Commission backs zoning change and parking-in-lieu for 41 Milton Avenue; allows basement conversion

The Alpharetta Planning Commission on Oct. 2 recommended approval of a rezoning and parking-in-lieu request for 41 Milton Avenue, a two-story mixed-use building downtown. Staff recommended rezoning the property from C‑2 (general commercial) to DTC (downtown core) and limiting the converted 997‑square-foot basement to office or retail uses; commissioners amended the condition to explicitly allow a single dwelling unit in the basement and retained a condition limiting residential rentals so that no more than one residential unit could be rented (condition 7 as read by staff was preserved when residential was added).

Staff planner Michael Woodman explained the property is landlocked with no on-site parking and reviewed nearby public parking options, noting the Milton Avenue parking deck is located within 400 feet and currently estimated at about 65% utilization. Because the site cannot provide required spaces, the applicant requested parking-in-lieu fees; staff described the current rate for 1–5 spaces as $4,500 per space (two spaces = $9,000; three spaces = $13,500) to be paid into the downtown parking fund prior to issuance of a building permit. Staff also explained that a change of use will require a building permit and a secondary means of egress for the space; the fire marshal reviewed and required a second point of egress for all four uses under consideration (office, retail, restaurant, residential).

Applicant Matthew, who lives and works at 41 Milton Avenue and operates a long-standing salon in the building, told commissioners he favored the flexibility to use the basement as a residential rental (possibly short‑term) and to permit small kiosk or concession refreshment uses (no seating). Commissioners probed whether an elevator or secondary entrance could satisfy the egress and ADA requirements; the applicant said the building has an elevator and a side door providing separate access that could serve the basement and upper floors.

Commissioner (Speaker 4) moved to approve Z‑25‑09/PH‑25‑1541 Milton Avenue with condition 1 edited to limit uses to office, retail and dwelling unit, leave condition 7 in place regarding rental limits, and accept staff's remaining conditions; the motion was seconded and passed (recorded as passing with six votes). The commission's recommendation will be forwarded to City Council for final action on Oct. 27. Staff conditions include a site‑specific rezoning ordinance, limits on allowed retail/office uses, payment of parking‑in‑lieu fees prior to building permit issuance, and required building permit/egress upgrades before occupancy.