The City of Alpharetta’s Design Review Board on May 16 approved revised landscaping plans for Providence Partners’ property on Marietta Street, concluding staff and applicant changes addressed questions the board left at an earlier meeting.

The board voted to approve the landscape plan dated April 1, 2025 (sheet L-101) after the applicant explained eight items updated since the March review, including substituting Trident maples for Zelkova, replacing Vitex and cherries with crepe myrtles and star magnolias, planting creeping fig at a low wall, extending a continuous shrub row, thinning plantings in tree islands and reconciling landscape and civil drawings.

Why it matters: The changes aim to reduce overplanting in tree islands, improve long-term visibility of the building façade and ensure the landscape layout matches engineering and permit plans. The board and staff said the revisions increase clarity for permit review and reduce future maintenance conflicts with utilities.

Board and staff discussion focused on plant choices near utilities, tree visibility of the building and consistency between the landscape and civil plans. The applicant noted some large existing trees were being preserved, while others (Bradford pears) were removed and replaced with overstory and understory trees. Staff indicated utility conflicts remain a staff-review item for final permitting and that parking island spacing requirements would be checked during permit review.

The board’s motion approved the plan as presented (sheet L-101, April 1, 2025). The motion passed with a 5–0 vote from members present; two board members had recused themselves from this case because they were not present at the March hearing.

Board action and follow-ups: Staff will finalize permit-level landscape and civil coordination. The applicant will proceed under the approved plan; any changes that affect the conditions the board discussed (for example tree-utility conflicts or additional island requirements) will return to staff review for consistency with the motion.

Sources: Presentation and Q&A during the May 16 public hearing and staff notes on the April 1, 2025 landscape sheet.