Johns Creek City Council Meeting - August 25, 2025
Johns Creek City Council Meeting - August 25, 2025
The Johns Creek City Council met on August 25, 2025, at 7:11 PM. The meeting included approval of a consent agenda item, a commendation, public comments, and a major rezoning case (RZ-24-0010) for 10505, 10555, and 10655 Embry Farm Road. After extensive debate, the council approved the rezoning with an additional condition modifying lot sizes on the south side.
Consent Calendar
- Traffic Signal Maintenance Contract: Approved a $430,000 contract with Yunex LLC for traffic signal maintenance. (Motion by Mayor Pro Tem Tunki, seconded by Councilmember Aramelli, passed unanimously.)
Public Comments & Testimony
- Vishraw Baharma (student): Announced a student-led city council and mayoral debate on October 2, 2025, at Chattahoochee High School.
- Isabel Lee, Rhea Nahari, Nisa Shringapour (students, Gladiator Robotics): Expressed support for a parking lot at Collie Creek Makerspace, citing benefits for STEM outreach programs reaching 150 children per summer, mentoring programs, and accessibility for disabled participants.
- Miriam (resident, Shakerag): Opposed the rezoning, arguing it violates the 2018 Comprehensive Plan's density cap of 1 unit per acre, uses improper gross density calculations, and fails to protect adjacent large-lot communities as required by the CUP ordinance.
- Brian Cito (resident): Opposed the rezoning, citing safety concerns on Roger Circle and Bell Road.
- Dennis Webb (applicant representative): Supported the rezoning, highlighting changes made since May (reduced units, larger lots, redesigned roundabout with 135-foot diameter, 65 acres of open space, and agreement with two adjacent homeowners).
Discussion Items
- Minutes and Agenda Approval: Approved minutes from August 11, 2025. The agenda was amended to reopen the public hearing for RZ-24-0010 for 10 minutes per side. (Motion by Councilmember Elwood, seconded by Mayor Pro Tem Tunki, passed.)
- Commendation for Jayden Evans: Recognized Jaden Evans for earning All-American designation in the pentathlon at the 2025 AAU Junior Olympics and his sister Riley for a state title in long jump.
- Rezoning RZ-24-0010 (Embry Farm Road):
- Staff presentation (Director Song) outlined changes: 189 lots (down from 200), minimum lot size increased to 21,780 sq ft, roundabout diameter increased to 135 ft, and 65 acres of open space. Staff recommended approval.
- Applicant showcased revised site plan, including one-acre lots along the western boundary, a 250-ft extended stacking lane near Shakerag Elementary, and a roundabout fully on school property (with agreement from Fulton County Schools). The two immediately adjacent homeowners support the plan.
- Opposition: Residents argued the density violates the Comprehensive Plan (net density vs. gross), the southern lots are too small and back up to large-lot communities, and the roundabout poses safety risks.
- Council discussion focused on legal interpretations of density calculations, CUP ordinance requirements, and the impact of a potential procedural violation (leak of executive session information).
Key Outcomes
- Rezoning RZ-24-0010 Approved: The council voted 4-1 (Councilmember Aramelli recused; voting breakdown not explicitly stated, but the substitute motion to approve passed). The approved ordinance (O2025-05-15) amends the zoning map to CUP for 189 single-family detached lots at 0.93 units per acre, subject to staff conditions with an additional condition: Lots 176 through 189 shall be one acre (minimum lot area 43,560 sq ft). The motion was made by Councilmember Elwood and seconded by Councilmember Coughlin.
- Executive Session: The council entered executive session to discuss land, legal, and personnel matters. After returning, they voted to waive attorney-client privilege regarding a supplemental Wilson report dated January 2014.
Meeting Transcript
Thank you, Mayor. We're recording. Okay. Just want to welcome everybody to this meeting of the Johns Creek City Council. I'd like to call this meeting to order this uh August 25th, 2025 at 7, 11 p.m. Thank you. At this time I'll call roll. Please. Councilmember Tunki? Here. Councilmember Skinner. Here. Councilmember Aramelli. Resident. Councilmember Coughlin. Present. Councilmember Dubiasi. Here. Councilmember Elwood. Here. Thank you, Mayor. We have a quorum this evening. Fantastic. Next slide. Thank you. At this time, I would like to invite Jaden and Riley Evans to come forward and lead us in the Pledge of Allegiance. Come on up, guys. We're excited to have you. Everyone, please stand. Oh, there you go. Okay. I pledge of allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the Republic for which it stands one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. Thank you. Next item. Thank you. Mayor's opening remarks. Yeah, just briefly just want to bring your attention to September 11th. There will be the annual Patriot Day commemoration at Newtown Amphitheater in partnership with the two different Rotary Clubs affiliate affiliated with our community, Rotary Clubs of John's Creek and Johns Creek North Fulton. The event honors the services and sacrifices of the first responders and military personnel and includes a moment of silence and the ringing of a memorial bell in honor of all those that fell on that tragic day in our nation's history. Thank you, Mayor. The next item on the agenda is the minutes. You have the August 11th work session summary and council meeting meeting minutes before you for consideration. Any motions? I would like to make a motion to approve the minutes as presented. Thank you, Councilmember D.Biassi. Is there a second? Second. Thank you, Mayor Pro Tim Tunkey. Is there a discussion? Seeing none, all those in favor?
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