Commission approves rezoning and variances for eight‑unit Roswell Street infill with construction staging condition

The Planning Commission approved a rezoning and variance package to allow an eight‑unit for‑sale subdivision at 75 & 91 Roswell Street, subject to staff's 27 conditions plus an added requirement that the developer submit a construction staging and construction traffic control plan with the Land Disturbance Permit.

Staff planner Michael Woodman described the proposal as eight for‑sale units (four semi‑detached and four detached) on about 1.12 acres in the downtown core. The applicant reduced access impacts by shifting vehicle access from Cotton Alley to Roswell Street and increased tree save and pocket park area. The applicant also requested variances to downtown streetscape standards; staff supported most variances as mitigating impacts and preserving existing historic brick sidewalks and the brick wall along Cotton Alley.

Chris Owens of Plum Creek Consulting, the applicant's representative, said Georgia Power is willing to relocate some poles at the developer's expense to preserve specimen trees, and that the project will provide more on‑site parking (32 spaces) than the downtown code requires (20 spaces). Ryn Fowler, president of the Victoria Square HOA, said the developer had addressed many of the association's concerns but asked that the construction staging condition explicitly prohibit construction traffic from using Cotton Alley; the applicant agreed to strengthen that requirement.

Commissioner discussion focused on pedestrian connections, tree preservation at the corner, and restricting staging and construction traffic on Cotton Alley. The commission voted to approve the rezoning/variances with the construction‑staging language added to condition 26. The item will go to City Council for final review on March 23.