The Cobb Planning Commission voted Tuesday to recommend approval of a proposed indoor recreation center at the Sandy Plains Village Shopping Center that the developers’ attorney says will be a “cutting edge” facility.
The board voted 5-0 to retain the current neighborhood retail commercial (NRC) category for the retail center, with several stipulations to govern what would be called Ignite Adventure Park.
DDR Southeast Sandy Plains, LLC had sought a community retail (CRC) category for its entire property because the rec center doesn’t fit in NRC (here’s the case file).
But planning commissioner Andy Smith of East Cobb—who represents the area of the shopping center on Woodstock Road between Sandy Plains Road and Mabry Road—incorporated several special use conditions to keep the shopping center NRC.
The rec center would have go-karts, bumper cars, wall and rock climbing, indoor trampolines, mini-golf and other features, mostly for kids. Garvis Sams, an attorney for DDR Southeast Sandy Plains, said there also would be a restaurant and cafe.
Among the stipulations added by Smith include mandating that the go-karts and bumper cars be operated on either battery power or electricity (no gasoline-driven engines) and that construction be limited from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Friday (no nights, weekends or holidays).
The Cobb Zoning Staff had recommended denial of the application in part due to concerns over noise and fumes. Sams said the go-karts and bumper cars were always intended to be battery-powered, and that any noise inside the rec center will be at decibels below the county ordinance.
“They’re as silent as the cars you see” on the roads, he said.
Sams also said in his presentation that the developer will not expand square footage or extend building height for the rec center. The 67,000-square-foot space was originally a Kroger and later housed a Walmart grocery, which closed in 2017.
No one spoke in opposition to the rezoning request.
Sams also represented an applicant in another East Cobb case that got a 5-0 recommendation for approval.
The property owner is Tracey Coker, whose family has owned land on Shaw Road for more than 50 years. The rezoning would go from R-20 to R-15 for eight farm-style single-family homes on nearly seven acres.
A site plan submitted last week would preserve natural habitats including an orchard, flower garden, a community garden and a bird habitat.
“We’re protecting the watershed,” Sams said. Among the stipulations are to have the natural amenities to be maintained in a mandatory homeowners association.
The access road will front the homes, which will all be facing Shaw Road between Woodrush Drive and Oak Creek Drive. The land also is across Shaw Road from the home of District 3 Cobb commissioner JoAnn Birrell.
“I like the plan,” said planning board chairwoman Judy Williams, who represents District 3. “It’s well-thought out and it will be an asset to the neighborhood.”
Two other East Cobb cases were withdrawn Tuesday.
The owner of a shopping center on Canton Road near Kingston Drive withdrew an application with prejudice for an event center that drew neighborhood opposition (case file here).
Also withdrawn without prejudice was an application to rezone land for six homes on Paper Mill Road near Gateside Place. Last month the planning commission voted to hold it, also after nearby residents spoke against it.
The planning commission recommendations go to the Cobb Board of Commissioners, which is scheduled to take final action March 19.
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