Welcome

The most recent installment of this newsletter marked the beginning of Advance Voting for the 2024 General Election. Now, on Halloween, we approach the last day to vote early. Find detailed information here on how to vote early and locate your precinct if you intend to vote on Election Day.

Last week, I had the privilege of hosting the annual Cybersecurity Day for the Cobb Information Technology Systems department for the second consecutive year. Initially, it was a Cobb employee education event, but Commissioner Richardson supported my efforts to work through the Cabinet to open it up to the public.

With over 150 people in the audience throughout the day, we had speakers from the Sheriff’s Office, KSU, the Police Department, and the District Attorney’s office. It was a full day of learning how to prevent cyber-related fraud and what resources are available to you if something does indeed happen. Cobb TV recorded the event, and once the recordings are published, I’ll be sure to share a link with all of you.

What’s Happening in the District 

We Care Vet Fair!

The third annual We Care Vet Fair will take place at the Cobb Civic Center in Marietta on Friday, November 1st, from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. and Saturday, November 2nd, from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. This event, created by United Military Care, is designed to serve veterans, active-duty military personnel, National Guard and Reserve members, their families, caregivers, and survivors. It promises to be a one-stop shop for various services and resources crucial to the military community.

Attendees will receive assistance with various VA-related matters, including submitting disability claims, checking claim status, and filing appeals. The event will also provide information on burial options, financial planning, survivor benefits, and wartime veteran income. The fair offers free haircuts, health checks, vision exams, flu shots, and physical and mental health screenings for those seeking healthcare services. Veterans can enroll in VA Health Care, obtain VA ID cards, retrieve DD214 forms, and undergo toxic exposure screenings.

Employment resources will be available, including resume assistance and information on volunteer opportunities. Attendees can also explore housing assistance options, VA mortgages, and financial aid programs. Information on aid and attendance, respite care, war veterans' homes, hospice, and home care services will be provided for those requiring long-term care solutions. The event will even offer the chance to adopt a service animal for those looking for their next best friend.

The fair will also feature military vehicles, historical exhibits, including the 6888th Battalion and Montford Point Marines, and representations from the Atlanta History Center and Rosie the Riveter. Attendees can enjoy free lunch and snacks in the canteen and free groceries while supplies last. The organizers have ensured that admission, services, and parking are free, with additional parking and shuttle service available at Lockheed Martin's North Lot B001.

Participants are encouraged to bring their DD214, a form of identification, medical documentation, and any new evidence for claim reconsideration. Those representing a veteran should also bring a Power of Attorney. For more information or to register for free legal help, interested parties can visit wecarevetfair.com or contact 770-973-0014.

Community Spotlight 

Located in Marietta, the Papayago Rescue House is a nonprofit organization focused on rescuing, rehabilitating, retraining, and rehoming parrots. Established in 2015, its co-founders, Maria Sullivan and Brianna Stoddard, have extensive experience in animal care and parrot welfare.

Papayago offers sanctuary and medical support for parrots in need and facilitates education and support for parrot owners. This mission helps promote responsible pet ownership and prevent neglect or abandonment. They also work to create a lasting positive impact on parrot welfare across Georgia through community involvement, volunteer programs, and advocacy.

From their website: “The mission of Papayago Rescue House is to support the well-being and maintenance of parrots in our community through rescue, rehabilitation, retraining, and rehoming. We provide mentoring, training, and support to parrot owners, promoting successful family bonding and decreasing surrenders. We provide a rescue environment specifically adapted for parrots, decreasing the need for birds to be placed at facilities not equipped to handle bird requirements and behavior.”

For more information and volunteer opportunities, visit their website.

The Big Story 

As promised, we turn to zoning. How is this at all a big story? The application and amendment of existing zoning ordinances, as well as the proposal of new ones, can make a material impact on the community around you—especially in a county as built out as Cobb. The current pain of the out-of-control cost of housing felt by so many can be mitigated or exacerbated by zoning. The ability to manage and grow a business will be dependent on zoning.

Here are two topics to keep an eye on here in Cobb:

1) ADUs (aka, Carriage House, Backyard Cottage, Guest House, Granny Flat)

Three-letter acronyms can cause anxiety, I get it. But the ADU, or the Accessory Dwelling Unit, is a simple idea. It is the creation of a secondary and independent residence on a single property. Think of an “in-law suite” allowing another person to live on your property. Instead of converting a basement into a separate living area, an ADU is a mechanism that will enable a homeowner to build a detached unit on their property that would serve the same purpose.

Why is this coming up? Some proposed code amendments, including new language that would allow the use of ADUs, are coming up for a BOC vote in November.

You can view the proposed changes on Cobb’s Community Development website, but here is a quick summary of what’s happening in the code:

• A definition of an ADU is being created in the county code

• ADUs cannot exceed 50% of the size of the primary home, capped at a max of 850 sq ft

• ADUs must be built in the backyard

• Only one ADU per property

• The owner of the property must reside in either the primary home or the ADU

• HOA covenants must be adhered to

It’s important to note that each proposed ADU would need to go before the BOC for review and approval. As with any zoning hearing, the public (neighbors) can speak about their opinion of the proposed change.

Proponents believe this gives homeowners broader freedom, helps loved ones who need a place to live (e.g., seniors, students, etc.), creates a new revenue stream through registered rental opportunities, and helps address the lack of affordable housing supply.

Opponents are primarily worried about the impacts of additional parking needs (one off-street space is required), the increase allowance of additional unrelated adults on a property (from one to two—or two to three, if with children), and a general concern about too many renters.

There will be three public hearings in November for these code amendments at 100 Cherokee in Marietta:

Planning Commission Public Hearing
- November 5 @ 9:00 a.m.

Board of Commissioners Public Hearings
- November 12 @ 9:00 a.m.
- November 21 @ 6:00 p.m.

2) Hotel-to-housing conversions

This is a different topic from ADUs but very related. As I researched this, I was thinking about a friend of mine who has a student looking at KSU. They were telling me that their student wants to live on campus, but this growing university’s options are hardly meeting demand. And the tight ordinances around short-term rentals reduce near-campus options.

The idea here is to take troubled/abandoned hotel properties and convert them into housing. This is a much easier conversion to make than turning office space into residential space, and, of course, it helps increase the housing inventory for prospective residents. There are also the long-term effects of removing an underutilized property and turning it into something that contributes to the community.

The first recent conversion was seen through a Tunnels to Towers project by Six Flags (Z-39-2023; 65 South Service Road). This project, approved in late 2023, will convert an old hotel into affordable housing for veterans. Stipulations were baked into the approval, including an annual review of the project for five years and other noise reduction measures.

The BOC recently approved another proposed conversion at 3200 Cobb Parkway (Z-56-2024). This will also take a dated hotel and convert it into residential properties—reportedly two—and three-story homes, along with a traditional set of amenities one would find in a new neighborhood.

Is this the type of solution to the student housing needed around KSU? Removing a blighted property and turning it into something that benefits the community is a trend that I hope continues.

In the next newsletter, we’ll explore what the proposed Unified Development Code (UDC) means for Cobb County's future.

BOC Meeting Recap 

The Cobb County Board of Commissioners held their Regular Meeting on October 22, at 7:00 PM. The meeting began with presentations, including a donation for the Senior Services’ Meals on Wheels program from the Battle of the Paddles fundraiser and a proclamation designating October as Filipino American History Month. These acknowledgments emphasized community contributions and celebrated cultural diversity within Cobb County.

During the consent agenda, the Board approved various projects and agreements. These included a resolution supporting the naming of the Cobb Multi-family Specialty VA Clinic in honor of Colonel Michael H. Boyce, multiple transportation projects at Cobb County International Airport, and a partnership agreement with Kennesaw State University for a pilot student transit program. Further community enhancements involved approving a new warming shelter program with Must Ministries and supporting facility improvements at local parks and the Safety Village, including donating a new stadium model from the Atlanta Braves.

In the regular agenda, the Board addressed essential community needs and infrastructure projects. This included reallocating ARPA funds for the Housing Stability Court program to support local housing initiatives, authorizing the procurement of video detection equipment for improved traffic management, and approving signage replacements for gateway projects. The meeting concluded with public comments, commissioner addresses, and a settlement authorization for the case of Iyanna Williams v. Cobb County.

Important Dates

November 5th: Planning Commission Zoning Hearing

November 5th: Election Day!

November 5th: Board of Elections and Registration Meeting

November 12th: Board of Commissioners Regular Meeting