[{"_1":2,"_86":-5,"_87":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,74],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":56,"_73":56},"mediaId",6253096,"mediaKeyId","3183021-dc34a95efdcbf8b6ddee6778e0a34740","parentId",3183021,"title","Commission backs master-plan change to allow vertiport at Northwinds Summit; conditions include NFPA and FAA compliance","audioSeconds",1278,"startMs",823000,"endMs",2101315,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3183021-dc34a95efdcbf8b6ddee6778e0a34740&start=823&end=2101","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3183021-dc34a95efdcbf8b6ddee6778e0a34740/thumbnail_823000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6253096/Alpharetta/Fulton-County/Georgia/Commission-backs-master-plan-change-to-allow-vertiport-at-Northwinds-Summit-conditions-include-NFPA-and-FAA-compliance","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6253096-a84f8fa30fb5c7262debda5f9343272b/orig.mp4?Expires=1770952961&Signature=DqXNhfXovc0c4ZiP7VlhawacJIYbNxboGoaRZHyuj0hFgWh5vBmF4lFnm4kJZlKzlLNkRmeCFXrCct5pfXLA5qG1RwWlXFfJNni5z~SkX-VShnmAcx6QZOmDz55nQwz3X07CgJyo~hFMnu82TPRXQwPVY-CD8TV2Vp-ZKHiW2pfKWityxcIRiy5wpLXRWBwVd3pnqvuVRpkSpS4wOlS15bg2fhJ65V~akuEY0s-8sZbBLJ7l7qZSxH~RnoHLRLEuf96CKnUwZBuI8y~jcGgHU~sZdK9PnDOcFvHYn8Qy9-afzuKkdQlmjEEgzTulcyNF319~qof58Eut7YGOOdTl8w__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","","date","2025-05-03T00:17:11.22Z","article","The Alpharetta Planning Commission on May 1 recommended approval of a master-plan amendment and conditional use to add a vertiport — listed in the city’s Unified Development Code as a heliport — to the Northwinds Summit master plan at 1000 Summit Place. The approval, made by motion, includes conditions that require a site-specific vertiport plan, a fire-risk assessment in accordance with National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) standards approved by the local authority having jurisdiction, and evidence of compliance with Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) standards; the commission’s recommendation will go before City Council on May 19, 2025.

Kathy Cook, Planning Department staff, said the requested change would add heliport (the closest UDC category) as a conditional use and explicitly limit that conditional use to the submitted plans depicting a vertiport on the top level of a future three-level parking deck. The staff report notes the Northwinds Summit master plan covers about 24 acres, includes previously approved office and hotel development and allows mixed uses; the proposed deck shows first-level retail (about 10,000 square feet) and shared parking, a second level of controlled-access parking and a third level reserved for the vertiport with four landing areas.

Cary Armstrong, managing director of Popen Land Enterprises and the applicant’s representative, described the request as an effort to accommodate eVTOL (electric vertical takeoff and landing) aircraft and advanced air mobility services. “These things that take off and landing generate the same noise as a residential vacuum cleaner,” Armstrong said, arguing the aircraft would be quieter than nearby roadway noise and could provide short trips — he cited a 20-minute trip to Hartsfield–Jackson Atlanta International Airport — and potential uses beyond airport shuttle service, including medevac and disaster response.

Commissioners questioned how the UDC’s heliport category would apply to new vertiport technology and whether the site plan and hours of operation would adequately address sound and safety concerns. Cook told the commission the staff conditions were site-specific and that any future proposal that needed to meet heliport standards (which assume more takeoff/landing distance) would require a change of condition. Commissioners and staff said they would consider a text amendment to the UDC to explicitly reference vertical takeoff facilities and reduce confusion between the terms heliport and vertiport in public materials.

The applicant said ownership and operation plans are not final: the developer would likely participate in initial construction and seek an operator or other long-term owner, and state legislation recently discussed at the meeting was placing vertiports within the Georgia Department of Transportation’s general aviation category, a change that affects planning and potential funding. Staff also required developers to provide a fire-risk assessment approved by the local authority having jurisdiction and to demonstrate FAA compliance for planning, design and construction before further approvals.

The commission approved the master-plan amendment and conditional use by motion; commissioners did not record a roll-call vote in the public record provided. The recommendation proceeds to City Council for final action on May 19, 2025.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Alpharetta Planning Commission Meeting - May 1, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","The Planning Commission voted May 1 to approve a master-plan amendment and conditional use to permit a vertiport atop a future parking deck at Northwinds Summit (1000 Summit Place); approval was conditioned on site-specific plans, a fire-risk assessment per NFPA and demonstration of FAA compliance and will go to City Council on May 19, 2025.","taxTitle","Alpharetta, Fulton County, Georgia","taxId",3991,"location","headline","shortSummary",{"_33":75,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":76,"_41":77,"_43":78,"_45":79,"_47":80,"_49":81,"_51":82,"_53":83,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":84,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":85,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":56,"_73":56},6253101,"Alpharetta commission approves conditional use for animal hospital at Crabapple Village; goes to council May 19",706,103000,809000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3183021-dc34a95efdcbf8b6ddee6778e0a34740&start=103&end=809","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3183021-dc34a95efdcbf8b6ddee6778e0a34740/thumbnail_103000.jpg","/articles/6253101/Alpharetta/Fulton-County/Georgia/Alpharetta-commission-approves-conditional-use-for-animal-hospital-at-Crabapple-Village-goes-to-council-May-19","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6253101-0301b8a2c996b206d3ebd13dc806c44c/orig.mp4?Expires=1770952962&Signature=Jf~jxVFECE0p5J7yeQ-w5~dtYb4e-nfxuVyzPFHpp2xUq3N1zUwpWKAzifnFwxHr4YiI4K7KVCSuuFd2mVjhuVQSxR6vjyASOAJRtNIqtIhuy7jPBI19S6h0~GsXaRansA7Ud9zk5rAKgQfNqIWV9ImwFR1uTSJKgQKD81ZTZmXjVbu9nLRu8IqfIwRMQEFe8BZWTHXk~qEL3y-7N1J7IRVSPUkib9meVxzsA44p8IcLzK3I~bDm3jglebURWhUxW1I~0b3Cos~r76wpUT4Y5xcpXTqRWWTTf4j-DNRE4uiZPjNOyDja5IZe-YidDY0yGgCM3IUpp2sgywN3syVMjg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Alpharetta Planning Commission voted May 1 to approve a conditional-use request for VPP Bridal Hospital, a small-animal hospital proposed for a 4,525-square-foot suite at 12460 Crabapple Road, Suite 103, in the Crabapple Village Shopping Center. The commission’s approval, made by motion and a show of hands, moves the application to City Council on May 19, 2025.

Staff recommended approval with seven conditions, including limiting the use to the specific animal-hospital proposal, restricting boarding to short-term postoperative care only, requiring interior noise attenuation measures, and establishing standards for maintenance of an on-site pet-waste station. Kathy Cook, Planning Department staff, told commissioners the suite was previously occupied by Petco and that the proposal had triggered notifications to property owners within 500 feet; staff reported receiving a few questions about boarding and maintenance of a pet relief area and concluded the use would be compatible with surrounding C-2 and O-P zoning.

Christopher Kidd, the applicant’s project manager and an architect with Christopher Kidd and Associates Architects and Planners, said the applicant agreed to the seven staff conditions and is preparing sound-attenuation details to separate the suite from an adjacent Subway. Dr. Forrester Gholston, who the applicant identified as the primary veterinarian and co-owner, described the proposed practice as a general-practice animal hospital providing preventive care, wellness services and full-service surgeries. “We do not offer long-term boarding,” Dr. Gholston said, adding overnight stays would be limited to short postoperative observation “unless there’s a complication.”

The applicant proposed hours of operation of 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Saturday and 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday and estimated about eight employees. Kidd described plans for a gated, grassed pet-relief area at the front of the building that the clinic would clean daily; staff incorporated maintenance of that relief area into the conditions of approval.

Commissioners asked staff about the number of similar animal hospitals in Alpharetta; Cook said staff counted a dozen animal-hospital uses in the city and that the nearest was in Roswell. A commissioner praised the proposal’s potential positive effect on the city’s care for animals. The motion to approve the conditional use carried; the commission did not record a roll-call tally in the meeting minutes. The commission’s approval is a recommendation that will be considered by City Council on May 19, 2025.

The staff report and conditions limit the approval to the submitted plan and business description; any substantive changes to operations, boarding policy or location would require a change of condition or a new application.","The Alpharetta Planning Commission voted May 1 to approve a conditional-use request for VPP Bridal Hospital, a small-animal hospital proposed for 12460 Crabapple Road Suite 103 in the Crabapple Village Shopping Center; the approval carries conditions and will go before City Council on May 19, 2025.","actionData","errors"]

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Commission backs master-plan change to allow vertiport at Northwinds Summit; conditions include NFPA and FAA compliance

Alpharetta commission approves conditional use for animal hospital at Crabapple Village; goes to council May 19