The South Fulton Zoning Board of Appeals on Jan. 15 voted to approve variances for a proposed development at 2370 Burdette Road, including reductions to required on-site parking, landscaping islands and front-yard setbacks.

Staff read the application into the record, saying the applicant proposed 161 parking spaces where the code requires 453, a shortfall of 292 spaces, and requested multiple variances to sections of the zoning code. "Staff is recommending approval," the staff reader said during the presentation.

Applicant Shatore Phillips, who identified herself as representing 2370 Burdette Road, told the board the project had received a zoning change in November and that the building footprint was reduced so it sits on the buffer. Phillips said the applicant secured approval to use an adjacent lot for additional parking and planned to build out that lot to meet demand: "we've got approval to use that parking lot," Phillips said, adding the adjacent lot would provide about 95 spaces.

Natalie Jerome, the board's District 6 representative, said the staff recommendation was rooted in the zoning code's hardship criteria and indicated she would recommend approval. Jerome quoted the "number 1 hardship criteria" language stating that application of a zoning provision to a property "because of its size, shape, or topography would create an unnecessary hardship for the owner while causing no detriment to the public." She said she had reviewed the project graphic and had no objections.

Board members asked logistical questions including Sunday hours of operation — the applicant said competitions would typically run from about 12 p.m. to 6 p.m. — and whether the adjacent lot's schedule would conflict; Phillips said a contract and calendar were in place with the lot owner to avoid conflicts.

After public comment was opened and closed, a board member moved to approve case V-26-001 (2370 Burdette Road); the motion was seconded and passed by voice vote. The chair declared the variance approved.

The board did not record a roll-call vote in the transcript; the approval was stated on the meeting record as a passed motion by voice vote. The applicant was congratulated and the board moved on to other business.