residents asked to receive copies of the traffic report and asked for clearer site graphics showing the proposed connections and traffic flow.
Procedural next steps announced at the meeting: the variance petition (V25-005) is scheduled to be heard before the Board of Zoning Appeals on Nov. 18; the developer said it may present the appeal there. Staff encouraged residents to monitor the city website and contact the planning office for updates and copies of submitted materials.
The CPIM portion closed without a decision; the matter will proceed through the formal appeals and permitting process.
