Design Review Board Meeting
Video Transcript
Duration: 33 minutes
Speakers: 10
Welcome, everyone, to the 09/02/2025
City of Roswell Design Review Board meeting.
We have four city projects on our agenda tonight.
Before we get start
before we get to those items, I'd like to remind everyone that the board members are all volunteers and appointed by mayor and city council.
Our purview tonight here is to comment on the site plan, design, landscaping designs, and architectural designs of any building or project that we are looking at here tonight.
I'd like to introduce my fellow board members. I'll start with myself.
My name is Jeffrey Green. I've been a City of Roswell resident for twenty four years.
I have raised my three kids and family here in Roswell. I love it, and,
I'm happy to be a servant to the community.
I'm Mike Gobitis,
civil engineer.
I've been a Roswell resident since,
2016.
Hey, Mark Stovall, been a resident for forty years and
builder,
developer
in
Marietta Roswell and
surrounding Georgia.
I'm a recon architect,
retired architect, really.
Twenty eight years in Roswell.
I was also on the HPC for about eight, nine years, something like that.
That's it.
Okay. Couple of quick housekeeping items, tonight.
If anyone is here from the public to make any comments,
the there are comment cards at the back, and you can fill them out and bring them to the planner at the front when you you come to speak.
The order of operation for tonight will be the applicant will make a presentation,
then our board will comment or provide any questions to the applicants.
After that, I'll open it up to public for any public comments. We will then close public comment and bring
the applicant back up to address any public comments or additional comments from the board. Each city project will be voted on by the DRB this evening.
Agenda item number one is Fire Station 27.
Let's see.
Tonight, it's, the approval of a new construction of Fire Station 27
at 9000
Faust Road.
This item is being presented
by City of Roswell staff, Josh Papy and
Brian
Watson.
Thank you, sir.
Good evening. Yeah. I'm Brian Watson. I'm the director of environmental public works,
and we respectfully request to defer this item to a future DRB meeting.
K.
Anybody have any objections to that?
We want to, someone make a motion
on that?
My motion, we move it to a future DRB meeting.
All in favor
of Bridgette Nott?
This is Kristen. We need a second. Second. I'm sorry.
I was thinking.
Alright.
With that second,
excuse me, I will in favor of moving this meeting,
raise
your hand as aye.
Alright. You're in favor of moving?
Alright. That is unanimous. This item will be heard, at a later,
DRB meeting. Thank you very much. Appreciate it. Thank you.
Alright.
Item number two,
public safety headquarters.
Tonight is the approval of the exterior renovation of the new public safety headquarters
at
1080
Holcomb Bridge Road.
This item is being presented by the City of Roswell,
staff Josh Papey,
CIP construction
administrator, and Brian Watson, director of environmental public works.
Hey. My name is Josh Pate. I am the one presenting the new public safety headquarters.
So this project, the majority of it is an interior renovation,
but there will be an addition onto the building,
the salary port for,
police.
The intent is the skin is just gonna match what's existing.
Okay.
Any comments or questions?
Yeah. The quest
the question is, is this the building?
So the
in the back is the existing building where the white door is that shows three bay doors.
Those that will be the addition to the building.
So it's just a three d rendering. That's not it. So it's the one you just held up. Correct?
That one. Yes, sir.
What is the plan? So the
we're matching the existing exterior and adding on to this three bays Sally Port.
Okay. But there is no there's no
drawing or anything of that we have of the actual building that's being
built. If you're saying if it's just add on, you're putting bays in, I can see that, but I don't see any anything anything on the exterior that's
that we would be
voting on. Well, it's an
addition to the skin. So it's a separate structure,
roughly 2,000 square feet that would be attached to the existing building. Gotcha. And this is the building
right off right off Holcomb Road up on the hill? It's two buildings, Building 102 Hundred. We're working on Building 100.
So
yeah. Alright.
Alright.
This is
they're adding this portion right here.
It is that there's been it's just that they're eventually just popping it out. Yeah. If you open up the site plan, it's probably easier to see.
Yeah.
So is
is there any, like, road that fronts
this new addition? It's like No. The addition's off on the west side.
The access to the building is from the
south.
I may have my directions off, but so that's the site plan on the right side,
is the main entrance to the,
complex.
The
you were the addition of the three Bay Sally Port,
will be scabbed onto the building. Ignore the structure on the left side,
that was deleted.
I just didn't have a revision in time.
Is there anything that can be done with, like, the downspouts
kind of
Can you scroll down a little? So I can see it. Elbowing, like, in between, or can they be, like, relocated
in a different
I'm yeah. I'm sure we can make those adjustments. So you're just requesting them to be straight?
Straight or, I guess, like, a a different configuration,
I think. Yes. I can get with our team. You know, more sleek,
streamlined. Yeah. And I guess when you have more bins, then you could have more clogging issues and whatnot with like leaves.
Hey, this is Mark. Question. How are you going to you're going to try to match the brick as close as possible, but there's no and that building has been there for
We're just gonna match as close as possible. This building was built back in the eighties. Mhmm. So it's gonna be very tough to find I say tough, maybe even possible to find the existing brick.
We've got a few options that were dropped off. So we're kind of going through that process right now.
And there's really no neighbor to that because it sits up on its own little plateau. Correct. And it's it's pretty well wooded on all four sides. Okay. Thank you.
Kristen, were there any, staff comments
regarding this particular item?
Staff did not have any comments.
Okay.
Alright.
So,
typically, we just have more information or more images to kinda go on and base a decision on.
Do they have any equipment on the roof of this?
Yes. Okay.
One, if not two,
mechanical equipment on the roof. There's will be? Yes. Is it visible?
I don't have that answer. I'm not sure off the top of my head.
Okay.
It should be
not visible. K.
Okay?
I
Does that pair of the price end up about one footer?
Much. This equipment will show
it shows.
Since we are approving or not approving, right, this is what we are doing here, How do we deal with stuff like that? I mean, the the city code requires
equipment
to be screened. Right? So how do we deal with it? Yes. The code does require it to be screened, and those items would be captured
You're welcome to make comments in addition to your approval
or not.
But,
yes, the directions were no
no conditions
Okay. Approval. And since that's a code item, it
would be regulated by the code. Okay. But it but,
essentially,
the code is gonna be enforced on this plan also. Right?
Yes. Like, the code is the reviews are done and code items are commented on.
K. In other words, they're
they're not it's not gonna be exempt because it's a city building.
No. It should not be exempt. Okay.
Okay. Thanks.
Alright.
Any other questions or comments?
So this is just a straight
up or down vote then. Right? Please. Okay.
All in favor of this project
to move forward?
This is Kristen. You need a mover and a seconder. Yeah.
Okay. Still yeah. Still make a motion and give us a second. Can you make a motion, please? Someone?
Yeah. Like to make Oh, like to make a motion to approve,
where does it say it exactly?
Approve of the project.
Oh, Public Safety Headquarters. Public Safety Building,
with a comment that the
any air conditioning or any equipment on the roof should be screened per code.
End of motion.
We amend that so that we include Michael's
comment And to about the downspouts. Adjusting the downspouts. Adjusting the downspouts. What was the comment? Adjusting the downspouts.
Let me amend the motion
to adjust the downspouts.
End of motion.
Can I get a second?
Second.
Alright. All in favor of approving this
project?
Raise your hands. Alright. That's unanimous approval with comments.
Thank you very much.
Alright.
The train is moving.
Agenda item number three,
the evidence building.
Let's see. We're looking to,
approve the new construction
of an evidence building for the public safety headquarters at 1080 Holcomb Bridge Road. This item is being presented by the city of Roswell staff, Josh Paper.
CIP
construction administrator,
and then also have listed here Brian Watson, director of environmental
public works.
Yep. So on the same property as the public safety headquarters on the north end of the parking lot, we're doing an addition roughly 10,000, 11,000 square foot building, which will house the permanent evidence,
the CrossFit gym, and the motor barn for police.
Gonna be right where the parking lot is, so there's not gonna be too much
going on, but it's on the north side. Can you pull up the site plan?
So
on the rear of the property, the most secluded part is where we're gonna add,
make the addition.
Hey, this is Mark. Got a question. Yes, sir.
What's your exterior skin on the Metal wall panel.
Metal wall panel. Yes, sir.
Is that approved?
Is there any code issue or anything that's
held up if this was?
This is Kristen Staff. No. There's no there's no issue with that material,
especially because this is the evidence building.
We're trying to make it as secure as possible.
So,
they have to
we're going with whatever That does not have to match the existing building?
Again, could you, like, pull it up pull up the map and kinda,
like,
Google Maps or Google Earth?
I guess, like, over Yeah. Overview. Overview. Yeah.
So on the north end
of those two buildings, right where the cursor is, will be the location of the evidence building.
And it'll be in the parking lot? Correct. They'll take or take out part of the parking. Okay. Yep.
Is the building gonna be fenced?
The Fenced in?
Higher
area of police headquarters and evidence will be fenced. So it's the same At some at some point when the projects are completed, we will fence in the property.
You you fence what the the specific building to or the whole property? Enclose
along with the public safety headquarters.
But it we're putting fencing around half of the property
Okay. Which includes the evidence building and the public safety headquarters.
K. What what type of fence? It'll be eight foot rod iron,
commercial fence. K. Is it something that'll come to us?
I don't have that answer.
So fencing usually comes in as a minor. Okay. And so I can do what I normally do in some degree of view. Okay.
Okay. Thank you.
Any other comments or questions,
concerns?
All right. Can we get a motion to approve the evidence building?
Yes. I make this is Mark. I make a motion to
approve the evidence building.
There's no staff comments that need to be addressed.
So as is.
Second.
Anyone?
You have to speak into the mic. Just Oh, I did.
I thought we were voting. But The second oh, you're happy. It has to be recorded. Second.
Alright.
Can we now please vote on the approval of this item?
Raise your hand if you agree.
That is a unanimous vote to approve, excuse me, the evidence building. Alright. Thanks everyone. Thank you.
Alright.
And
moving right along to agenda item number four.
This is the Liberty Square Park.
Looking to approve,
this park located
off of Mission Hills Court
and Worthington Hills Drive.
This
item is being presented,
by the City of Braswell staff,
Elian,
Butkin,
community design manager, and Becky Hawkins,
deputy director of recreation and parks.
Sir. So much. Good evening all.
Next slide, please. I'll just click our right Well, that makes help. That makes it a lot easier, doesn't it?
So as mentioned, this is, looking at the dead end of turn off of Worthington Hills Drive and the dead end at,
Mission Hills Court.
Liberty Square Park is an opportunity
that represents the least served in terms of parking land for the city of Roswell.
This site,
construction project
from a 2022 grant that was received and we have to be complete and off-site,
finished with construction by October
2026.
This gives you an idea of the existing conditions.
City Roswell has been maintaining this green space,
for many, many years.
This is the intended site plan.
You'll turn in off of the cul de sac into a parking lot. There are bollards that dead end the parking lot, that can be removed for maintenance vehicles,
mowing, so forth of the multi use field, as well as Fulton County needing access for sewer line access to the south of the property and further tail, trail connections in the future.
The multi use field was preferred by the community knowing that there would be a lot of soccer use, picnics, and so so forth.
The reason we weren't prescriptive in that was to permit that flexibility
and also making sure the neighborhood wasn't weighed down with, programmatic activities, scheduled league
action, so forth.
Central to the operations of the site is a pavilion,
just northeast of the parking lot.
There is a barrier,
wall that also, or a fence structure, and then there are grills to the south side of the pavilion.
Pavilion is a steel beam construction similar to all of our other successful pavilions, wooden decking and asphalt shingle roof.
Just north of that is the, playground area with a natural play component.
These are some of the play escape components that we're looking at. These are glass fiber reinforced concrete pieces commercially,
made available nationally.
They're all anchored to subsurface slabs.
The play surface itself would be either a mulch or a a rubberized surface. We're We're examining that right now, but I'll be taking into account,
best practices and safety standards.
Other natural elements include, on the left side, this is a mock up of what would be a natural slope with vertical logs for climbing,
and then slides to either side. However, we're looking for ADA accessibility. So on the Northwest area of the, on the slope on the grading plan, we're making sure there will be ADA access as well as changing some of these swing sets to be ADA accessible swings.
For the pavilion itself, we're looking at approximately
sixteen fifty,
square footage enough to fit six,
picnic tables,
still having safety lights,
on the, interior side, although we know that it's a dawn to dusk operation.
Restroom building will also be under the,
overall roof,
opening to the play area. So parents who are in the play area on seating,
or or boulders are able to see their children
make it to the restroom and back easily, as well as operate either in the field or any,
centralized
access.
We are looking at, painted CMU for this. The reason being, again, looking at
the safety and longevity of the building,
in the event there is any sort of vandalism,
or damage at any point in time, it can be easily and quickly repaired,
continue the use of the project.
The restrooms, the only update I didn't have, updated rendering to show, we're gonna change one of the toilets to, two urinals, so just to maximize the usage and throughput.
Outside the restrooms, there's also a,
two level fountain, one adult height and one child height. The bottom room you can see stores any electrical equipment as well as can be used for on-site storage for any maintenance equipment or other equipment namely, like, the paint and so forth.
Any questions or thoughts? Are there any other buildings on-site now?
No. Okay. So this is the first building. Correct. Okay.
So this building looks like the building, for instance, on
our site here at Roswell Park
was built forty years ago probably,
and nothing changed. The same design.
It isn't modeled after a forty year old building, but I would say it is modeled after Gerard Landing or other similar
pavilions to remain inconsistent design language. K.
I I personally prefer to see something a little more modern than this.
That's my comment. Mhmm.
Time has passed since stuff like that was built in Roswell.
And I remember seeing
some stuff that was that we got last
few months ago
about the Park At The River with the new new buildings that had, like,
much nicer
building. I don't know.
I remember with the presentation here.
I would like to see to model this after the new stuff and not just copy
the building that was built forty years ago, thirty five years ago. I'm running there,
in this park here for, like, twenty five years, and it's the same building
exactly.
I think the design intent we had here, but absolutely noted, and we'll take back. And I don't think it should be a big deal to do it either, but just something new, something just we
time has passed. Mhmm.
Thanks.
So are these just renderings? I guess, they
the development plans haven't been
started or, I guess, was
like, I see there's, like, a stream
and flood plain. I guess, has there been any?
Yeah. So we're closely working that actually that that's a good point. And I I should have mentioned there is a perennial stream to the north end, and then actually the majority of the parcel on the east side is all wetlands. So we're working very closely with stormwater.
That's one of the reasons for this pavilion needing to be slightly elevated about the the flood plain and having that allay down to view through the the
multiuse field.
But we're working very closely to make sure that our mitigation,
stormwater management is all appropriate for the site. Okay. So it just follows
standard
city
development codes and Exactly. Okay. This is Kristen's staff. So they will be going to the BZA meeting in October for a stream buffer variance Mhmm. For the parking lot to be outside of the buffers. Gotcha. Okay.
I would like to make a general comment. This is coming to us as an approval or disapproval. Right? There's no nothing in between.
And
any comment here,
except code wise, that we give you, you can just say whatever. You said that, and it doesn't apply at all.
It makes us feel like, you know, we're just here
at rubber stamping something or saying go to city council,
which something my comment about the process.
It's nothing to do with you.
Thank you.
Hey. This is Mark. Got a question on the parking. Of course. And
I have not been back up into that area, so I can't
I but it looks like, you know, part of
a neighborhood and there's existing
right now just a field that Roswell maintains.
And
how is the parking if we're adding seven spaces and we're adding a pavilion that's gonna have how many tables to it?
Six.
Six tables and,
a playground. I mean,
what do the neighbors think?
We were able to have a community meeting on-site, and there was concern saying, are you going to be able to add any parking? Because,
that was a concern.
But the overwhelming response was, we can't wait for this,
and then we looked to maximize however we could to get the number of parking spots added knowing that we would have significant stormwater we had to mitigate as well. So
knowing that first responders
have to get in in and out as needed and then also the stormwater, we wanted to get as many spaces as we could for this. And there's no there's no opposition to this at all tonight.
So,
and the only
greens, I guess, landscape area is behind, I believe, is a house
that a bud sit at the end of the cul de sac. Is that a house or is that another Yeah. It's actually between two,
single fam two single family homes, and then there's a multi family,
development on the Northwest Side. Gotcha. Okay.
Thank you.
So so the citizens saw this plan? Was it presented to them? Yes. Okay. And how did they react to the fact that there's no parking?
We actually showed
different versions,
but
overall, it was overwhelmingly positive.
Tremendously positive. Is it mainly for the residents
of this subdivision?
I do not know offhand where the residents were coming from, but we did meet on-site. So the vast majority were local residents.
This is a community
based park, less than four acres for the overall parcel.
So they would be the greatest impact.
So people will park along the street?
Currently, there's a lot of on street parking.
And and it's available? I mean, is it available parking or it's,
in other words, people go there and get tickets because they park illegally? There's currently not signage that I'm aware of that prohibits on street parking.
K. I mean, I hope you guys consider that. Absolutely. That's a great point.
Absolutely.
I mean, I kinda look at this more of like a pocket park,
just kind of, you know,
serving the
I was just gonna add that the usage of this park is really designated currently as a walkable park,
that serves this community and the surrounding community. So the city has been maintaining this park
for decades now just as that green. And we found that most of the residents or the people visiting this park
are walking to it or riding their bikes. So the vehicular traffic to this park is very minimal. And that's why we went with minimal parking because of who it's serving in that general area that visits this park. And we didn't wanna overwhelm the park with visitors traveling from afar to get to this park. If that helps answer that question about the parking versus the visitation and the usage of the park.
This is Jeffrey.
Just curious about the landscaping. I don't Yes. Don't think you mentioned too much about that.
Will there be any additional Absolutely.
Yeah. There's actually extensive landscaping including,
just texting with the
contractor earlier,
more than 40 native trees will also be part of the planting plant, as well as extensive native grasses.
And again, the entire
play area especially to be more of a natural play scape. So while it is not illustrated, it is an extensive conversation we've had,
about
both the initial execution and the longevity
as it grows and matures.
I should
I want this to be a laser. At the allay that flanks the pavilion, the the staircase down into the multiuse field, for example, that is going to all be planted as a zone that presents that frame view and then it
acts as a reveal into the multiuse field or shrinks away.
Okay.
And then what was the the lighting?
We're doing safety lighting at the pavilion and then also looking at a code blue station as well as camera, position mounting per public safety's advice,
best viewability in locations.
That.
I guess, was there
I I mean, like, why are we not doing why are we not adding lighting, like, I guess, around the perimeter of, like, the field or,
I guess One, going back to the the community park side of it, and that is a budding residential properties. So you didn't wanna look at creating,
something anti dark sky and creating a light pool that would go against the natural field that's already been established. I see. But operatively, I certainly understand.
Any other comments,
questions,
concerns?
Can someone make a motion to approve
the park, Liberty Square Park?
This is Mark. I'll make a motion we approve the Liberty Square Park
as is no
staff
requirements.
This is, Mike Gumbitis. I second.
Alright.
Now can we,
vote on
the approval of this Liberty Square Park?
Raise of hands is aye. And that is,
unanimous approval.
Thank you very much Thank you. For playing along.
So now we will move into
a motion to approve the minutes from our last DRB meeting.
Which was
Tuesday, June 17
at 06:30.
So can I get
a motion to approve those minutes?
Make a motion to approve the minutes from last meeting, which was
June
2025.
Second.
I
second.
Alright.
All in favor of approving the minutes as stated for June Tuesday, 06/17/2025,
raise your hand aye.
Unanimous approval for
the minutes.
Is there any other
comments, concerns, questions before we close out this meeting?
Nope? Alright.
This meeting is adjourned. Thank you.