Johns Creek board approves variance for deck expansion at 165 Saint Amore Place

The Johns Creek Board of Zoning Appeals on a voice vote approved variance V-250001 to allow a deck at 165 Saint Amore Place to encroach into the city's 7-foot side-yard setback, board members announced during the February meeting.

Staff told the board the request is to "encroach, 4.68 linear feet into that 7 foot side yard setback" and that the proposed deck would add 136 square feet of encroachment while the net increase in the setback area would be about 36 square feet. Staff described the lot as a triangular 0.30-acre parcel with no rear yard, which limits alternative configurations. Staff recommended approval subject to conditions, including that "the proposed deck shall not exceed the 4.68 linear feet and 136 square feet of encroachment" shown on the site plan date-stamped 01/07/2024.

One of the applicants, Jennifer Khan, told the board the deck was in place when they bought the house and is now unsafe. "The deck in its current condition is unsafe and unusable and needs to be repaired," she said, adding that reducing the deck size would make the narrow space difficult to use and that she was concerned about safety for visitors and her two young children.

A board member moved to approve the variance "as submitted by staff," and the motion was seconded (the chair noted the second was by Miss Ross). The chair announced the motion carries by voice vote and the variance was approved with the staff-recommended conditions.

What happens next: the approval is conditioned on adherence to the site plan stamped 01/07/2024; any change in scope (including tree removal on adjacent lots) would be a separate matter handled under city tree ordinances or other permitting processes.