SC Action

***Please See the Current Rezonings page for recent rulings on the below SC applications. The BOCs denied each of the below SC applications.

As written up in the last P.L.A.N. (October, 2002) newsletter, Suburban Condo (SC: click the link for the exact description from the code) applications are increasing in the west Cobb area (see New Updates). Some of the requests are in appropriate areas (e.g., as a step-down in zoning within a commercial node), while others are in areas that are inconsistent or incongruent with the Cobb County ordinances.

As concerned citizens and constituents in west Cobb, whether it is in your backyard or not (it may be eventually), we need to be vigilant about making sure our commissioners preserve, protect, and uphold the laws within our County (and their promises).

SC Applications

Z-119: CF to SC at Powder Springs Road and Murray Circle. Bob Hovey, Amy Webrech (770-499-7004) and Jim Allen (770-422-0530) are heading up the opposition to these suburban condos which are located in low density residential property and next to Kennesaw National Park. Update Z-119: the Planning Commission has approved this application; write the BOCs if you disagree with this untenable assessment given the Cobb County Ordinances
Z-134: R-20, R-30 to SC and R-20 at the southeast intersection of Macland Road and West Sandtown Road. The R-30 should remain as it is. Suburban condos do not belong in low density residential areas. People who live in this area need to contact the commissioners about their opposition to this inappropriate zoning request. Update Z-134: the Planning Commission has approved this application; write the BOCs if you disagree with this untenable assessment given the Cobb County Ordinances
Z-156: R-30 to SC, southwest corner of Casteel Road and Dallas Highway for Suburban Condominiums. This is another inappropriate area for SC’s, as it is in land designated low density residential. Update Z-156: the Planning Commission has denied this application - this is one they seemed to have gotten right. It will now go to the BOCs for a final vote.
Note: the Planning Commission seems to be capitulating in terms of upholding the Cobb County Ordinances and a lower density in west Cobb given their recent decisions to support SCs and various re-zonings from R-30 to R-20, R-20 to R-15, ... The BOCs need to be made aware as to how their appointees (i.e., each planning commissioner) are voting given their fiduciary duties to uphold the public trust in protecting our community's integrity. The more higher density developments that get approved, the harder it will be to fight subsequent higher density developments, creating a vicious cycle of greater densities that threatens our schools (overcrowded), our utilities (e.g., distressed water & transportation resources, etc.), and our overall quality-of-life.

Potential Action Steps Given the Above

Write a letter (A Sample Letter: modify this Word doc as appropriate; cut/paste in an email, etc.), email and/or call our commissioners. In general, a letter is the most powerful method, but an email is effective as well. Use all three communication methods. Let your voice be heard.
To contact the commissioners to express your opposition to any of the rezonings (Note: see Planning Commission emails on this page under "Planning Commission Members:")

Commissioner	Area	Address	Phone	Email
Sam S. Olens	Chairman	100 Cherokee St. Marietta, GA 30090-7000	770-528-3305	solens@cobbcounty.org
Billy L. Askea	Northwest Cobb	100 Cherokee St. Marietta, GA 30090-7000	770-528-3313	baskea@cobbcounty.org
G. Woody Thompson, Jr.	Southwest Cobb	100 Cherokee St. Marietta, GA 30090-7000	770-528-3311	wthompson@cobbcounty.org
Tim Lee	Northeast Cobb	100 Cherokee St. Marietta, GA 30090-7000	770-528-3318	tlee@cobbcounty.org
Joe Lee Thompson	Southeast Cobb	100 Cherokee St. Marietta, GA 30090-7000	770-528-3315	Jthompson@cobbcounty.org

3. Write a letter (Op-Ed or Letters to the Editor) to the newspaper

Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Marietta Daily Journal (an email address; attach letter or put in the body of an email)

4. Speak out at public meetings

Meeting Dates for 2002 for the Planning Commission and BOCs
Board of Commissioners, Planning Commission, and Board of Zoning Appeals Meetings are held at 100 Cherokee Street, Marietta, GA in Commission Meeting Room located on the 2nd floor of the Cobb County Building, Bldg A.
The commission meets in regular session twice a month on the second Tuesday (9 a.m.) and the fourth Tuesday (7 p.m.). Commission Zoning Meetings are held on the third Tuesday of each month (9 a.m.).