2964 peachtree road

Project Description

The applicant proposes to reconfigure and re-landscape the exterior portion facing Peachtree in front of the South Building of the Buckhead Center complex. Specifically, they would like to change the driveway portion, truncating 3 curb cuts down to one and alter how vehicles transit the site to the parking area in rear and the rideshare pickup in front. This will remove 3 parking spaces located between the building and the street. In place of that, the new rideshare pickup area will include new seating and new shade trees. Additionally, the applicant will reconfigure pedestrian walkways and patios within the site, slightly increasing outdoor seating for building occupants. Overall, the proposed changes will result in a net decrease of 1600 sq feet of impervious surfaces in the renovated area.

There are no changes proposed to either building in any shape, nor are there changes proposed to the exterior frontage of the North Building, which is on a separate parcel.

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Applicant:  William McDonald

            Also present for the Applicant: Ryan Howard

SAP#:  not yet applied for

Variations Requested: Circular Drives and Curb Cuts

 Recommendations Regarding Variations: 

• Sec. 16-18I.020.3.a – Driveways and drive-thru service: Driveways shall be perpendicular to any adjacent street. Circular drives are not permitted between the sidewalk and a building with the exception of hotels, child care centers, kindergartens, and special schools.

The site does not currently have a circular drive, and the use type of this building does not permit the creation of one as is proposed with the new site plan.

Recommendation: The Development Review Committee supports the applicant’s request for a variation from §16-18I.020.3.a as the applicant has (1) will eliminate the existing parking spaces located between the building and street, (2) reduce the amount of impervious surface area, (3) improve vehicular flow by segregating rideshare pick up traffic from parking lot users and (4) improve the overall look of the Peachtree Road frontage of Buckhead Center with more appropriate landscaping scheme.

•  S 16-18I.020.2.a Driveway curb cuts: Driveways shall be a maximum of 24 feet in width for two-way entrances and 12 feet in width for one-way entrances, unless otherwise permitted by the commissioner of transportation. For the purposes of this section, two curb cuts serving two one-way driveways shall only be counted as one curb cut.

The proposed curb cut is 36’ wide.  This is 12’ wider than the maximum code allowance for curb cuts.

Recommendation: The Development Review Committee recognizes that this decision will be under GDOT’s purview and supports the applicant’s request for a variation from §16-18I.020.2.a as the applicant will eliminate the southernmost curb cut located, improving pedestrian safety, (2) consolidate the remaining access to the site into a single 36’ wide cut and (3) improve traffic flow in and out of the property.

 Additional Recommendations:

The Development Review Committee also had additional recommendations for the proposed restaurant:

• If an opportunity comes up to include public art, the applicant should be encouraged to include a visually interesting sculpture as part of the reconfigured front yard area.

 The Development Committee does NOT expect to see this applicant again unless significant changes are made to the proposed plans that necessitate additional variations or the city staff and/or Neighborhood Association requests additional input from the DRC.