Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Land Use topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Doraville council hears Landmark rezoning proposals; council approves two-parcel rezoning and defers broader seven-parcel case after notice concerns
Summary
Landmark Properties sought rezoning and multiple variances for properties along Carver Drive and Peachtree Boulevard; staff recommended approval, planning commission supported the request, residents raised questions about sign posting and street parking, council approved rezoning of 4078 and 4088 Carver Drive (Z2605) and deferred broader Z2604 matters for further follow-up.
The Doraville City Council considered two related rezoning applications from Landmark Properties on July 15: Z2604, a rezoning and four variances covering seven parcels along Carver Drive and Peachtree Boulevard, and Z2605, a separate rezoning for two adjacent parcels (4078 and 4088 Carver Drive).
Staff (speaker 7) described Z2604 as a request to rezone six parcels on Carver Drive and one on Peachtree Boulevard to T5 for a mixed-use or residential development; the application included variances asking to reduce or waive a required 20-foot planted buffer in places, to waive a required interparcel connectivity on the east side due to topography and retaining walls, and a parking reduction. Staff recommended approval without conditions; the planning commission had unanimously recommended approval with the applicant’s requested condition about treating the non-contiguous parcels as a single development.
Applicant counsel Alex Brock (speaker 18) said the project will provide two multifamily buildings, a parking deck on the west parcel, on-street striped parking along Carver Drive (about 13 spaces) and a small retail space on the southwest corner of the western building. Brock noted some topographic constraints on the east side and said the team sought to reduce buffers where nonresidential uses (churches) abut the site.
Members of the public raised several concerns. Edgar Jones (speaker 19), who said he is a member of Greater Mount Carmel adjacent to the property, asked whether the street would be widened to accommodate on-street parking; staff said travel lanes would remain roughly unchanged and on-street parking was accounted for in the applicant’s parking total. Tom Hart (speaker 12) argued several rezoning parcels lacked posted rezoning signs and urged the council to defer the item; he also criticized demo-permit fees and larger construction-fee trends. Staff responded they had photographic records showing signs were posted in accordance with state statute and that signs sometimes are removed or damaged.
After public comment and council discussion about parking, connectivity and historic neighborhood context, the council agreed to bring Z2604 back at the next zoning meeting to allow staff to double-check notice/posting documentation and to continue design discussions; council members generally signaled support for the project but wanted further detail on parking and pedestrian connectivity.
The related rezoning Z2605 (4078 and 4088 Carver Drive) was presented as a courtesy rezoning by the same applicant to align property zoning with the surrounding T5 parcels; staff recommended approval, and there were no speakers in favor or against. The council waived first reading on Z2605 and later voted to approve the rezoning by majority roll-call vote; the transcript records council member Armistead as abstaining on final action.
Staff and the applicant agreed to continue conversations on parking, potential pedestrian/bike connections and memorializing neighborhood history during the design phase.
