Design Guidelines

Project Overview

The City of Sandy Springs is scheduled to host the first of two Public Hearings on the creation of the Design Guidelines. The first Public Hearing, for recommendation by the Planning Commission will be held on Wednesday, October 21, 6:00 PM at City Hall. Followed by the second Public Hearing, for adoption by City Council, to be held on Tuesday, November 17, 6:00 PM at City Hall.

These guidelines will assist property owners, business owners, developers, designers, City staff, and City leadership in ensuring that future development fulfills the vision of adopted planning documents and the Development Code while fostering a distinct sense of place for Sandy Springs and its commercial areas.

The guidelines build on standards included in the Development Code and Technical Manual by providing additional direction for building features, building sites, landscaping, streetscapes, and other elements that shape the appearance and experience of Sandy Springs’ commercial and mixed-use areas.

View the Draft Design Guidelines (PDF)

Focus Areas

The guidelines address the character of development in six commercial and mixed-use areas of the city:

Greater City Springs
Central Perimeter
North End
Powers Ferry
Neighborhood Village
Crossroads

Map showing the six Sandy Springs commercial and mixed-use focus areas: Greater City Springs, Central Perimeter, North End, Powers Ferry, Neighborhood Village, and Crossroads.

Design Guidelines Process

Following an initial public engagement period in March 2025 to introduce the design guidelines process and define an overall framework, preparation of the guidelines has occurred in two geographically focused stages:

Stage 1 focused on developing guidelines for the North End, Greater City Springs, and Central Perimeter.
Stage 2 focuses on Crossroads, Neighborhood Village, and Powers Ferry.
Draft Design Guidelines Comment Form — Submit comments on the most current draft of the Design Guidelines.
View the Draft Design Guidelines (PDF)
Open House Public Meeting Comment Form — Submit comments based on information presented during the April 23 open house.

Public engagement timeline and outreach materials related to the Sandy Springs Design Guidelines process.

Future Public Engagement Opportunities

Public Hearing #1 - October 21, 2026 Planning Commission

The first Public Hearing will be held at 6pm on October 21, 2026, at City Hall in the Studio Theatre.

Public Hearing #2 - November 17, 2026, Mayor and City Council

The second Public Hearing will be held at 6pm on November 17, 2026, at City Hall in the Studio Theatre.

Prior Public Engagement Opportunities

April 23, 2026, Design Guidelines Public Open House

An open house was held on Thursday, April 23, at Sandy Springs City Hall in the Main Lobby.

Progress made in preparing design guidelines for the city’s commercial and mixed-use areas, including area-specific guidance for all of the 6 focus areas: Greater City Springs, North End, and Central Perimeter, Crossroads, Powers Ferry, and Neighborhood Village.

November 20, 2025 Design Guidelines Public Open House

An open house was held on Thursday, November 20, at Sandy Springs City Hall in the Studio Theatre Lobby.

Progress made in preparing design guidelines for the city’s commercial and mixed-use areas, including area-specific guidance for the Stage 1 focus areas: Greater City Springs, North End, and Central Perimeter.
Potential design approaches for the Stage 2 focus areas, including Powers Ferry, Crossroads, and Neighborhood Village, based on feedback received since August 2025.

Friday, October 17 — Pop-ups at The Prado (5570 Roswell Road) from 10:00 a.m. to noon and Chastain Market (4279 Roswell Road) from 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m.
Friday, October 24 — Pop-ups at Northwood Park (110 Northwood Drive) from 10:00 a.m. to noon.

Online opportunities were also available to review and provide input on materials presented during the pop-up events.

August 21, 2025 Design Guidelines Public Open House

At the third meeting of the design guidelines process, the public had the opportunity to learn about and provide input on the following topics:

Overall Framework: Review and feedback on the overall structure and framework envisioned for the design guidelines.
Design Approach for Stage 1 Focus Areas: Review and feedback on preliminary design approaches for Greater City Springs, North End, and Central Perimeter.
Potential Design Approaches for Stage 2 Focus Areas: Initial feedback on the desired design character of Powers Ferry, Crossroads, and Neighborhood Village.

August 21 Public Meeting Exhibit Materials (PDF, opens in new tab)

May 19, 2025 Design Guidelines Public Open House

Staff hosted a public meeting on Monday, May 19, along with a series of pop-up meetings in Greater City Springs, Central Perimeter, and the North End. Pop-up meetings were held in May and July. Meeting materials and an online survey were made available to the public.

March 13, 2025 Design Guidelines Public Open House

An open house was held on Thursday, March 13, at Sandy Springs City Hall in the Barfield Conference Room. Meeting materials are available for review below.