The Cobb County Commission voted unanimously Tuesday to delay a final decision on a proposed 108-home subdivision in West Cobb.
The property, located at the corner of Dallas Highway and County Road, has been targeted for development by Capkey Real Estate Advisors.
Capkey’s application for an “open space community” drew opposition from some neighbors and concerns from commissioners during a regular zoning meeting. They pointed to overcrowded schools, the high number of proposed houses and small lot sizes for some of the homes.
County staff had originally determined that 72 homes could be built on the land under its current zoning category.
Several commissioners pointed out that county code does not set a minimum lot size for open space communities, a zoning category that was created to encourage developers to preserve green space.
But Commissioner Bob Ott said some developers were using floodplain and wetlands to meet the open space requirement and justify denser development.
“What we’re seeing is the land that couldn’t be used for development is going into green space,” Ott said.
Chairman Mike Boyce also voiced skepticism of the project. “I don’t understand the approval by the staff,” Boyce said, referring to the county staff recommendation. “We’re adding almost 50 percent more houses.”
Keli Gambrill of the group People Looking After Neighborhoods urged the commission to reject the application, saying it “mocks the relevance of the Cobb County code of ordinance.”
Commissioner Bob Weatherford, who represents the district, made the motion to table the application until the next meeting in order to give the developer time to address concerns.
The next zoning meeting is scheduled for April 18 at 9 a.m. in the county government building on Marietta Square.
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