3465 buckhead loop – second submittal
Project Scope: The applicant is returning with a formal, revised proposal to redevelop the former Wells Fargo bank branch, closed since 2020. The redevelopment proposal involves enclosing the existing drive-through and constructing a 1705 square foot (44%) expansion to the existing 3880 square foot building southward towards Buckhead Church. On the north side of the building, the applicant proposes to relocate the main entrance from the corner to mid-building. The rest of the structure will be reclad in a light polished stone material, the northwest corners rounded off and all existing windows will be removed. There will be some display windows installed, however fenestration will be reduced to 32%. Building heights will be raised to 24’. The proposed use after renovation will be a jewelry store. The updated proposal makes minimal changes to the lot, adding a crosswalk across the drive through and landscape screening along Lenox Road.
Applicant: Tim Goering, MJM Architects
Also with the Applicant: Craig Nichols, Steve Maher, Stewart Henderson, Julie Adam-Leicht
SAP#: SAP-24-175
Variation Requested: Per guidance from Tshaka Warren from City of Atlanta Office of Zoning and Development, the proposed redevelopment does not trigger the requirement to meet streetscape requirements in the current SPI-12 code, so no variations are needed at this time.
Recommendations Regarding Variations: None
Additional Recommendations: The committee reviewed and discussed many aspects of the proposal including design and layout, whether the scope of the project triggered the need to meet current SPI-12 zoning code and the challenges and constraints of the site as it currently exists. The committee makes the following recommendations:
- Removal of driveway parallel to Tower Place Drive The DRC felt that the driveway parallel to Tower Place should be removed. This driveway poses both a negative visual impact to the property by giving it a suburban feel but also does nothing to improve safety at the corner where it intersects with the driveway that accesses Tower Place Drive. The distance between Tower Place drive and the former bank driveway is less than 30 feet and that causes vehicular conflicts by those who might be turning into the jewelry store versus those continuing onto the hotel or parking garages behind Buckhead Church. The fact that cars can come from three different directions also decreases pedestrian safety for those walking along Tower Place Drive. The Committee recommended full removal of the driveway and easternmost curb cut. If the Fire Department determines that is unacceptable to remove the access, the committee recommended making that portion of the driveway designated emergency use only, reduced in width and be redone in an alternative vehicular surface treatment that allowed grass to penetrate through or grass-crete to soften the appearance and elimination of curb cuts. Tshaka Warren of OZD recommended the applicant speak to Dietrich Holiday in Fire to determine specific dimensional requirements to an emergency drive.
- Easternmost Curb Cut The committee discussed concerns with the operational safety of the easternmost curb cut onto the internal loop road adjacent to Tower Place Drive. Specifically traffic turning onto Tower Place Drive and then immediately right into the ring road have the potential to rear ending vehicles turning into the store parking lot via the curb cut. Additionally, left turns out of the easternmost curb cut onto the internal loop often block right turns in from Tower Place drive onto the loop Road creating a gridlock situation. The committee recommends the applicant options for mitigating this concern if the curb cut cannot be removed altogether per fire department recommendations.
- Repair and widen the sidewalks along Tower Place Drive The applicant and/or property owner needs to ensure that the sidewalks along Tower Place Drive (a private road) are in a good state of repair and meet the minimum 6’ walk zone width requirement for private streets that function as a public street. The DRC recommended enlarging the walk zone to the width found elsewhere in the Tower Place development and connects to PATH400 just across Lenox Road. The current state sidewalk and streetscape elements is not only unsightly, but also unsafe.
- Improve Pedestrian access to the store – The site plan shows a pair of narrow access points where pedestrians can access the site from both Lenox Road and Tower Place Drive. The DRC recommended improving those beyond the two shown, particularly for pedestrians approaching from the corner closest to PATH400. This could include widening those two access walks and/or adding a third pedestrian walkway aligned from Lenox Road to the front door.
- Sidewalk Treatments when crossing driveways. For the walkway approaching from Tower Place Drive, the DRC would like to remind the applicant that anytime a sidewalk crosses a driveway per Sec 16-18L.014.3 of SPI-12 code, “Sidewalks. All sidewalk paving materials and widths shall be continued across any intervening driveway curb cut at the prevailing grade and cross slope as the adjacent sidewalk walk zone.” This will necessitate raising the sidewalk and using the same paving treatment to cross the driveway that parallels Tower Place, should Atlanta Fire Department require the applicant retain it for emergency access. The previously stated suggestion of installing ADA compliant curb cuts on the existing driveway does not meet the new code. The applicant needs to raise the driveway/emergency access road to meet the sidewalk grade.
- Soften the appearance of the building with additional landscaping There was discussion that the building appearance was too harsh and fortress like and additional vegetation along the building itself – specifically the eastern (Tower Place Drive) elevation would improve its visual appearance.
- Improve the landscaping along Lenox Road including landscaping the corner of Lenox and Tower Place The DRC is supportive of the placement of landscaped screening along Lenox Road along the parking lot. The committee also recommended the applicant improve the look of the existing landscaped corner to see if there are any improvements and investigate if any of those utility boxes could be relocated or better screened.
- Use, placement and design of bollards Tshaka Warren of the City of Atlanta brought up the need for the need for additional retail security protection, particularly against vehicle smash and grabs. The DRC recommended security measures, such as bollards coordinated with the look and design of the store.
- Consult with the City and signage ordinance to determine if the use of TV monitors is allowed in display windows The use of monitors inside a building for advertising has caused issues in other locations. The DRC is unsure if the applicant’s proposed use of monitors is permissible and encourages them to consult signage code and the City and determine it is allowable under code.
- Dumpster There is no dumpster located on the plans and the applicant indicated the building would be serviced by janitorial that removes waste from the site.
- Consider the carbon footprint of the building materials selected for the project The committee recommends the applicant explore potential ways to reduce the carbon footprint from construction and to consider those materials during the subsequent design phases and construction.
The Development Committee does NOT expect to see this applicant again provided no significant changes need to be made to the proposed plans that necessitate additional variations, and the City staff and/or Neighborhood Association requests additional input from the DRC
