Planning commission conditions Coweta Road rezoning: traffic study required before land‑disturbance permit

The City of South Fulton Planning Commission on July 16 ultimately recommended approval for a rezoning (Z25‑021) and concurrent variance (CV25‑002) to allow a 50‑lot single‑family detached community on a 16.71‑acre parcel at 5860 Coweta Road, with a condition the developer submit a traffic study prior to issuance of a land‑disturbance permit (LDP).

Applicant Penny Christian and attorney Josh Mahoney presented a proposed community on a triangular parcel at the South Fulton–Union City edge. The plan showed one entrance off Coweta Road, a dog park, a soft‑surface trail and a pocket park; individual home footprints ranged from about 2,800 to 3,100 square feet and the applicant estimated target pricing in the mid‑$400,000s to low‑$500,000s.

The developer requested a concurrent variance to reduce the required 100‑foot adjacent buffer to a neighboring jurisdiction to 50 feet under section 405.01(b)(2). Staff recommended approval of both the rezoning and the variance.

Traffic questions dominated the public and commissioner discussion. Commissioners and residents raised concerns about existing congestion at the Coweta/Derrick intersection, school pickup queueing and limited sight distance at nearby turns. The applicant said a sight‑distance study of the proposed driveway showed it met requirements for the site itself and noted that the city’s right‑of‑way and other off‑site conditions (overgrowth, curb alignment) are being addressed with the council member. The applicant also said a traffic impact study is not required under current thresholds for 50 homes but agreed to provide one; the commission added the submission as a condition of approval and specified the study should include peak periods when school is in session.

The commission’s process included a tied vote on an early deferral motion that the chair broke in favor of deferral; the case was postponed to the Aug. 20 meeting. After further discussion and a motion to reconsider, commissioners approved the rezoning with the traffic‑study condition and then approved the concurrent variance. The cases will be forwarded to the mayor and council for review at the Aug. 12 public hearing.

Ending: Commissioners emphasized that the traffic study will be required before any land‑disturbance permit is issued and expressed expectation that the developer will work with the council member and public to address on‑site and off‑site circulation issues.