By Laura Armstrong Monica
Back Story on Possible Cobb Zoning Changes and Cobb Commission Chair Candidate, Kay Morgan’s Statement Regarding the recent Cobb Voice Exclusive Article: When Politicians Try to Slip One By Us…
Cobb Chairwoman Lisa Cupid has been sitting on her sweeping code reform/change plan for years, but the question is why save it for after the election if it would be good for Cobb homeowners? Doesn’t Cupid think her proposed changes will be popular? We get a clue by looking back.
In a December, 2021 Marietta Daily Journal article
Ms. Cupid and county PR director Ross Cavitt blamed “poor branding” as they backpedaled on her code “reforms” due to a public uproar. At that time it was respected activist and keen watcher of Cobb’s interests Ron Sifen who sounded the alarm. His measured voice has educated Cobb countians on complicated issues like zoning, traffic and transportation for decades now.
Critics including Sifen had claimed new regulations were being “pushed down the throats of Cobb homeowners by shadowy interests that will destroy the suburbs and promote runaway density.”
Addressing the extensive criticism, the Cupid team in 2021 explained they only wanted to “simplify” regulations and make them more “user friendly.” They were, as the narrative went, approaching the topic the “right way,” as opposed to the traditional practice of yearly revisions through experienced county staff. Cupid’s spokesman characterized longstanding county practices, which depend heavily on staff recommendations, as a “band-aid” approach.
Cupid’s proposal had a short life through the haze of the pandemic, but was resurrected on the county website, unannounced in the press, just days before early voting will begin, a full three years later. WHY did she wait if her reforms are so good?
Cupid’s challenger, west Cobb businesswoman Kay Morgan, sent this related statement to Cobb Voice:
Say No to Code Amendment for Chapter 134-1 of the Official Code of Cobb County
From Kay Morgan, Candidate for Cobb County Commission Chair:
“The proposed Code Amendment being proposed in regards to Accessory Dwelling Units (ADU) is a disaster waiting to happen. This change proposes that a property owner can build an 850 sqft single family dwelling on their existing lot in all residential zoning codes. What is often referred to as an in-law suite or a ‘she-shed’ sound, in theory, like an effective way to begin to address the affordable housing dilemma nationwide.
It is not. It is simply a ploy to allow for increasing density in restricted residential areas.
Builders are held to density standards when their subdivisions are approved by the Planning and Zoning Board. This amendment will allow homeowners to potentially double the density on their lots.
As proposed, it would allow for up to three unrelated adults with up to six children/grandchildren. Currently, county code restricts residential housing to no more than two unrelated adults per unit. It also allows for up to five cars parked outside of the garage.
Just imagine the impact of pass-ability that will have on our streets, creating a dangerous situation for neighborhood children when trying to cross the street due to blocked views. It will also cause chaos in our school system. For instance, if someone wants to go to a particular school, all they would have to do is find an ADU within that attendance zone. And more importantly, how many of these ADU’s will end up being used as short-term rentals (ie AirBnB). Keep in mind that unless your HOA already disallows an ADU, it will automatically be allowed. You can expect a lot of time and dollars to be expended trying to re-write HOA bylaws throughout the county.
Who in the county will monitor these units across the county? How many additional employees will need to be hired to do the monitoring of all the guidelines and violations – all at taxpayer expense.
Bottom line – affordable housing is a tough nut to crack. But endangering single family neighborhoods, clogging up residential streets and overcrowding our schools is not the answer. We need to protect our neighborhoods from adding density that was not planned for when they were built. Builders are kept to certain density restrictions for a purpose. This amendment would allow for homeowners to bypass those restrictions and create their own small compounds throughout all zoning codes.”
Laura Monica is a 36-year resident of Cobb County and holds an ABJ from the Grady School of Journalism at UGA. She loves freedom, her country and her family.
Contact her at LauraArmstrongMonica@gmail.com
