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Record of Proceedings

Sandy Springs City Council Regular Meeting – May 19, 2026

City Council — Tuesday, May 19, 2026
BodySandy Springs, Georgia
SessionCity Council
DateTuesday, May 19, 2026
StatusFILED
Video Record
0:00 / 1:41:56

Original source
Transcript — VerbatimClick a timed line to jump · ⧉ to share it

Speaker numbers apply only to this recording.

Speaker 1

0:02

Moving to regular order, uh I would like to call this meeting of the Sandy Springs City Council to order for Tuesday, May 19th, 2026.

0:10

Will the city clerk please make the announcements and call the roll?

Speaker 2

0:14

Just a reminder to everyone in attendance, please continue to silence those cell phones and electronic devices.

0:19

Also a reminder to anybody providing public comment or maybe allotted up to three minutes to speak on their single chosen topic.

0:26

As I call roll, please confirm your attendance.

0:28

Mayor Rusty Paul.

Speaker 1

0:29

Present.

Speaker 2

0:29

Councilmember John Paulson.

0:31

Councilmember Melody Kelly.

0:34

President, Councilmember Melissa Mueller.

0:36

Here.

0:37

Councilmember Frank Roberts.

0:38

Councilmember Mary Ford.

0:40

Here.

0:40

Councilmember Andrew Chensky.

Speaker 1

0:42

Here.

0:42

Please join me for the Pledge of Allegiance.

Unassigned speaker

0:54

One nation.

Speaker 1

1:02

Madam Clerk, have we received any public comment cards?

Speaker 2

1:06

None for general public comment.

Speaker 1

1:07

Okay, dope.

1:08

We will close the public uh comment period.

Unassigned speaker

1:11

Uh

Speaker 1

1:11

is there a motion to approve the meeting agenda?

Speaker 3

1:14

Mayor Paul, I move approval of agenda

Unassigned speaker

1:17

of

Speaker 3

1:17

the meeting agenda for Tuesday, May 19th, 2026 for the

Speaker 1

1:21

motion by Mr.

1:21

Paulson.

1:22

Is there a second?

1:23

Second.

1:24

Motion by Mr.

1:25

Paulson, seconded by Mr.

1:26

Roberts, that we approve the meeting agenda.

1:28

Is there any discussion?

1:31

Hearing none, we'll call the question.

1:32

The questions on the approval of the meeting agenda.

1:34

All in favor of the motion say aye.

1:36

Aye.

1:36

Opposed no.

1:37

The uh meeting agenda is approved.

1:40

Is there a motion to approve the consent agenda?

Speaker 4

1:42

Mayor Paul.

Speaker 1

1:42

Ms.

1:42

Mueller.

Speaker 4

1:43

I move that we approve the consent agenda for Tuesday, May 19th, 2026.

Speaker 1

1:47

Motion by Ms.

1:48

Mueller, is there a second?

Speaker 4

1:49

Second.

Speaker 1

1:50

Motion by Miss Mueller, seconded by Ms.

1:52

Ford that we approve the consent agenda.

1:54

Is there any discussion?

1:56

Hearing none, we'll call the question.

1:58

The questions on the uh consent agenda.

2:00

All in favor of the motion say aye.

2:01

Aye.

2:02

Opposed no.

2:03

The consent agenda is approved.

2:05

Moving to presentations, the clerk will please read the first item.

Speaker 2

2:09

This is item 2026, 134.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Zoning And Land Use█████████████████████████████████████████41%
Procedural█████████████13%
Technology and Innovation████████████12%
Transportation Safety█████████9%
Engineering And Infrastructure██████6%
Public Safety█████5%
Affordable Housing████4%
Environmental Protection██2%
Active Transportation██2%
Summary of Proceedings

Sandy Springs City Council Regular Meeting – May 19, 2026

The Sandy Springs City Council met on May 19, 2026, at 6:10 p.m. for a regular meeting following a Public Facilities Authority special called session. The meeting included a proclamation, three public hearings on rezoning requests, a contract award, surplus property disposal, a change order, and software renewal. All votes were unanimous. The meeting recessed into executive session for real estate and litigation discussion and adjourned at 9:20 p.m.

Consent Calendar

  • The consent agenda was approved unanimously, including:
    • Meeting minutes from May 5, 2026 (work session and regular meeting).
    • Resolutions for right-of-way purchases and easements related to the TS131 Last Mile Connectivity Project, Roswell Road Streetscape Improvements, and Lake Forrest Drive Sidewalk Improvements (Resolutions 2026-05-071 through 2026-05-075).

Public Comments & Testimony

  • General Public Comment: None.
  • Public Hearing – RZ-25-6 (Spalding Drive): Three speakers expressed support. Melinda Cobb (245 Spalding Springs Lane) and Ronda Smith (9725 Roberts Drive) advocated for approval with conditions including turn lanes and HOA-maintained buffers. The applicant, Alex Brock (Smith, Gambrell & Russell), supported staff and Planning Commission recommendations and offered an additional condition for HOA maintenance of fences and landscapes. No opposition speakers were present.
  • Public Hearing – RZ-25-7 (5680 Whitner Drive): Three residents opposed the rezoning: Meridith Johnson (5600 Whitner Drive), E.J. Stern (5550 Whitner Drive), and Ron Kaplan (590 Idlewood Drive). Concerns included pedestrian safety, inadequate notice, stormwater runoff, tree canopy loss, traffic, and precedent for increased density. Applicant Stokely Weinberg rebutted, citing compliance with stricter stormwater ordinances, third-party erosion monitoring, and noting that the lot is the last on Whitner not already zoned RD-27.
  • Public Hearing – RZ-25-8 (5800 & 0 Mitchell Road): Applicant Chris Prodos (representing owner) spoke in support, emphasizing alignment with neighborhood character and affordable infill housing. No opposition speakers were present.

Discussion Items

  • Proclamation for National Public Works Week (2026-134): Mayor Paul read and presented a proclamation recognizing the week of May 17–23, 2026, as National Public Works Week, honoring Sandy Springs public works staff.
  • RZ-25-6 – Spalding Drive Rezoning (2026-135): Planning & Zoning Manager Michele McIntosh-Ross presented the request to rezone five parcels at 1265–1369 Spalding Drive from RE-1 (1-acre min.) to RD-9 (9,000 sq. ft. min.) to allow a 21-home single-family neighborhood with one entrance at the signalized Pitts Road intersection. Staff and Planning Commission recommended approval with eight conditions, including underground stormwater, a maximum of 21 Sandy Springs lots, no more than three Dunwoody lots accessing Spalding Drive, and a site plan including turn lanes. Councilmember Paulson noted the developer moved the entrance after community input. Councilmember Mular questioned enforcement of the Dunwoody lot limit. The motion added two conditions: HOA maintenance of common areas/fences/buffers, and development substantially similar to the site plan with turn lanes. Unanimously approved (Ordinance 2026-05-009).
  • RZ-25-7 – 5680 Whitner Drive Rezoning (2026-136): Staff presented the request to rezone one parcel from RE-2 (2-acre min.) to RD-27 (27,000 sq. ft. min.) to build three single-family homes facing Whitner Drive. Conditions include driveways only on Whitner, with the home nearest Mount Vernon having a driveway as far from Mount Vernon as practicable. Councilmember Chinsky addressed public concerns about notice (delay due to legal requirements), stormwater (applicant described stricter state standards and third-party monitoring), traffic (not materially changed by two net new homes), and tree canopy (data shows citywide increase). He also asked Public Works to review the Mount Vernon/Whitner intersection for signage. Councilmember Chinsky supported the rezoning but called for a city strategy for evaluating lot division cases during the upcoming Comprehensive Plan update. Mayor Paul requested staff evaluate

Meeting Transcript

Moving to regular order, uh I would like to call this meeting of the Sandy Springs City Council to order for Tuesday, May 19th, 2026. Will the city clerk please make the announcements and call the roll? Just a reminder to everyone in attendance, please continue to silence those cell phones and electronic devices. Also a reminder to anybody providing public comment or maybe allotted up to three minutes to speak on their single chosen topic. As I call roll, please confirm your attendance. Mayor Rusty Paul. Present. Councilmember John Paulson. Councilmember Melody Kelly. President, Councilmember Melissa Mueller. Here. Councilmember Frank Roberts. Councilmember Mary Ford. Here. Councilmember Andrew Chensky. Here. Please join me for the Pledge of Allegiance. One nation. Madam Clerk, have we received any public comment cards? None for general public comment. Okay, dope. We will close the public uh comment period. Uh is there a motion to approve the meeting agenda? Mayor Paul, I move approval of agenda of the meeting agenda for Tuesday, May 19th, 2026 for the motion by Mr. Paulson. Is there a second? Second. Motion by Mr. Paulson, seconded by Mr. Roberts, that we approve the meeting agenda. Is there any discussion? Hearing none, we'll call the question. The questions on the approval of the meeting agenda. All in favor of the motion say aye. Aye. Opposed no. The uh meeting agenda is approved. Is there a motion to approve the consent agenda? Mayor Paul. Ms. Mueller. I move that we approve the consent agenda for Tuesday, May 19th, 2026. Motion by Ms. Mueller, is there a second? Second. Motion by Miss Mueller, seconded by Ms.

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