Avalon Master Plan Changes Bring More 'For-Rent' Units to Alpharetta

Photo credit: Avalon/North American Properties

The Alpharetta City Council on Monday approved a request from North American Properties to amend the Master Plan for phase 2 of its mixed-use project.

The council voted 6-1, with council member Jim Gilvin opposing, to change the plan.

The changes call for:

• an additional 276 for-rent residential units, which brings the total of rental units to 526 in the development;
• constructing a 325-room hotel permitting one hotel with 325 rooms and up to 100,000 gross square feet of conference facilities; if it chooses to build a boutique-style hotel, Avalon shall provide meeting space equivalent to 30 square feet per hotel room.
• increasing the height for the parking deck from six stories to seven;
• increasing the height to eight stories for residential buildings on the site labeled Pod II; and
• allowing office buildings at 13 stories and hotel/conference/civil building at 14 stories.

The property for the second phase is approximately 86 acres and located on the north side of Old Milton Parkway just west of Georgia 400.

Another condition includes the applicant simultaneously constructing a minimum of 35,000-square-feet of office space with residential units slated for the second phase.

Additionally, North American Properties will enter into an agreement with the city to make either an in-kind or cash contribution to the establishment, acquisition or improvement towards a greenway or park. If the contribution is in-kind, it will be determined by the parameters of the city’s Parks and Recreation Master Plan. If it’s a cash contribution, the money would be due to the city before the land disturbance permit for phase two is issued.

The money may be placed in an escrow account and would be used for a project within three miles of the development. If the city does not start a project in 60 months, the funds will be returned to North American Properties.

The council approved the changes on the heels of Avalon hosting the grand opening of Phase 1 of the project, which will be a four-day long celebration.

A total of 35 people spoke during the council’s meeting, most of which expressed support. However, while four people were in support of the plan, they requested the city to postpone the request until specific parcels are identified that would meet the public space requirements, said Assistant City Administrator James Drinkard.

Council member Mike Kennedy said what Avalon has brought to the city is “different” than what Alpharetta has seen in the past. While different can be uncomfortable, Kennedy said he welcomes the diversion.

“It’s a great project for Alpharetta and I think it’s an exciting project for Alpharetta,” he added.

Fellow council member Chris Owens stated the city’s progress has become the envy of its neighbor to the east. Johns Creek Mayor Mike Bodker, according to Owen, said his city is looking “to keep up with Alpharetta.”

“’You guys are kicking butt in Alpharetta’,” Owens said, recalling what Bodker said to him.

However, for Gilvin, the increase in the number of residential units in phase two from 250 to 526 is a deal breaker. Gilvin said there is no guarantee that Avalon will construct a hotel or conference center, and he is certain that the company will move forward with the residential and retail components of the project.

He also said he was “quite frustrated” with having to approve a master plan without Avalon striking a public-private partnership that would ensure the construction of a conference center.

“To me, there’s nothing guaranteed here that will benefit the community,” he added. “I’m sorry, (but) I can’t support this and I won’t.”