Council approves variance to reduce landscape buffer on Edge Road for Prime Construction, 4–1

The Villa Rica City Council voted 4–1 on Feb. 10 to approve a variance allowing Prime Construction to reduce a front parking landscape buffer on Edge Road from 20 feet to 16 feet for two parcels (V‑060070125 and V‑060070135).

Staff and the planning commission recommended approval with conditions, citing a parcel configuration and a shifted right‑of‑way that, staff said, created a non‑self‑imposed hardship that limited the applicant’s ability to meet the full 20‑foot buffer. Staff told council the applicant would still be required to install the required density of plantings (trees and shrubs) but in a more compact strip.

Trey Robinson of Prime Construction, who said he lives on Liberty Road and is a local small‑business owner, told council the project otherwise meets ordinance requirements and that the company would maintain the same number of trees and shrubs but compacted into the slightly narrower buffer. Robinson said losing the four feet would reduce parking on one side of the proposed layout.

Several nearby residents spoke in opposition during the public hearing, raising concerns about truck traffic, driveway safety and the effect on livability; one speaker urged council to “watch over” Edge Road residents and said, “That’s my driveway,” indicating direct proximity to the project.

Council weighed the engineering and layout alternatives and ultimately approved the variance, subject to the three conditions recommended by staff. The approval allows the applicant to proceed with the proposed buildings while requiring further site engineering, landscaping in accordance with the code intent, and adherence to city‑reviewed plan details.

What’s next: The applicant must submit final engineering and landscaping plans that conform to the approved site plan and staff conditions; if the council had denied the variance, the applicant would have had to substantially reconfigure parking and building placement.