Sandy Springs Board of Appeals Regular Meeting – April 8, 2026

The Sandy Springs Board of Appeals met on Wednesday, April 8, 2026, at 6:00 p.m. in the Studio Theatre at Sandy Springs City Hall (1 Galambos Way, Sandy Springs, GA 30328) for a regular meeting. Chair Sherri Allen presided; Vice Chair Justin Sparano and board member Susan Maziar were absent. The board held one variance hearing, approved routine records, and adjourned.

Call to Order, Agenda, and Minutes

• The board approved the April 8, 2026 meeting agenda by voice vote.
• The board amended the March 4, 2026 meeting minutes to change 'MAY' to 'mayor' in the sentence about the appointment of new board member Jeffrey Howe and to add the sentence 'Chair Sherri Allen asked if the applicant had more time for rebuttal.' The amended minutes were then approved unanimously.

Public Comments & Testimony

• No public comment cards were submitted, and no members of the public spoke in support or opposition.
• Andrew Ward, contractor with Buckhead Landscape and Design, spoke on behalf of the applicant for V-25-56. He argued that the property's physical constraints, soil conditions, and pre-existing house location made strict compliance with the 50-foot undisturbed buffer impracticable, and that continued soil movement/failure would degrade the buffer function and threaten the house and adjacent natural area. He described the proposed retaining wall as the minimum viable intrusion into the buffer and stated the stabilization, mitigation, and monitoring plan would leave the buffer as protective or more protective than allowing the failure to continue unabated.

Discussion Items

• Planner LaQuita Williams presented Case 2026-0006 V-25-56, 8260 Grogans Ferry Road, a request for a variance from Division 9.2 / Section 9.2.3.8.1 to construct a retaining wall within the 50-foot vegetative stream buffer at the rear of the property. Staff reported that the property is in the 'Protect the Neighborhood' character area, zoned RD-18 (18,000 square foot minimum lot size), and developed with a two-story single-family home built in 1985. A stream runs through the rear yard and the land drops steeply before rising again toward the rear property line. Staff concluded that the buffers encumber a large portion of the property, including most of the primary structure, making development nearly impossible without a variance and constituting a hardship. Staff recommended approval with conditions.
• Board members questioned the applicant about the scope and material of the wall. The applicant confirmed the project replaces an existing failing timber wall, moves it a few feet further from the house, and extends it along the entire rear of the house (currently about half). The new wall would be a Belgard block wall, chosen as a long-term solution.
• Asked about the restoration and mitigation plan condition, the applicant explained that the steep toe-of-slope area would receive jute mesh and be planted with ground cover to help restabilize the slope after construction. The applicant stated that no water quality control feature was required in the site plan, but he was willing to include one if the board required it.

Key Outcomes

• The board unanimously approved V-25-56 with the two staff-recommended conditions: (1) the restoration and mitigation plan must be approved by the Director of Community Development; and (2) construction must be substantially similar to the site plan received January 14, 2026, prepared by Survey Land Express Incorporated and stamped by Eugene Steppen.
• In ongoing business, the board welcomed Jeffrey Howe to the Board of Appeals and acknowledged attendance at the March 20 retreat.
• The board adjourned by unanimous voice vote.

Administrative Hold / Not Heard

• Agenda item 2026-0007 V-25-65, 250 Glen Lake Drive NW, a requested variance from Section 2.2.1 to increase lot coverage to 35.4% from 25% in the RE-1 zoning district, was listed as an administrative hold and was not discussed or acted on during the meeting.