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Alpharetta DRB approves Portman Brookside design standards with landscaping notes
Summary
The Design Review Board approved the Portman Brookside design standards booklet, emphasizing landscape and streetscape as the primary unifying elements and asking for corrections to plant identification and minor material callouts. Vote: 6–0.
The City of Alpharetta Design Review Board on May 15 approved a consolidated Portman “Brookside Design Standards” booklet that compiles architecture, landscape and streetscape elements the board has previously reviewed. The board’s action directs the applicant to make the corrections discussed at the meeting, notably clarifying plant identifications and a few materials callouts, before final incorporation into the standards.
Brandon Robinson of LKI Architecture, the design presenter, said the guidelines are intended to establish consistent “threads” across the site rather than dictate every future tenant design: “the guidelines that we're going to present to you today are really focused on kind of the threads that we hope will tie everything together and less on the special moments that each of the retailers will ultimately be bringing,” he said, adding that streetscape and landscape are the strongest unifying tools.
Board members discussed specifics including the proposed brick palette (concern that the guide currently lists three brick selections), the locations of back-of-house and transformer/utility areas for restaurant tenants, movable planters and irrigation approach, bus-stop siting near retail, and proposed mural and sculpture locations. Staff reminded the board that City Council condition No. 31 requires the document to include elevations, street furniture specifications, signage and landscaping themes and be substantially similar to submitted renderings; arts installations will be reviewed separately by the Arts Commission.
Following discussion, Mr. Swing moved to approve the design guide as presented with the applicant to correct the plant and material callouts and to consider landscaping comments raised during the hearing. Mr. Owens seconded. The vote was unanimous, 6–0.
Next steps: staff will confirm the applicant has made the agreed corrections and that the booklet matches the scope of Council condition No. 31 before issuing final approval. Individual tenant storefronts and signage will return to DRB as tenants propose specific designs.
