City of Johns Creek Planning Commission Meeting - October 7, 2025
City of Johns Creek Planning Commission Meeting - October 7, 2025
On October 7, 2025, at 12:15 PM, the City of Johns Creek Planning Commission held a public hearing and voted on a special use permit application (SUP-25001) with three concurrent variances for a new church at 10505, 10509, and 10625 Jones Bridge Road. The commission voted 7-0 to recommend approval to the City Council, which will make the final decision on October 20, 2025.
Consent Calendar
- Approved the July 8, 2025 meeting minutes by a vote of 6-0-1 (one abstention).
Public Comments & Testimony
- Katie Brewer (address: 345 Aylesworth Cove, Alpharetta, GA 30022), a kindergarten teacher at Dolvin Elementary School and church member, spoke in favor of the project. She highlighted the church's existing positive relationship with Dolvin Elementary, including financial support and volunteerism, and emphasized the potential for continued community partnership.
Discussion Items
- SUP-25001 and Concurrent Variances (VC-25-0002, VC-25-0003, VC-25-0004) – The applicant, Christ Fellowship Church, requested a special use permit to construct a 22,500 square foot church on a 4.872-acre property currently zoned AG-1. The project would proceed in two phases: Phase 1 (12,250 sq. ft. building, 125 parking spaces) and Phase 2 (additional 10,250 sq. ft., 72 more spaces, for a total of 197 spaces). The three variances sought were: (1) reducing the required 100-foot church building setback to 50 feet along the west property line; (2) allowing temporary grading and land disturbance within the 25-foot undisturbed buffer and 10-foot improvement setback along the west property line; and (3) reducing the 50-foot undisturbed buffer to 20 feet along the rear property line. Staff recommended approval with conditions, citing the site's topographic challenges, the precedent of a prior special use permit on the property, and mitigation measures. Commissioners questioned staff about traffic impacts (172 daily trips, 27 evening peak, 270 Sunday peak), stormwater management, tree replacement, lighting compliance, and parking adequacy. Commissioner Katzen expressed concern about the reduced west setback and asked if alternative building orientations were studied; the applicant explained that the current layout minimized disturbance to the adjacent neighborhood. Commissioner Jackson noted the site's difficulty and expressed support, stating the church use is preferable to potential residential development.
Key Outcomes
- Motion to approve SUP-25001 with all three variances (VC-25-0002, VC-25-0003, VC-25-0004) and staff conditions – Passed 7-0. This is a recommendation to the City Council, whose final vote is scheduled for October 20, 2025, at 7:00 PM in the same location. The commission also noted that a follow-up work session on code adjustments may be scheduled for December 2025.
Meeting Transcript
Folks that are still coming in, but um you know take your time. Um I would like to call the October 7th uh meeting of the City of John's Creek Planning Commission to order. Um at this time I would like to ask everyone to please silence or turn off your cell phone. This planning commission is a recommending body to the mayor and to the city council, and we follow guidelines in conjunction with a public hearing to assist in formulating that recommendation. Copies of the planning commission's procedures and staff reports are available at the entrance to the chamber when you came in. The presiding officer will call cases on the agenda for public hearing. First, the presiding officer shall recognize the planning staff to make a presentation of the case with their recommendations, and then we will open to the public hearing. The applicant shall receive a time period of 10 minutes to present their case. If there are any concurrent variances, each shall grant the applicant an additional 10 minutes of time. That time is kept by the planning staff here on the right. The applicant may choose to use their entire allotment or reserve portion of their time for a rebuttal. Any member of the hearing body upon recognition by the presiding officer may ask questions of the applicant or an agent of the application or the applicant. The period of questions from the planning commission is not deducted from the applicant's time period. The opposition, if there is any, is granted an equal time period per application to present their data, evidence, and opinions. If a large number of people wish to speak in opposition, it is advisable that you elect a spokesperson to make that presentation. The city is not obligated to provide the full time period to opponents if they elect not to use their time, and the opposition is not granted a rebuttal period. Any member of the hearing body upon recognition by the presiding officer may ask questions of any person giving public comment. After completing this process, the presiding officer will indicate that the public hearing is closed. Upon closing the public hearing, the planning commission can no longer be addressed by the applicant or opposition. The planning commission may ask questions of city staff at that time, and once all those questions have been asked and addressed, the presiding officer will call for a motion. And if that motion is properly seconded, we will call for a vote on the matter. The presiding officer will then state the vote and recommend recommendation for the record. Starting with my right, um Commissioner Horton, Commissioner Carnwall, Commissioner Jackson, Commissioner Anand, Commissioner Ross, and Commissioner Katzen on the far your right. All right. At this time, the first item on the agenda is the approval of the July 8th meeting minutes. We actually haven't had a meeting in a little while. So uh has everybody had a chance to review the meeting minutes? They were pretty short and pretty much. I'll make a motion to approve them as is. Okay, go ahead. Okay. Any discussion? All right. Hearing no discussion, um, all those in favor of approving the meeting minutes. Aye. Anybody opposed? No. Abstain. Yeah. Thank you. So the motion passes 60 with one abstention. The first item of business on the agenda is land use petition SUP-25001 with three concurrent variances. Thank you, Ms. Argerwall. Good evening, Commissioners. Um is Rutia Garval. I'm the planning and zoning manager with the City of John's Creek, and I'll be presenting tonight's land use petition, which is SUP-25-0001 with three concurrent variances, and the numbers are listed there. VC-25-0002, VC-25-0003, and then 0004. The subject property here on the graphic here is the zoning map, which shows the agricultural zoning, AG1. It is 4.872 acres, and the address is 10505, 10509, and 10625 Jones Bridge Road.
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