East Cobb senior living facility proposal to be considered

Sunrise at East Cobb, East Cobb senior living home — *The former Sunrise at East Cobb nursing home is being proposed for an independent senior living facility. ECN file photo.*

A former nursing home on Johnson Ferry Road that was sold earlier this year is being proposed for a different kind of senior living facility.

The new owner of Hammocks at East Cobb is proposing to convert the former Sunrise at East Cobb into a townhome-type concept with 72 separate living units.

The applicant is requesting a setback variance and other changes that will be heard Tuesday by the Cobb Board of Commissioners.

According to an agenda item (you can read it here), Hammocks at East Cobb would include the existing building for most of those units, plus a new amenities area with an activity room, gym, conference room, mailroom, salon and bistro.

Hammocks at East Cobb also wants to build six independent cottages along Johnson Ferry Road, and add 16 parking spaces to the facility.

The setback variance being sought would be reduced from 50 feet to 40 feet from the road to make room for the cottages, according to the agenda item.

Renovations crews already are upgrading the courtyard amenities at the site, which is just north of Roswell Road.

The Cobb Zoning Office hasn’t made a recommendation on the application, which will be heard with Other Business items.

Those are cases that aren’t seeking rezoning but changes to existing site plans.

Sunrise at East Cobb opened in 1997 on land zoned for office and industrial use. A senior living facility being proposed by Hammocks is allowed there under the residential senior living use, subject to certain criteria, including commissioners approving a site plan.

Sunrise was sold in May to Hammocks at East Cobb Propco LLC in May for $1.795 million, according to Cobb property tax records.

In 2019, a Sunrise worker was sentenced to 10 years in prison for elder neglect in the death of a 91-year-old resident.

The Hammocks at East Cobb case is on the consent agenda, meaning there is no known opposition.

Commissioners also are scheduled to rehear a master plan proposal by Mt. Bethel Christian Academy that was delayed last month following community opposition.

The zoning hearing begins at 9 a.m. in the second floor board room of the county office building at 100 Cherokee Street, Marietta. You can view the full agenda by clicking here.

You also can watch the hearing on the county’s website and YouTube channels and on Cobb TV 23 on Comcast Cable.