With just a few days before their first public hearings, two major rezoning cases in East Cobb are getting some last-minute changes.
Kevin Moore, the attorney for the proposed redevelopment of the Sprayberry Crossing and the proposed East Cobb Church mixed-use development, filed stipulation letters in both cases on Wednesday.
He also filed a new site plan for Sprayberry Crossing, the latest of several renditions for a mixed-use plan to replace a long-blighted shopping center.
After several months of delays, they’re slated to be heard Tuesday by the Cobb Planning Commission.
We’re still reading through everything, but will summarize what’s new.
The Sprayberry Crossing plans have undergone many revisions, the latest being filed late Wednesday afternoon, shortly before Cobb commissioner JoAnn Birrell held a public information session.
You can read through the new changes by clicking here; there’s a new Cobb DOT traffic analysis here; and the full agenda packet is here.
Atlantic Realty hasn’t changed the details for the residential component—125 apartments, 125 senior apartments and 44 townhomes—nor a proposed grocery store space.
The developer is asking for a waiver from a requirement of the Redevelopment Overlay District zoning category for at least 10 percent of the residential units be dedicated for “workforce housing.”
In addition, Atlantic Realty is proposing a property owners association for the overall development.
More green space has been added back into the new site plan, with a “town green” proposed near the Mayes family cemetery. That green space will be open to the entire community, not just those living in the development.
In addition, the developer listed a number of businesses in the retail portion that would not be allowed, from video arcades to adult retail to several kinds of automotive services.
North Point Ministries Inc. has altered its mixed-use proposal anchored by East Cobb Church to include more low-rise office space at the southwest corner of Johnson Ferry Road and Shallowford Road.
A new stipulation letter (you can read it here), also filed Wednesday, would reduce the number of proposed townhomes from 125 to 110. The applicant is also seeking a new zoning category, Fee Simple Townhomes, instead of a multifamily residential category.
Among the stipulations are to designate that no more than 10 of the townhomes could be rentals at any given time.
North Point Ministries’ plan is to sell that 18.11 acres (out of more than 33 overall) to Ashwood Development, an upscale builder with projects in the city of Atlanta and Florida.
During Wednesday’s public information session about Sprayberry Crossing, Birrell said she and county staff had not had time to look through the changes.
They answered questions from the public submitted in advance.
Birrell stressed to viewers of the virtual meeting to e-mail their commissioner and members of the Cobb Planning Commission.
“It is in my district and I will take the lead in the discussions,” she said. “But there are five votes. So you need to e-mail all of us.”
She said of the e-mails she’s received thus far about Sprayberry Crossing, there are 83 e-mails against the project, and 21 in favor.
The opposition is mostly over traffic concerns and having any apartments at all.
It’s been three years since area residents held a town hall meeting at Sprayberry High School to jump-start a process that has led to a rezoning case of any kind.
“I know we’re all tired of looking at Sprayberry Crossing,” Birrell said of the retail center that’s been run-down for more than 20 years. “There’s nobody who wants to see this redeveloped than me.”
But she said it’s important to hear fully from the community to determine the best options.
The Cobb Planning Commission meets Tuesday at 9 a.m. in the 2nd floor board room of the Cobb Government Building at 100 Cherokee St., in downtown Marietta. You can read through the full agenda by clicking here.
There will be limited in-person attendance due to COVID-19 restrictions. The meeting can be seen on the Cobb County government’s Facebook and YouTube channels and Channel 23 on Comcast.
Related stories
- Sprayberry Crossing request granted another continuance
- Cobb commissioners eliminate redevelopment zoning category
- Revised ‘JOSH’ conceptual plan unveiled at virtual town hall
- Cobb Planning Commission member from East Cobb dies
- Petitions created to support, oppose East Cobb Church zoning
- East Cobb Church zoning: ‘What we’re doing is ever-evolving’
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