Stonecrest planning commission moves to defer decision on proposed Spring Hill Cove personal care home

Chair Eric Hubbard presiding over the Stonecrest Planning Commission on March 3 asked the commission to defer further action after staff flagged multiple compliance gaps in an applicant’s request to open a personal care home at 1695 Spring Hill Cove.

Senior planner Ramona Evertson told the commission that staff had reviewed application SLUP 25-007 and recommended denial because the structure appears to have been altered without permits, a garage was converted to living space, the submitted quitclaim deed did not appear recorded in DeKalb County, the ordinance requires the owner to reside at the personal care home, and the required findings for approval had not been adequately addressed.

Applicant Michael “Mike” Stewart said he and his brother inherited the house after their mother’s death and that his brother currently lives in the converted garage. Stewart told the commission he had added his brother’s name to the deed and argued he had worked with planning staff to provide the requested materials. “I added my brother to the deed,” Stewart said. “I said, okay. Cool. That takes care of that problem.” He also described plans for certified personnel and a 24-hour nurse, saying the facility would care for three clients and that scheduled visitation and Medicaid-funded transportation would manage activity and traffic.

Commissioners pressed for specifics. Commissioner Jackson and Commissioner Lemuel Hawkins asked whether the converted garage counted toward living-area and bedroom totals, and whether the nurse’s residence would reduce the number of bedrooms available to clients. Jackson noted that if the number of permitted bedrooms effectively changes the application, an amendment might be necessary. Hawkins emphasized the staff concern about unpermitted construction and inspections, saying those items must be resolved before the city can approve a permit.

Director Holly (planning director) told the commission that staff evaluate each application against the city ordinance and that when submitted documents are incomplete or inconsistent staff must point that out. Holly said the department had seen unpermitted repairs and that applicants must submit additional documentation — recorded deeds, permits or HOA approvals — to demonstrate compliance.

A consultant from Sunrise Consulting Firm, speaking for the applicant, said he had prepared state paperwork and would record the deed at the county if required. The consultant added that state rules differ from local ordinances: “A lot of counties, you don't have to live in the facility to do this. It's not a requirement for the state,” he said, but noted Stonecrest’s ordinance does impose an owner-residency requirement.

Chair Hubbard summarized the commission’s concerns and moved to defer the application to the next planning commission cycle to allow the applicant time to record the deed and address staff’s items, explaining that a deferral is not a denial and would allow the applicant to return with documentation to present at the upcoming city council meeting. The transcript excerpt ends after the motion and clarification questions, and the final vote on that deferment was not recorded in the provided transcript.

Next steps: the applicant was advised to provide recorded deed documentation, any HOA covenants or affidavits, and permits or inspections for altered structures; the commission indicated the matter would return to the next planning commission meeting and also be visible to the city council at its next meeting.