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Council approves special-use permit and variances for Christ Fellowship Church on Jones Bridge Road
Summary
The Johns Creek City Council approved a special-use permit and three variances to allow a phased, two-stage Christ Fellowship Church totaling 22,500 sq. ft., with conditions addressing parking, buffers, and stormwater management.
The Johns Creek City Council voted to approve an ordinance authorizing a special-use permit (SUP-25-0001) and three concurrent variances (VC25-0002, VC25-0003, VC25-0004) to permit a phased 22,500-square-foot church development on Jones Bridge Road.
Planning Director Ben Song summarized staff27s review, saying the site was previously permitted for a smaller church and that the proposal includes a Phase 1 building of about 12,250 sq. ft. with 125 parking spaces and a future Phase 2 that would add roughly 10,250 sq. ft. and 72 spaces. Song said traffic modeling estimated about 122 new daily trips, 27 evening-peak trips and 270 Sunday peak trips, and that stormwater management and buffer measures are required and conditioned as part of the land-disturbance permit process. Song told council the requested reductions in setbacks and buffers were primarily to address steep topography and that staff recommended approval with conditions.
The applicant and church representatives told the council they plan community-minded programming and partnerships with nearby schools, emphasizing that the property would not be used for daycare or transitional housing. Duane Wood, the applicant27s representative, described a phased construction approach and noted the plan would revegetate and restore disturbed buffer areas after grading.
Council members asked detailed questions about stormwater controls, parking requirements for partial build-out, and timing for Phase 2; the applicant said Phase 2 depends on funding and could take three to five years. After public testimony that included neighbors and church members speaking in favor, a council member moved the staff-recommended approval and the ordinance was adopted. The motion passed and the chair congratulated the applicants.
The permit includes conditions the council applied during the hearing, including specific buffering, stormwater design, and roadway improvements tied to the project27s traffic study. Council discussion and the staff report made clear future land-disturbance and building permits must meet the city27s stormwater and zoning regulations before construction can proceed.
