Commission denies variance for subdivision and reduced setbacks at Washington Road parcels

The East Point Planning and Zoning Commission voted to deny a variance request from Bridal Hodge Realty Investment Company (represented by Neil Bridges) for properties at 3490 and 3480 Washington Road. The applicant asked to reduce front, side and rear setbacks and to reduce minimum lot area and frontage for a seven-lot subdivision.

Neil Bridges presented plans showing subdivision of nearly 2.95 acres into seven lots and said the requested reductions would produce houses more consistent with the neighborhood and allow single-story, senior-oriented homes. Bridges said the proposed lots would generally front existing streets and that the requested setback and lot-size reductions reflect nearby patterns.

Director Smith reviewed the requested reductions: front setback from 45 to 35 feet, side setback from 15 to 8 feet, rear setback from 40 to 30 feet, minimum lot area from 18,000 to 12,000 square feet, and minimum lot frontage at the building line from 100 to 70 feet. Staff noted a previously denied, related rezoning and variance in 2023 for a different configuration and concluded the current request did not meet the variance criteria set out in section 10-21-84; staff recommended denial.

Commissioners moved to accept staff's recommendation and voted to deny the variance. The chair clarified that the commission is the final arbiter on this variance and it will not go to City Council. The denial was recorded by voice; no individual vote tallies were read into the record in the transcript.

The applicant said he had engaged the neighborhood and obtained what he described as support through meetings and on-site visits. Staff and several commissioners referenced the 2023 denial of a similar application as part of the rationale for recommending denial.

Case number: P2025V-001-02; code references include RL development standards and variance criteria in section 10-21-84.