Ebenezer Road subdivision approved by Cobb commissioners

Ebenezer Road subdivision approved

The Cobb Board of Commissioners approved a 92-home subdivision on Ebenezer Road Tuesday after several days.

Some changes were made by the developer, Pulte Homes, after being held last month. Commissioners voted 5-0 to approve that number of homes, with additional provisions.

Pulte maintained its request for 92 homes on nearly 50 acres, but added a viewshed protection plan to address concerns from nearby residents of major stormwater runoff.

The revised site plan is here; and here is the stipulation letter from Rod Hosack of Taylor English Decisions, Pulte’s representative.

Hosack, a former Cobb County Manager and head of the Cobb community development agency, said the density of 1.96 units per acre was consistent with nearby subdivisions.

John Steutzer, a nearby resident, said while he and other neighbors are pleased with an R-15 rezoning request, 92 homes is “too dense for the area,” and suggested a limit of 85 homes.

He also said the lot sizes were not “buildable” enough and the proposed home sizes were too small, and urged that they be at least 3,000 square feet.

They also wanted more buffer, berm, landscaping, architectural, traffic and stormwater management changes.

While Pulte proposed a four-way stop at Ebenezer and Maybreeze, Steutzer said the traffic stemming from a 92-home subdivision was sufficient to require a roundabout, and said the neighbors want a signaled crosswalk for children using nearby schools.

He requested a delay or denial of the request. Commissioner JoAnn Birrell, whose District 3 includes the Ebenezer Road property, made a motion to approve the 92 homes with several stipulations, including a 35 percent maximum of impervious surfaces on all lots.

She also included the 3,000-square foot minimum for home sizes in her motion.

Ebenezer Road subdivision approved — *Cobb commissioner JoAnn Birrell*

Veronica Lilly, who lives on nearby Catalina Court and spoke to commissioners last month with stormwater concerns, got emotional in asking for a delay on development so the county can upgrade its stormwater services.

She referenced recent flooding that prompted a virtual town hall last week by Cobb commissioner Jerica Richardson, and a declaration of a disaster by the U.S. Small Business Association resulting in a loan program.

“An SBA loan is not a fix,” Lilly said. The Pulte Homes project has two lakes and a creek, she said, “that affect many people downstream. Could this be the reason why I have a sinkhole on my property? Maybe.”

Birrell asked county stormwater officials to work with the developer to resolve issues during plan review regarding a lake that currently is owned by private residents.

She also said that final landscaping and buffer determinations should come back for her approval.

“A lot of this will be done in plan review and will be looked at by all of us when it’s final,” Birrell said.