Cobb County board approves most 2026 comprehensive plan amendments, denies one
January 21, 2026 | Cobb County, Georgia
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The Cobb County Board of Commissioners on Jan. 20 approved the bulk of the county’s 2026 comprehensive plan amendments while denying one zoning‑driven change, voting 4‑0 on the motions.
The board approved ZD1 (Z55), ZD2 (Z60), ZD4 (Z6), ZD5 (Z13) and ZD6 (Z16), which change future land‑use designations at sites across Commission District 2. The board denied ZD3 (Z5), a proposed change from “Industrial Compatible” to “Neighborhood Activity Center” at the southwest corner of West Atlanta Street and Oak Ridge Drive; Planning Commission had recommended denial and staff said it supported leaving the site Industrial Compatible.
Philip Westbrook, senior planner with Cobb County Community Development, framed the amendment work for the board: “The comprehensive plan is strictly a long‑range planning document that guides growth and development. It is not a development ordinance. It is not zoning regulation.” He told commissioners the zoning‑decision amendments under review stemmed from prior zoning approvals between October 2024 and October 2025.
The board handled the contested and non‑contested items as prescribed by staff: after reading each zoning decision and asking for public comment, commissioners voted on cases without speakers, then returned to any with public input. No public speakers registered for the zoning decision items at the hearing.
Separately, the board approved three commission proposals in District 3 — CP 3‑1, CP 3‑2 and CP 3‑3 — all of which carried Planning Commission recommendations for approval. Commissioner Burrell noted CP 3‑1 involved a former church site that now operates as a residential senior living facility and that a related traffic‑signal matter had been referred to the Georgia Department of Transportation.
Chairwoman Joanne moved the motions on both the zoning decisions and the commission proposals; the transcript records the motions were seconded and that each vote carried 4‑0 (no roll call of individual votes was read into the record).
The hearing concluded with commissioners and staff turning their attention to a larger, countywide update: the county’s next comprehensive plan update is scheduled for Oct. 31, 2027. The board discussed whether to continue the practice of annual, single‑parcel map amendments while that larger update is prepared.
The county’s comprehensive plan process and statute were also cited during the hearing. Westbrook referenced the Georgia Planning Act of 1989 as the state law that established jurisdictional comprehensive planning requirements.
The board approved ZD1 (Z55), ZD2 (Z60), ZD4 (Z6), ZD5 (Z13) and ZD6 (Z16), which change future land‑use designations at sites across Commission District 2. The board denied ZD3 (Z5), a proposed change from “Industrial Compatible” to “Neighborhood Activity Center” at the southwest corner of West Atlanta Street and Oak Ridge Drive; Planning Commission had recommended denial and staff said it supported leaving the site Industrial Compatible.
Philip Westbrook, senior planner with Cobb County Community Development, framed the amendment work for the board: “The comprehensive plan is strictly a long‑range planning document that guides growth and development. It is not a development ordinance. It is not zoning regulation.” He told commissioners the zoning‑decision amendments under review stemmed from prior zoning approvals between October 2024 and October 2025.
The board handled the contested and non‑contested items as prescribed by staff: after reading each zoning decision and asking for public comment, commissioners voted on cases without speakers, then returned to any with public input. No public speakers registered for the zoning decision items at the hearing.
Separately, the board approved three commission proposals in District 3 — CP 3‑1, CP 3‑2 and CP 3‑3 — all of which carried Planning Commission recommendations for approval. Commissioner Burrell noted CP 3‑1 involved a former church site that now operates as a residential senior living facility and that a related traffic‑signal matter had been referred to the Georgia Department of Transportation.
Chairwoman Joanne moved the motions on both the zoning decisions and the commission proposals; the transcript records the motions were seconded and that each vote carried 4‑0 (no roll call of individual votes was read into the record).
The hearing concluded with commissioners and staff turning their attention to a larger, countywide update: the county’s next comprehensive plan update is scheduled for Oct. 31, 2027. The board discussed whether to continue the practice of annual, single‑parcel map amendments while that larger update is prepared.
The county’s comprehensive plan process and statute were also cited during the hearing. Westbrook referenced the Georgia Planning Act of 1989 as the state law that established jurisdictional comprehensive planning requirements.
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