Cobb County planning commission recommends approval of five future-land-use changes, denies one amid Dobbins-airstrip concerns

The Cobb County Planning Commission on Jan. 6 recommended approval of five future-land-use amendments and recommended denial of one after debate over whether a site near Dobbins airstrip should remain industrial-compatible.

Philip Westbrook, senior planner with Cobb County Community Development, told the commission the process is an annual update to the county’s comprehensive plan and described six zoning-decision cases that arose from Board of Commissioners rezonings found to be incompatible with the future land-use map. The cases are all in Commission District 2 and propose future-land-use changes ranging from community activity center to medium-density or high-density residential.

Why it matters: future-land-use designations guide long-range planning and help elected officials and staff assess compatibility between zoning and the comprehensive plan. Westbrook emphasized that the comprehensive plan and future land-use map are guidance, while zoning is regulatory.

Most of the six cases drew no public comment and the commission moved to recommend approval of ZD 1, ZD 2, ZD 4, ZD 5 and ZD 6. Debate centered on ZD 3, a proposal to change a site at the southwest corner of West Atlanta Street and Oak Ridge Drive from an 'industrial compatible' future-land-use to a 'neighborhood activity center' (NAC). An unnamed commissioner raised concerns about allowing residential uses near Dobbins airstrip and asked whether an NAC could permit housing.

Westbrook replied that the NAC future-land-use designation is primarily commercial and noted that the residential zoning categories compatible with an NAC may have acreage requirements the site probably does not meet. He said from a planning perspective, "it makes more sense to keep it industrial compatible." The commissioner who raised the concern moved to recommend approval of ZD 1, 2, 4, 5 and 6 and to recommend denial of ZD 3, with an alternative suggestion to add a note restricting residential use if the NAC designation were adopted.

Commissioner Dantz seconded the motion. The commission called the question and the motion passed by a 4-0 vote to recommend approval of ZD 1, ZD 2, ZD 4, ZD 5 and ZD 6 and to recommend denial of ZD 3. The commission’s recommendation will be transmitted to the Board of Commissioners, which is scheduled to consider the proposed comprehensive plan amendments on Jan. 20 for final action.

The commission referenced the Georgia Planning Act of 1989 as the statutory framework for comprehensive planning in the state. The staff presentation and the commission’s vote addressed only future-land-use map designations; no regulatory zoning changes or development approvals were made at this hearing.

Next steps: the Board of Commissioners will review the commission’s recommendations on Jan. 20; any future regulatory changes would require separate zoning actions by the board.