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Pastor and architect outline childcare plan, buffer variance request at Johns Creek church
Summary
Messiah Lutheran Church proposed repurposing existing classrooms into a weekday preschool (8 a.m.–12 p.m.), describing staffing, class sizes and a phased plan; the applicant requests a variance to reduce a 50-foot buffer to 40 feet to fence an existing playground for child safety.
Messiah Lutheran Church representatives presented a plan to use existing education space at 4765 Kimball Bridge Road for a weekday preschool program and requested a concurrent variance for playground fencing.
Pastor Harmon Lewis said the proposed program would run from 8 a.m. to 12 p.m., described the curriculum as a blend of STEM and high-scope approaches, and noted the director has 17 years of experience. "We're not asking that our building be expanded in that section at all, but rather that we're able to just repurpose our existing academic section to serve as also a preschool during the week," Lewis said.
Architect Sean Fogarty described a three-phase approach: Phase 1 consists of interior conversion and adding a fence around the existing playground; Phase 2 involves further interior modifications if Phase 1 succeeds; Phase 3 would be a new front addition to accommodate up to 60 students at maximum buildout. Fogarty said the maximum new trips at 60 students are about 47, which he characterized as "well below the requirement for initiating a traffic study." He requested a variance to reduce the rear buffer from 50 feet to 40 feet so the playground fencing can be located around the existing structures.
The presenters said parking would remain on the existing lot and that the initial interior conversion would not change exterior footprints. No formal decision or vote was taken during the presentation; staff closed the live portion of the meeting for a follow-up Q&A between applicants and attendees.
Next steps: the proposal will proceed through normal planning review; applicants indicated they will be available for follow-up questions and community discussion.
