East Cobb Zoning Update: Whataburger delayed; farmers market OK'd

East Cobb O'Charley's restaurant closes

There’s been another delay in Whataburger’s plans to open a restaurant in East Cobb.

The Texas-based chain asked for another continuance from the Cobb Board of Commissioners Tuesday as they iron out plans to revise a site plan on what had been O’Charley’s restaurant at Sandy Plains and Shallowford roads.

Cobb Zoning Division manager John Pederson said at the start of Tuesday’s zoning hearing that the applicant wants a delay to the Aug. 20 hearing for work on architectural landscaping, and the board approved that request 4-0.

Chairwoman Lisa Cupid was absent.

It’s the third time the request has been delayed. Whataburger wants to replace the existing structure with a new 7,000-square-foot building with drive-through space and parking.

Stipulations restricted uses for fast food and drive-through service, and an initial review of the application concluded additional parking would be needed.

Later in the hearing commissioners voted to approve a special land-use plan for St. Andrew United Methodist Church to hold a farmer’s market every Saturday on its property on Canton Road at Blackwell Circle.

The vote was 4-0 for the Blackwell Farmer Market, which is open Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. through Sept. 28. It features local vendors selling produce, meats, breads, baked goods and other artisanal food items in a portion of the parking lot at the church

The permit is for 24 months, and comes after the Cobb Planning Commission recommended approval.