ALPHARETTA, Ga. — Alpharetta is seeking to expand the appeal of downtown with a new restaurant and office on Roswell Street.
But, neighboring residents have pushed back against the plans to protect their property values and the safety of their subdivision.
The City Council voted 7-0 Nov. 27 to change previous zoning conditions on the 1.12 acres that encompass two lots at 75 and 91 Roswell Street. The site will include a building with a 23,200-square-foot office to be used by the developers, a 2,500-square-foot restaurant and a two-level parking deck.
Trilogy Investment Co. CEO Jason Joseph and A BETTR Life founder Jeff Levitan proposed the project. With successful businesses and investments in Alpharetta, they said their new office on Roswell Street will further their commitment to the city.
“We think it’s going to be nice and beautiful, and people are going to enjoy it,” Levitan said. “If I didn’t think that, I wouldn’t build it.”
The property straddles the corner of Cotton Alley and Marietta and Roswell streets.
At the meeting, Alpharetta Public Works Director Pete Sewczwicz acknowledged the intersection is challenging.
He said Public Works has considered multiple traffic calming measures, but most would be too large or have adverse impacts on traffic flow on Ga. 9 and downtown.
Sewczwicz said the city will continue to study the intersection to meet the qualifications to install a four-way stop sign.
But neighbors wanted no part of the variance.
“Every morning when we go to work and come home, crossing that intersection is a scary affair,” Victoria Square resident Todd Friel said. “Our concern is safety.”
To appease residents’ concern, Levitan said project staff removed the previously proposed access to the site on Cotton Alley, and staff are working to improve the safety of the dangerous…
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