Sandy Springs Wants To Overhaul Planning, Zoning Process

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With nearly 10 years under its belt as an incorporated municipality, the city of Sandy Springs is undertaking projects designed to ensure its operations coincide with its efforts to grow into a respected governing entity.

That includes the city’s planning and zoning process, which will soon undergo a considerable makeover. Assistant City Manager Jim Tolbert presented a slew of proposed recommended changes last week to the City Council.

Tolbert said the city’s process is “very back loaded,” adding a lot of things happen behind the scenes before applications come to the Planning Commission.

Proposed changes include:

• Establishing a formal, pre-application meeting. This will require developers to meet with city staff to discuss their projects at least one month before the application deadline;
• Requiring the applicant host an initial community meeting at least two weeks before the application deadline;
• require better signage to notify the public of applications;
• Increasing postcard notifications to citizens (Tolbert said current stipulations require postcards be mailed to property owners within 500 feet of the subject land; in some cases, this could be a few houses);
• Once the application is submitted, staff would conduct an initial review and brief the City Council on the application;
• A second community meeting will be held about a month before the application goes to the Planning Commission; city staff would then submit its review of the application two weeks before the Commission meeting; 
• Once the Commission issues its recommendation, city staff would update its report on the application; 
• No changes would be made to the application between the time the Commission make its recommendation and the City Council meeting.

Tolbert said the city already meets with most applicants, but they want that option to be a requirement. In other words, developers would not be allowed to make “cold calls” to city staff members on proposed projects, Tolbert added.

With signage, the city wants to have one sign notifying the public of a pre-application public meeting and a second sign strictly advertising public hearings, including those with the Planning Commission and City Council.

The signs would be wooden, 4x8 structures, with language provided by the city. The applicant would be tasked with construction and placement of the sign -- with the submittal of a time and date-stamped photo. One sign per frontage would be required. However, if more than 500 feet of frontage exists, an additional sign would be required per fraction thereof.

Other proposed changes would be the elimination of zoning modifications, concurrent variances and guidance for density, parking and mixed uses in the city’s MIX zoning category.

Tolbert also said the establishment of a Citizen’s Planning Academy is also something staff members are considering.

Mayor Rusty Paul applauded the proposed changes, adding the points outlined are a “great start” in getting more people involved in the process.

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