Council approves conditional use for 2,300-sq-ft columbarium at St. Thomas Aquinas

The Alpharetta City Council on July 20 approved a conditional use to allow a 2,300-square-foot columbarium on the St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic Church property at 535 Rucker Road.

Planner Michael Woodman presented the staff report, saying the proposed columbarium would sit on a 48-acre site currently used by the church and be limited in scale and hours; staff recommended approval subject to three conditions that include tying the use to the submitted 2,300-square-foot site plan and filling gaps in evergreen screening along the west property line. “The proposed columbarium is very small. It will function as an accessory use to the church,” Woodman said, noting planning commission's unanimous recommendation for approval.

Michael Boland, managing partner of Smith Boland Architects, identified himself as the applicant's representative and said he was speaking on behalf of the Archdiocese of Atlanta and the church. Boland told council there was nothing additional to add to staff's presentation and that the church supported the conditions proposed.

There were no public commenters for or against the request during the hearing, so the applicant offered no rebuttal. Mayor Pro Tem Merkel moved to approve CU-26-07 as presented; Councilwoman Reeves seconded the motion and the council approved it unanimously.

The approval includes the staff-recommended conditions that the columbarium be limited to the 2,300-square-foot footprint shown on the site plan and that evergreens be installed where gaps exist along the west property line. The council did not add additional conditions related to hours beyond the applicant's statement that the facility would be accessible only during daylight hours.

The council action finalizes the planning commission recommendation and allows the applicant to proceed with any necessary building permits tied to the approved site plan.