Planning commission recommends rezoning for five-lot Mayfield Road subdivision despite neighbor concerns about tree loss and runoff

The Alpharetta Planning Commission recommended approval June 4 of a rezoning and subdivision at 1425 Mayfield Road that would allow a gated, five‑lot single‑family subdivision on about 4.56 acres.

Staff planner Kathy Cook told the commission the application met the future land‑use plan but recommended conditions including a 30,000‑square‑foot minimum lot size, a private local street with reduced right‑of‑way, and multiple landscape and tree‑protection requirements. The staff report noted 19 specimen trees on the property and said the applicant’s plan would save two specimen trees, while the applicant asked for a smaller minimum lot size (about 24,000 square feet) to preserve five lots as shown on their site plan.

The applicant’s lawyer, Den Webb, said the proposal is consistent with nearby developments and that the team has revised the roadway width, prepared a full tree survey and met with neighbors. Webb offered mitigation steps developed during neighborhood meetings: installing a six‑foot opaque fence along the western property line, placing a staggered double row of evergreens early in construction, and routing nearby roof runoff into the project’s underground detention pond to reduce the existing above‑ground flow the neighbors documented. "We can pipe that water coming off his roof right at our property line from the gutter directly into our storm water detention to solve that problem," Webb said.

Neighbor Gibbs Frasier testified in opposition, urging the commission to preserve the site’s canopy rather than focus solely on a small number of specimen trees. Frasier said removing non‑specimen canopy trees would raise temperatures on his deck and worsen existing runoff problems. "They want to clear cut the trees," he said, adding concern about the timing and permanence of replacement plantings.

Technical witnesses and staff acknowledged some details are resolved only at permitting: Kimley Horn landscape architect Ted Anderson and staff noted that grading, driveway alignment and detention design influence which large trees can be preserved. Staff and the city arborist reviewed the updated tree‑save plan and advised that some requested changes—specifically modifying a condition that sought to save two oaks—were not supported by the arborist.

A commissioner made a motion to recommend approval of Z‑26‑04 and B‑26‑06 subject to the staff conditions as written (including the 30,000‑sq‑ft minimum), with the applicant’s additional condition about early fencing and staggered planting included as an 18th condition and a minor edit requiring arborist approval for removal of a border tree (tree 298). The motion carried; commissioners voted by voice/hand raise and a roll‑call tally was not recorded in the transcript. The commission’s recommendation will be forwarded to City Council for a hearing on June 22, 2026.

What happens next: If City Council approves the rezoning, detailed permitting will determine final grading, driveway locations and the precise tree preservation plan. Staff emphasized that hydrology studies and the land‑disturbance permit process must be completed before any tree removal or construction begins.

Sources: Staff presentation and conditions (Kathy Cook), applicant presentation (Den Webb, Steven Bates, Ted Anderson), public comment (Gibbs Frasier).