Planning Commission backs Madewell plan for 204 Marietta Street with tree-protection conditions

The Alpharetta Planning Commission on Dec. 4 recommended approval of a rezoning and subdivision at 204 Marietta Street that would split a roughly 1.1-acre parcel into two for-sale single-family detached lots.

City planner Cathy Cook told commissioners the proposal asks to rezone the parcel from OP (office/professional) to DTR (downtown residential) and would create Lot 1 (0.567 acre) and Lot 2 (0.611 acre). Staff said the proposed density (about 1.7 dwelling units per acre) is low compared with the DTR maximum, and the site plan shows 20-foot setbacks along Marietta Street, 6-foot sidewalks, a 10-foot landscape strip and underground stormwater detention. Cook said the applicant provided a tree survey identifying eight specimen trees and that staff recommends approval with 14 conditions, including saving two specimen water oaks and final architectural approval by the downtown architect.

Why it matters: The site sits inside the downtown overlay with a future land-use designation that supports low-density mixed use. Staff said protecting the tree canopy and matching downtown design standards were central to the recommendation.

Commissioner questions focused on technical and design details. The chair asked whether the city requires detention for single-family work; Cook replied that Alpharetta code requires a detention system if a project adds 5,000 square feet or more of impervious surface. Commissioners also queried a proposed cap on garage storage, with staff noting that the four-vehicle limit came from the applicant’s submitted architecture. Applicant Tory Young said pools are already shown in courtyard areas and confirmed the client is aware of potential costs if a specimen tree in the Lot 2 footprint (Tree 4, a 31-inch water oak) cannot be saved.

Cook told commissioners that if Tree 4 cannot be preserved the developer should work with staff on mitigation and plant larger-caliper replacement trees (Cook suggested 4- to 6-inch caliper specimens along the frontage) to help restore canopy more quickly.

Motion and outcome: Commissioner identified in the transcript as Speaker 2 moved to recommend Z25-15 (Madewell / 204 Marietta Street) to City Council subject to staff’s conditions with an amendment to explicitly require saving Tree 6 and to require the developer to work with staff on Tree 4 if it cannot be saved; Speaker 6 seconded. The chair called the vote and the motion carried. The transcript does not record a roll-call tally.

Next steps: The commission’s recommendation will be transmitted to Alpharetta City Council for a final decision at its meeting on Monday, Dec. 8.