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Planning commission recommends vertiport be added to Northwind Summit master plan
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Summary
The Alpharetta Planning Commission voted to recommend approval of a master-plan amendment and conditional use to allow a vertiport on the top level of a parking deck at 1000 Summit Place. Staff recommended four conditions, including an NFPA fire-risk assessment and FAA compliance.
The Alpharetta Planning Commission on Oct. 2 recommended that the city council allow a vertiport as a conditional use in the Northwind Summit master plan at 1000 Summit Place. The commission's vote was unanimous in favor of the staff recommendation. Staff framed the vote as an amendment to permit a future vertiport atop a three-story parking structure that would serve adjacent commercial and office uses.
Staff planner Michael Woodman told commissioners the request seeks only the land-use entitlement — no construction is planned now — and that the city recently adopted a definition and use category for "vertiport" to distinguish it from heliports. Woodman described the proposed footprint as four landing pads and an approximately 10,000-square-foot terminal on the top level of a parking deck and said the use would accommodate electric vertical takeoff and landing aircraft (eVTOLs). He said the technology is quieter than helicopters and recommended approval subject to four conditions: add vertiport as a conditional use in the master plan, limit the vertiport to the submitted plans and location, require the developer to submit a fire-risk assessment in accordance with the cited NFPA standard, and provide evidence of compliance with FAA planning, design and construction standards.
Applicant Kerry Armstrong of Pope and Land Enterprises told commissioners the firm had worked with FAA and state partners to build a feasible vertiport concept and said manufacturers estimate the noise at takeoff or landing is roughly equivalent to a residential vacuum cleaner; Armstrong added that the sound will be less than adjacent highway traffic. No members of the public submitted comment on the item, and staff said a citizen-participation report received no public comments at the community zoning information meeting.
Commissioner (unnamed) moved to recommend approval; the motion was seconded and carried. Woodman reminded the commission that the Planning Commission recommendation will be transmitted to City Council for final action on Oct. 27.
The commission’s recommendation includes the staff conditions requiring a fire-risk assessment meeting the cited NFPA provision and documentation showing the project complies with FAA planning and construction standards. Those requirements must be satisfied before the city would permit construction or operation of a vertiport at the site.
