Hines Withdraws Request To Build Mixed Use Development

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A Texas-based company has withdrawn its application to rezone property on the east side of the city to make way for a mixed-use development.

The Sandy Springs City Council on Tuesday unanimously voted to allow Hines to withdraw its request to rezone vacant land bordered by Georgia 400 to the west, Peachtree Dunwoody Road to the east, Abernathy Road to the north and Mount Vernon Highway to the south.

The company had plans to build 150,000 square feet of retail space, 1.5 million square feet of office space, a 250-room hotel and a 500-unit multi-family structure. It also requested a permit to operate 25-story and 50-story office buildings, a 25-story multi-family building and 25-story hotel.

Tuesday’s withdrawal doesn’t mean Hines will be completely removed from the area. The company was already entitled to build a 50-foot office building on the property.

Additionally, the city council voted 4-2, with Council members Tibby DeJulio and Graham McDonald opposing, to approve a request from Rockhaven Homes to rezone property at 5950 Mitchell Road from R-1 single family residential to R-4 single family residential for a 15-lot development.

Long-time Sandy Springs resident Lori Robbins said she felt like the 15-lot was “trying to squeeze too much” onto 5.09 acres. Additionally, fellow resident Hal Whiteman noted he and other residents have grown concerned about developers “pushing the limit” on what’s acceptable on property.

Whiteman added neighbors initially were satisfied with the original plan to build 13 lots on the property.

Both council members John Paulson and Andy Bauman expressed support of the project. Paulson added the change from 13 to 15 lots “doesn’t seem like a big deal.”

“This looks like a good deal to me,” he added.

Council members also approved a request from Providence Group of Georgia to rezone 17.9 acres at 4735 Roswell Road from A-1 (Fulton County’s apartment dwelling district) to A-L (apartment limited dwelling district) to develop a mixed townhome and multi-family residential development. The proposal calls for 325 apartments and 162 townhomes.

The proposal, which would redevelop the Park 225 apartment complex, also received the endorsement of the High Point Civic Association.

The council also:

• accepted the withdrawal of Dewberry Capital’s request to rezone property at 4967 & 4969 Roswell Road from C-1 (community business district) to MIX (mixed use district) to build 200 multi-family units and 80,700 square feet of commercial/daycare space.
• approved an intergovernmental agreement Fulton County to utilize its 800 MHz radio system until the North Fulton Regional Radio System Authority’s system is up and running. City Manager John McDonough said he hopes the new system would be operational by April 2015.
• approved a recommended short list of construction management at risk companies for its City Center project. Those companies are: Balfour Beaty, Holder, McCarthy, Skanska and Whitng-Turner.