Cobb commissioners withdraw much of lift‑station language but bar county takeover of private stations

The Cobb County Board of Commissioners on Nov. 20 pulled most of a contentious proposed change to the county code that would discourage or eliminate certain public and private lift stations, instead voting to retain a narrower provision clarifying that the county will not accept ownership of private lift stations.

Water-department staff had presented language intended to reduce the number of small, subdivision-serving pump stations — citing maintenance costs and a preference for gravity sewer or regional solutions. The proposed changes would have discouraged new public lift stations and prohibited private lift stations that serve more than one single-family residential property in new subdivisions.

Commissioners and development stakeholders pressed for clarity on mixed-use projects, regional lift-station options, and possible paths for developers to fund regional infrastructure. Several commissioners said the draft language, as written, risked sending a blanket message discouraging development in parts of the county and removing desirable discretion from staff and the board.

After extended discussion the board voted to withdraw most of Section 122.126 from consideration and to retain subsection A3 — a statement that the county shall not accept ownership of private lift stations — so that the prohibition on county takeover of private lift stations is explicit in the code. That narrower change passed by unanimous vote when the rest of the section was removed from consideration for further work.

Water officials said private lift stations for single parcels and private stations for apartments (commercially operated) can still be permitted under code; what the board addressed were small private lift stations that serve multiple single-family parcels (for example, HOA-run pumps). Staff emphasized that failing private stations remain the property owner's responsibility and that EPD enforcement applies if overflow occurs.

The board directed staff to return with revised language that preserves environmental protections for sensitive areas such as the Lake Allatoona watershed while leaving room for case-by-case consideration, regional options and developer arrangements. The matter will be revisited by the board in a future meeting after additional technical and legal review.