The Sandy Springs Board of Appeals will have plenty on its plate during its March 8 and April 12 meetings after tabling two cases Thursday.

The board, which welcomed two new, unrelated members, Eric Johnson and Alvin Johnson, sought to resolve discord between residents and applicant K. Morgan Varner III.

However, ultimately the vote was 6-0 to defer the contentious case in the hopes mediation efforts will bring the sides closer together.

At issue was a two-acre residential building site at 1340 W. Garmon Road, bought by Varner and Larry Stoffer in October for $725,000.

The lot is under development by builder Charles Moore of Sandy Springs-based Moore and Associates, Jonathan Hicks, president of Midtown-based JVG Civil Engineers, and designer Dietrich Logan of Midtown-based Logan Design Group.

The applicant requested a variance from the city’s 75-foot stream buffer protection ordinance and a five-foot reduction in the 25-foot side setback, or distance between the proposed 8,000-square-foot, single-family residence and its property line.

“This proposal includes zero disturbance in the 25-foot state stream buffers,” Hicks said. “This homestead is practically unbuildable lot if we abide by the existing buffers.”

However, opponents like Patty Berkovitz of the Watershed Alliance of Sandy Springs and property neighbors Ashish Bahl, Edward Menefee, Debora Ball and Al Goodgame protested.

“This applicant wants to build a home where two streams come together,” Bahl said about tributaries of Long Island Creek. “It absolutely makes no sense.”

Goodgame, a retired landscape architect and 55-year area resident, said the lot’s sandy soil makes measuring from a stream a “moving target.”

“This creek moves around,” he said. “When you have a big storm, it can move three or four feet in either direction.”

Ball voiced concerns about toxic runoff from lawn fertilizers, which Hicks said would be minimized by eliminating grass as a ground cover.

Still, the board found sufficient reason to postpone the matter until March 8.

“I’m uncomfortable with making an absolute choice,” board member Ken Moller said. “We have had cases where some horse trading went on.”

Board member Ted Sandler agreed.

“The hardship issue is in your face, but there are things that can be done to be more protective of the environment,” he said.

Returning on April 12 will be Perimeter Dental’s application for a hanging sign at Perimeter Town Center, which the board tabled for 60 days to explore wayfinding solutions with landlord Ackerman and Co.