By John Schaffner
editor@reporternewspapers.net
Developer Tom Kirbo, of Kirbo Property Services, and his attorney Pete Hendricks took their plans for redevelopment of the Coronet Club property on Roswell Road before the Sandy Springs Planning Commission March 15 and once again came away with a unanimous rejection.
Just as the city’s Design Review Board had done Feb. 27 by a 7-0 vote, the Planning Commission voted 6-0 to deny the proposed mixed-use commercial and residential development at 5275 Roswell Road and the sought rezoning from C-1 (Community Business District) to MIX (Mixed Use District).
The plan proposed by Kirbo Property Services and Childress Klein Properties called for demolishing the existing club and building a new development that would consist of a four-story , 72,000-square-foot building on the front of the property — retail/service commercial businesses on the first floor and offices above — and two five-story buildings behind that with 182 “luxury” apartments around a courtyard that would have parking below.
Many of the same surrounding residents voiced the same objections before the Planning Commission that they earlier had successfully voiced at the Design Review Board meeting.
Brad Keshler objected to the height of the buildings and the density of the development, both of which exceeded limitations in the existing land use plan.
Tom Wells discussed the 2,280 car trips per day the development would add to an already congested area. He also pointed out the new development only calls for one driveway entrance and fire code requires two.
Mark Samples reiterated that the plan is “blatantly inconsistent” with the land use plan, and the members of the Planning Commission agreed.
It was unclear whether the developers would withdraw their rezoning request or move forward for a decision with the City Council with the burden of these two rejections.
The Planning Commission did approve two applications by the Congregation Beth Tefillah, Inc. to allow for the addition of a 7,576-square-foot preschool and a 2,000-square-foot mikvah, a ritual bath, at the existing synagogue, 5065 High Point Road.