The Cumming Planning & Zoning Commission approved a variance March 18 (Variance No. 20250111) that will allow an owner to subdivide a parcel on Mountain Brook Drive and construct an additional single-family home.

Applicant El Pierre Malakic said he sought the variance for property at 202 Mountain Brook Drive so he could build a single-family home for himself and confirmed the project will adhere to city setbacks and construction requirements. Scott (planning staff) told the commission the parent parcel is about 72 acres and the proposal would create one new lot of approximately 41 acres for the new home while the existing lot would be about 0.31 acres. Staff noted neighboring lots on Mountain Brook Road and Sawney Drive are also below the minimum lot size in places; the planned new home will meet building setbacks and minimum dwelling-unit floor area and be comparable in size to nearby homes. On that basis staff recommended approval of the variance.

Commissioners approved the variance with one condition: the house’s square footage and elevation on the lot must be approved by the City of Cumming Design Review Board. The motion carried unanimously.

The applicant may proceed with required plan submissions and permits consistent with the commission’s condition and ordinary permitting processes.