NE Cobb townhome proposal gets thumbs-down at first hearing

The property owner of a 13-acre tract of land eyed for a high-density townhome development in Northeast Cobb didn’t appear for a first hearing before the Cobb Planning Commission Tuesday.

But the five-member zoning advisory body didn’t hesitate to recommend denial of the plans near the end of a long meeting.

Ashwani Kumar Kaura wants to rezone the undeveloped track at Alabama Road and Lindsey Way from single-family residential (R-20) to fee-simple townhome (FST).

The land is completely surrounded by detached single-family homes, and some neighbors turned out to oppose the request.

Kauna wasn’t in attendance due to what Cobb zoning staff said was an out-of-state medical emergency, but the planning board decided to hear the case since opponents were in attendance.

“There’s nothing like this in our area at all,” said one. “It’s completely out of place.”

Tom Ganschow, who lives next to the Kaura property on Fitts Drive in the Bernham Woods subdivision, said his neighborhood is diverse and is “a nice place to come and it’s quiet.”

He said Kauna proposed a 50-home subdivision on the land 20 years ago, and wondered how more than 70 homes would fit, especially since there isn’t sewer service in that area.

Zoning staff recommended denial on a number of fronts, including density, land-use, sewer and transportation.

Planning commissioner Deborah Dance quickly made a motion to recommend denial, and the vote was 5-0.

The case goes before the Cobb Board of Commissioners for the final say on March 19.