Sandy Springs staff reverses recommendation on Mount Paran garage and guest-house variance

Sandy Springs planning staff switched from recommending denial to conditional approval of V-26-9, a garage-relocation variance on Mount Paran Parkway. The new recommendation appears in an Aug. 25, 2026, report; the earlier denial recommendation was dated July 24.

The August report describes demolishing a two-car garage partly occupying a sewer easement and replacing it with a detached two-car garage and a guest house above. The new structure would sit outside the easement but encroach about 16 feet into the required 40-foot rear setback, leaving approximately 24 feet.

Staff recommended locating HVAC equipment in the site's buildable area. Its review also noted that the record did not specifically identify screening, landscaping or other measures demonstrating equal or greater protection for adjacent property despite the reduced setback.