99 west paces ferry road second visit
Project Description: The applicant submitted a revised proposal to renovate the vacant southeast ground floor retail space to house a restaurant. Most work would occur in the interior of the space; however, the exterior elevations for the suite would see an elimination of 6 of the 10 windows fronting West Paces Ferry Road and change in façade materials used. Specifically, the applicant is proposing to remove two sets of windows/storefront doors on the east and south elevations and replace them with a stone façade and solid wood doors. All but the four remaining windows on the street frontage would be made opaque to obscure the proposed interior partition walls to fully enclose the restaurant space in a manner consistent with other omakase sushi restaurants. The remaining fenestration on the building outside the scope of the SAP would not change, nor would the overall space or scope of uses for the building.
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Applicant: Patti Wallis, Permit Solutions, Inc.
Also with the Applicant: Marissa Behlmaier, Smith Haynes, Federico Castellucci
SAP#: 24-211
Variation Requested: Reduction in Fenestration
Recommendations Regarding Variations:
Section 16-18I.017.5: Fenestration including all window and door openings shall be provided at the sidewalk level for a minimum of 65 percent of the length of the building for nonresidential uses. The code requires buildings to maintain 65% fenestration along West Paces Ferry Road. The previous proposal eliminated fenestration for the entirety of the suite and would have lowered the overall fenestration value to less than 55%. The revised proposal restores some of the eliminated windows and aligns with the recommendations made at the previous DRC meeting. However, the fenestration value for the building as whole would fall from 65.3% to 59.2%, necessitating a variation.
Recommendation: The Development Review Committee supports the applicant’s request for a variation from §16-18I.017.5 as the applicant has (1) restored some fenestration facing West Paces Ferry Road, (2) has made sure the remaining windows do maintain good sightlines into the interior of the restaurant, and (3) has agreed to improve landscaping in front of the mirrored windows to soften the exterior appearance to pedestrians. The DRC commended the applicant for listening to the suggestions made at the previous meeting and for the addition of an upscale dining option in this area.
Additional Recommendations:
None
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.
