Public Hearing: YES ☒ NO ☐ Department: Planning & Sustainability
SUBJECT:
Title
COMMISSION DISTRICT(S): 1 and 7
Application of Urbanvue Apartments c/o Battle Law, P.C. to rezone properties from O-I (Office-Institutional) zoning district to MR-1 (Medium Density Residential-1) zoning district to allow a townhome community. at 3003 Chamblee-Tucker Road; 2936 Mercer University Drive.
Body
PETITION NO: D2-2026-0139 Z-26-1247923
PROPOSED USE: A townhome community.
LOCATION: 3003 Chamblee-Tucker Road; 2936 Mercer University Dr., Chamblee, GA 30341
PARCEL NO. : 18 283 04 001; 18 266 05 014
INFO. CONTACT: Andrea Folgherait, Sr. Planner
PHONE NUMBER: 404-371-2155
PURPOSE:
Application of Urbanvue Apartments c/o Battle Law, P.C. to rezone properties from O-I (Office-Institutional) zoning district to MR-1 (Medium Density Residential-1) zoning district to allow a townhome community.
RECOMMENDATION:
Recommended Action
COMMUNITY COUNCIL: (June 2026) Approval with Condition(s). Feb. 2026) Approval with a condition.
PLANNING COMMISSION: (July 7, 2026) Pending. (March 3, 2026) Full-cycle deferral.
PLANNING STAFF: (July 2026) Denial. (March 2026) Two-Cycle Deferral.
STAFF ANALYSIS: The Applicant is requesting a rezone from O-I (Office-Institutional) zoning district to MR-1 (Medium Density Residential-1) zoning district to develop a forty-one (41) unit townhome community (7.25 units/acre). In 2023, the applicant sought a Special Land Use Permit (SLUP) to redevelop an existing office building into a multifamily residential apartment building with newly constructed townhomes consisting of fifty (50) units in total. Due to market conditions, the applicant is now seeking the current proposal (attached townhomes) requiring a rezoning. The proposal consists predominantly of attached townhome units with limited variation in housing type. While the applicant has incorporated a small number of live-work units, the development does not provide the range of housing options or mix of uses envisioned within the Regional Center (RC) Character Area. Additionally, the site's most significant amenity, the future Northfork Peachtree Creek Greenway is treated largely as an edge condition rather than an organizing feature of the development. Buildings are primarily oriented towards internal streets, missing an opportunity to create active frontages and stronger pedestrian connections along the future greenway corridor as envisioned. The site is constrained by a stream buffer along the western boundary and a required thirty-foot (30) buffer adjacent to the R-100 properties to the east. The proposal generally satisfies the dimensional requirements of the MR-1 district (Section 2.11.2-Dimensional Requirements), the updated site plan (Conceptual Site Plan dated 3/30/2026) on 5/07/26 is largely the same from March 2026. While some of the concerns were addressed (hammerhead entrance and the density) the overall design continues to function as a self-contained residential enclave rather than an integrated extension of the growing street and pedestrian network. Although several stub streets are provided, they appear largely intended to preserve development flexibility rather than improve connectivity. The purpose of MR-1 zoning districts is to provide connectivity of streets and communities, a mix of housing types, intensity, and scale with the design of surrounding development. An alternative site plan design appears necessary to align the proposal with MR-1 standards, RC (Regional Center) character area, and Section 27-7.4.5 (Rezone criteria). Therefore, Staff recommends a "Denial”.
PLANNING COMMISSION VOTE: (July 7, 2026) Pending. (March 3, 2026) Full-Cycle Deferral 7-0-0. Motion was made by Commissioner Murphy, seconded by Commissioner Moore for a full-cycle deferral, per Staff recommendation.
COMMUNITY COUNCIL VOTE/RECOMMENDATION: (June 2026) Approval with a condition (5-0-0) that the development allows no more than 25% rental units.