A conditional yes for Hardeman sport court, city register says

The variance sought to keep an unpermitted backyard sport court at 116 Hardeman Road is listed as “Approved with Conditions” in Sandy Springs’ land-use register—a different outcome from planning staff’s recommendation to deny the zoning exceptions.⁠[1][2]

The exact terms remain unverified. Case V-26-43 was on the Board of Appeals’ Nov. 4, 2026 agenda, but the register does not specify the adopted conditions or separately date the decision.⁠[2][3]

Staff places the 766-square-foot court about four feet from the northern and western property lines, inside the applicable 10-foot setback. It brings impervious lot coverage to 44.3%, against a 35% base limit. The owners’ application says coverage was already 39.95% following a 2019 administrative variance for a pool and hardscape improvements.⁠[1][4]

The owners argue that slopes and mature boundary trees leave no practical alternative location. Staff found no extraordinary hardship from the lot’s shape, slope or size, although it also found the development would not harm public safety or neighboring properties.⁠[1][4]

As our pre-hearing report explained, drainage review was still unresolved in the Oct. 20 staff report. The city engineer said the submitted plans were insufficient for a proper stormwater review and that formal review would occur during plan review if the board considered approval.⁠[1]

Staff’s proposed approval conditions called for evergreen screening along the court’s western edge, a city-engineer-approved stormwater plan, and removal of the light and light pole. Those remain proposed safeguards in the staff report—not verified terms of the board’s approval. The register’s approval entry does not establish that permitting or engineering review is complete.⁠[1][2]