Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Land Use topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Johns Creek planning commission recommends approval of church campus, forwards SUP and three variances to council
Summary
The commission voted 7–0 to recommend approval of SUP‑25‑0001 for a two‑phase, 22,500 sq ft Christ Fellowship Church on ~4.9 acres near Dalvin Elementary, granting staff‑recommended conditions and three variances on setbacks and temporary grading.
The Johns Creek Planning Commission voted 7–0 on Oct. 7 to recommend approval of Special Use Permit SUP‑25‑0001 and three concurrent variances to allow a two‑phase church campus totaling 22,500 square feet on a roughly 4.9‑acre AG1 parcel near Dalvin Elementary.
Ruchi Agarwal, the city’s planning and zoning manager, presented the application and staff recommendation. “The request is for a Special Use Permit SUP to allow for a 22,500 square feet of church building with 3 concurrent variances,” she said, summarizing the proposal and staff conditions that would be checked again at permitting. Staff noted the project proposes 125 parking spaces in Phase 1 and an additional 72 in Phase 2 (197 total) against a zoning requirement of 140 spaces, bioswale‑based stormwater measures and landscape buffers to screen adjacent homes.
Applicant Duane Wood and John Wood described site constraints, including a roughly 30‑foot grade drop and the need for grading variances to fit the building and parking without extensive retaining walls. John Wood emphasized local ties: “Christ Fellowship is a local church that has been serving the Alpharetta, Roswell, and Johns Creek communities for the past 7 years.” The applicant said the campus would not operate a daycare or transitional housing on site.
Commissioners questioned staff and the applicant on phasing, traffic, stormwater, buffers and lighting. After discussion, the presiding officer moved to recommend approval with the staff conditions; the motion was seconded and recorded as passing 7–0. Staff reminded the public that the commission’s action is a recommendation and the City Council will take the final vote on Oct. 20 at 7 p.m.
