Planning commission approves Windward Hall restaurant, requires trail easement and public art

The Alpharetta Planning Commission unanimously approved a master-plan amendment, variance and exception to permit a two-story, approximately 7,900-square-foot freestanding restaurant called Windward Hall in the Windward LCI. Staff recommended approval with 15 conditions covering architecture and DRB review, streetscape and trail easement requirements, tree-save commitments and a public-art sculpture at Windward Parkway and Edison Drive.

Planning staff said the 2024 Windward LCI envisions experiential retail and a multiuse-trail connection serving nearby employers. "This plan calls out this property as a connected experiential retail opportunity, pairing food and beverage with a focus on the natural environment," Michael Woodman said, noting the plan anticipates pedestrian connections to nearby office buildings and a future trail alignment that the applicant is expected to help reserve via easement or land dedication.

Applicant/operator Danny Muscari described his concept as a full-service restaurant with buffet-style breakfasts and lunches and expanded evening dining and entertainment. Land-use attorney Ethan Underwood told the commission a master-plan amendment is required to align the reduced building footprint with the 2024 LCI vision and said the applicant will dedicate land or an easement to permit the future multiuse trail. "We think this is a better right-sized design for the site," Underwood said, adding the project would supply the land for a 20-foot-wide multiuse trail alignment and that elevated trail construction will be a later city-led step due to cost and topography.

Commissioners asked about cantilevered outdoor seating that encroaches into the impervious setback and about parking; staff noted the design shows 83 parking spaces against a 79-space baseline for the building and recommended conditions that require the outdoor seating to be constructed before final occupancy. The commission also discussed tree-save locations and agreed the easement/dedication approach is appropriate given elevated trail costs.

A motion to approve MP-26-08/V-26-08/E-26-05 (Windward Hall) as presented by staff passed unanimously.