This is part 3 of 10 arguments against the proposed Isakson Living East Cobb rezoning proposal.
Read the earlier arguments here:
- Very similar Isakson CCRC proposal defeated in Athens, Georgia
- Would Isakson Living East Cobb be safe for its residents?
Isakson Living and their partners at Erickson Living have not given any assurances that they will not expand the proposed Isakson Living East Cobb retirement community in the future. This is important, since Isakson Living plans to build out the East Cobb facility for at least 10 years, or as market demand fluctuates, so possibly longer. This gives plenty of opportunity for them go through zoning again to possibly raise building heights, increase building size (and thus decrease open space), or add more units.
Isakson Living did exactly this at their Park Springs retirement community in Stone Mountain, GA. With construction underway in 2004, they went through DeKalb County zoning a second time to increase the height of some buildings to 4 stories (Read the zoning application here).
Ten years is a long time, and Isakson Living's partner Erickson Living has the deep pockets to potentially push multiple modifications to the proposed East Cobb facility through Cobb County zoning. Ten years gives time for the Board of Commissioners to change. The developers may also believe that the long construction time will give area residents time to just "accept" high density in the middle of their low density neighborhood, so what's the harm in going through zoning again to ask for even larger and taller buildings, and even more density?
If Isakson Living is given an inch, they may try to take a mile.