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Alpharetta council approves rezoning and buffer variance for one-lot development on Milton Avenue
Summary
The council unanimously approved a rezoning and two variances to allow one single‑family home on a 1.34‑acre parcel at 0 Milton Avenue, including a reduced front setback and a 50% reduction to a perennial stream buffer with required mitigation.
Alpharetta — The City Council unanimously approved a rezoning and variance package to allow one single‑family detached home on a 1.34‑acre parcel at 0 Milton Avenue, a property formerly associated with Innovation Academy.
Planning staff presented the application (Z‑25‑15 / V‑25‑34), saying the property’s future land use is already designated low‑density residential and therefore no land‑use change was required. Staff described two variances: reducing the front building setback from 35 feet to 24 feet, and shrinking the perennial stream buffer from 150 feet to 75 feet to accommodate a single lot. The application proposes a mitigation area equal to twice the encroached buffer (0.84 acres) with buffer enhancement plantings, live stakes and streambank plantings; staff said mitigation details will be finalized through the land disturbance permit (LDP) process.
The applicant’s site plan shows a two‑story, side‑loaded garage home with impervious coverage of about 21% (below the 50% maximum). Six specimen trees were identified, with one proposed for removal; the applicant intends to preserve the remainder. Staff noted downtown architectural requirements and recommended conditions addressing materials and mitigation.
Council questions focused on how the setback is measured (from the front property line, typically about a foot behind the back of sidewalk) and whether the maintenance agreement for stream buffer mitigation would run with the property; staff said the maintenance agreement would be required at the LDP stage and would transfer to subsequent owners for the duration of the agreement. Planning Commission had reviewed the request and recommended unanimous approval subject to staff conditions; one prior comment at the commission raised downstream flooding concerns.
With no public speakers for or against the item, a councilmember moved to approve the application as presented and the motion passed unanimously. The approval includes the staff‑recommended conditions and the stream buffer mitigation and maintenance requirements that will be enforced through later permitting.
