Alpharetta OKs church’s plans to build on Upper Hembree

The Alpharetta City Council has approved, with conditions, a church’s request for a conditional use and a variance for off-site parking for a new worship facility at 1200 Upper Hembree Road.

Spirit of God Christian Church, currently meeting at the Double Tree Hilton Hotel in Roswell, plans to construct a single-single building with a 250-seat sanctuary and two parking lots totaling 110 spaces on 2.9 acres zoned office-institutional, staff said in a report to the council.

To protect the existing tree canopy, the church has arranged for off-site parking for 55 vehicles about 700 feet away, 200 feet farther than ordinarily allowed, staff said.

The city’s conditions include services limited to Sunday worship, a weekday Bible study, and occasional weddings, baptisms, funerals and the like; a police officer to direct traffic; and for the church to work with city staff on connecting the two parking lots.

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