Council Approves Revised Sandy Springs Circle Improvements

SANDY SPRINGS, GA -- After feedback and concerns expressed by the community, the city of Sandy Springs has made modifications to a project that would overhaul a segment of a major thoroughfare.

The City Council on Tuesday approved design changes to its Sandy Springs Circle Streetscape project. The revisions maintain the reduction in lanes on Sandy Springs Circle between Mt. Vernon and Hammond Drive, but includes modifications sought by the community.

“The community had concerns, and we listened,” said Sandy Springs Mayor Rusty Paul. “After evaluating the requests, and with the cooperation of the state and federal authorities which are also involved with the project, we were able to successfully make changes to the final design.”

The proposed changes were unveiled during the Council's work session. Included in the changes, Sandy Springs will initially construct the project with two lanes of travel in the southbound direction, without installation of on-street parking on the west side of the street.

It will evaluate traffic flow and parking usage along Sandy Springs Circle following completion of the project, with the option to add on-street parking on the west side should studies indicate a need for inclusion.

The city will upgrade design standards for the current driveway to the Sandy Springs United Methodist Church activities center to properly integrate with the project. The driveway will continue to allow full movement, including left turns into and out of the property.

Rather than install a retaining wall along the church property, Sandy Springs has revised its plans to install slopes wherever feasible, limiting slope grades that fall within the church property.

The proposed project attracted push-back from some residents in the community as well as the church. Specifically, the church expressed opposition to plans to reconfigure the Activities Center driveway on Sandy Springs Circle to line up with Hilderbrand Drive.

Scott Peters, an attorney for the church, expressed gratitude for the city working with the church, its congregation and members of the public to come up with a solution that everyone could live with.

The Sandy Springs Circle Streetscape project was identified in the City Center Master Plan, developed in 2012. The project is intended to meet the city’s goals in creating a unique, vibrant, walkable city center. The project also includes the addition of sidewalk and multi-use path. The construction timeline for the project will be revised to incorporate the program changes.

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