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Concerned Citizens of East Cobb

Protecting Our Community's Residents, Seniors, Schools and Environment

Update: Tritt Property Added to 2022 Splost list

5/27/2020

 
The vote passed 5-0!

Purchasing 24-acres of the Tritt property as parkland / greenspace next to East Cobb Park is now on the Splost 2022 list, which will be on the November 2020 ballot.  Thank you for making such a positive impact with many hundreds of emails sent encouraging the Board about this in just 24 hours!

The meeting was livestreamed on YouTube on Tuesday, and the vote took place around 1:05:15.

Encourage Commissioners to Keep Tritt Property on the Splost list

5/25/2020

 
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Tritt Property - Action Needed Today:  
Encourage Commissioners to Keep Tritt Property on the Splost list, Board of Commissioners voting on May 26 at 1:30 online.
 
The SPLOST 2022 list of projects will be voted on tomorrow, Tuesday, May 26 at 1:30pm by the Board of Commissioners.  Good news: Included in the Tier 1 project list for the next SPLOST is funding to purchase the remaining 24 acres of the Tritt Property, which includes the original homestead and the 100-year-old barn! 

We encourage each of you who have enjoyed using East Cobb Park, and other parks around Cobb, to PLEASE send an email to the Commissioners voicing your support for keeping the Tritt Property on the SPLOST list: 
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​Tomorrow’s Board of Commissioners meeting is a Virtual meeting, so we cannot attend it in person, but we can email. Visit this page to watch the meeting online.  


We all have seen just how vital parks and green space are to the well-being of our community in these last several months.  

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The SPLOST 2022 funds would enable the County to save up to purchase the final 24 acres of the property.  There are no other large tracts of land in East Cobb that can be saved as green space / park land.  If we do not fight to save this property, it will get developed and press in on the existing beauty of East Cobb Park. 
 
We fought very hard to stop development on this land, and let's continue to see the dream through by reminding the Board of Commissioners how important it is to ‘save the Green Jewel of East Cobb’ to our community.

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Additional Information:  30 acres of the 54-acre Tritt property located next to East Cobb Park was purchased by the County as a Park in 2018, thanks to 2008 Park Bond issuance.  The East Cobb community's efforts !  $12.5 million of the original $40 million Park Bond 2008 issued in 2017 was not spent.  The $8 million cost for the remaining acreage of the Tritt property was available in the original 2008 Park Bond.  There are 24 acres of the Tritt property remaining to purchase, and the County has the first right of refusal to purchase those acres next to East Cobb Park.  ​​​

View the latest Newsletter

895 acres in Cobb under review for possible change

1/18/2020

 
PictureAmendment Proposal for 895 Acres in District 2 from multiple zoning categories to the RAC zoning category in January 2020
A vote by the Cobb Board of Commissioners to adopt a proposal changing 895 acres in District 2 to a more intensive zoning area could be delayed due to concerned community feedback.

The amendment to Cobb's Comprehensive Land Use Plan proposed this January by District 2 Commissioner Ott is for multiple parcels covering a total of 895 acres to be designated as a RAC or Regional Activity Center, allowing for more high density residential and retail development when the lots come up for rezoning.

Read the latest details on our website here.
 


Cityhood Debate

5/10/2019

 
To provide easier access for community feedback and discussion, here is a list of all the Nextdoor conversations on the East Cobb Cityhood topic.  Also included are AJC, East Cobb News, and MDJ articles about this issue:  http://www.cceastcobb.com/cityhood-conversations.html
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Mrs. Tritt on East Cobber Magazine + Save the Date!

11/12/2018

 
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Mrs. Tritt is on the cover of the November edition of the East Cobber to celebrate the new 30-acre Tritt Park property purchase right next to East Cobb Park! 

​Mrs. Tritt generously donated 7.7 acres, and Cobb County purchased 22 acres with the 2008 Park Bond, issued in 2017 by the Board of Commissioners. 


How many acres left to purchase for the future Tritt Park? We only have 24 more acres to go for the acquisition of the entire 54-acre Tritt property (see drone video here).  These perfectly preserved 54-acres of rare hardwood forest are like a mini-Kennesaw Mountain in East Cobb -- perfect for hiking!! ​
Mrs. Tritt:  "I am elated that the beauty and majesty of this special green space will be enjoyed by thousands of Cobb Countians long into the future." 
Save the Date!  Mrs. Tritt will make an appearance on December 2, 2018 from 5:00 to 7:00 pm at the Annual Christmas Tree Lighting at East Cobb Park!  

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Friends for the East Cobb Park will be hosting the special tree lighting. This is a magical night where the community gathers to celebrate the lighting of the East Cobb Park tree, enjoy holiday music from local performers, and welcome the arrival of Santa Claus. The entire holiday event is free for all ages.
What makes the 54-acre Tritt property special?Discover the history of the Tritt property in East Cobb County here or here.  The history includes Sewell Mill and spans generations from the beginning of Cobb County in 1832.  

How Park Bond 2008 Made the Future Tritt Park Possible:  The vast majority of money to purchase the 30-acre part of the 54-acre Tritt property came from the Park Bond 2008 fund, which does not impact the General Fund budget. Voters overwhelmingly approved the Park Bond by Referendum to allow precious greenspace to be saved before it would have been developed.  

The Friends of East Cobb Park also made a donation in support of the Tritt Park property purchase, and you can support the East Cobb Park here.
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Mark Your Calendars for Tuesday, June 26 at 7:00PM

6/23/2018

 
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Mark your calendars!!! This TUESDAY, JUNE 26 at 7pm is the official vote when the Board of Commissioners plans to approve the Tritt property purchase with Park Bond 2008 funds, and we encourage everyone to attend!!

BoC meeting room: 100 Cherokee St NE Suite #200, Marietta, GA 30090 

This is our opportunity to show support and thanks for their decision to save this property as greenspace / parkland!


​We look forward to the continuing work of preserving the remaining acreage in the future to have all 54 acres as the "Green Jewel of East Cobb"!

Below is the new map planned for purchase (copied from this East Cobb News article), and you can read the proposed County contract for the Tritt property as a park here, which mentions saving the remainder in the near future.
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Read about the details here!   MDJ article, East Cobb News article, Marietta Patch article
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Wonderful News for the Tritt Property!

6/21/2018

 
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We are thrilled by the news (MDJ article, East Cobb News article, Marietta Patch article, Bob Ott's Newsletter) that the County and Mrs. Tritt have reached an agreement to save a portion of this beautiful, historic piece of property as green space for all citizens to enjoy! It has been the long held desire of the community to preserve this spectacular property, and we are grateful for every person who has been a part of the long journey to achieve this goal.

​We extend our gratitude and heartfelt thanks to the Tritt family for their graciousness and generosity in helping this become a reality. We want to specially thank Mrs. Tritt for her continued care and maintenance of this property over the years as a lasting legacy for East Cobb.

Our sincere thanks to Commissioner Ott and the BOC for recognizing the importance that parks and green space bring to communities all over Cobb. We appreciate all their efforts to fulfill the long standing Park Bond 2008 referendum on parks and greenspace.

A special thank you to the Friends of East Cobb Park for their generous donation to help preserve the Tritt property as a park.

We look forward to continuing the work of preserving the remaining acreage in the future to have all 54 acres as the "Green Jewel of East Cobb"!

​Mark your calendars!!! This TUESDAY, JUNE 26 at 7pm is the official vote when the Board of Commissioners plans to approve the Tritt property purchase with Park Bond 2008 funds, and we encourage everyone to attend!!​ (BoC meeting room: 100 Cherokee St NE # 300, Marietta, GA 30090) This is our opportunity to show support and thanks for their decision to save this property as greenspace / parkland!

Cool Tritt Property Drone Video from 1000 feet

1/10/2017

 
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Drone video of the Tritt property from 1,000 feet: You can see the island of hardwood trees surrounded by the neighborhoods of East Cobb!

Which District Has the Least Amount of County Parks?  District 2

11/5/2016

 
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20-acre East Cobb Park in District 2
The 54-acre Tritt property, located next to 20-acre East Cobb Park, was the impetus for the entire Park Bond 2006 program.  When the Tritt property in East Cobb wasn't purchased in 2006, it was again recommended for purchase by Cobb County's Citizen Advisory Committee in 2008.  

The 112-acre Bullard Farm & Stockton Property in West Cobb, located near Oregon Park, was purchased for $18.5 million from the $40 million Park Bond 2006 Referendum funds.  The Bullard/Stockton property was renamed Green Meadows Preserve, and it was the other major property along with the Tritt property that inspired the Park Bond process.


  • It's worth mentioning only 3 out of the 29 properties recommended for purchase with the 2008 Park Bond were in District 2.  However, now 8 years later, the Tritt property is actually the only District 2 property left from the 2008 Park Bond list, because the other 2 -- the 2 1/2-acre Stillhouse property in Vinings & the 9-acre Robinson Road property near Old Canton -- were both developed.  Also two more nearby potential park properties in District 3 -- 16-acre Pinkney near East Piedmont &  31-acre Holly Springs Road -- have already been developed. 

  • Of the 13 properties on the New Park Bond 2008 list published November 2, 2016, zero properties for District 2 are listed as a Tier 1 property, and only 1 property is listed on Tier 2.

  • We are grateful to have 20-acre East Cobb Park!  Even still, District 2 has the lowest number of county and city parks, despite the highest population density and least land available as greenspace or parks.  

    These county park and city park numbers are based on the 2017 redistricting, so the number of parks in District 2 has been even lower.  
​
These parks numbers are found here on Chairman Lee's page.
District 1
city parks 535 acres +
county parks 3238 acres
= 3773 acres
 
District 2
city parks 82 acres +
county parks 313 acres
= 395 acres

 
District 3
city parks 390 acres +
county parks 509 acres
= 899 acres
 
District 4
city parks 183 acres +
county parks 1109 acres
= 1,292 acres
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Note:  Adding in the National Parks and FEMA floodplain means that Districts 2 and 4 are close in the amount of total greenspace, with District 3 the lowest.  

Here are the Parks and Recreation Master Plan documents in 2002 from Lose & Associates (This is the same company the 
Board of Commissioners recently approved to complete a new Master Plan in 2017): 
2001 Parks Master Plan (sections 1-3)
2001 Parks Master Plan (sections 4-6)
2001 Parks Master Plan (sections 7-9)
The Master Plan is over 150 pages, and on page 1 the report says "southern & eastern Cobb are the most deficient areas for city and county parkland." That's still true today.   

The 2016 Property list for Park Bond 2008 

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Recommended property list for the 2008 Park Bond
The MDJ obtained the New 2016 property list for Park Bond 2008.  In 2008, 29 properties were listed for purchase, yet in 2016 only 13 properties are selected on the New Park Bond 2008 list just published.  For Distict 2, no properties are listed in Tier 1, as you can see on the map. There is one 14-acre property in Tier 2 for District 2, but it's not shown on the map.
 
Tritt property supporters should be heartened with the fact that any community can still push for their ideal park property to be purchased by the county, as the Board makes the final decision on parkland acquisition.  Also, District 2 has no other Tier 1 properties. As we know,
the Tritt Property was the impetus and motivation for the entire Park Bond program, and the Tritt property was recommended for purchase on both the Park Bond 2006 and Park Bond 2008 lists. The Friends of Tritt Park are working on fundraising to help create a Tritt park in District 2.
You can fill in the form or email your own letter to [email protected] ​

    Email to Commissioner Ott: Please Choose the Tritt Property for a County Park

SEND

MDJ Article: Supporters pushing for Tritt property’s purchase

11/2/2016

 
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Marietta Daily Journal Article: Supporters pushing for Tritt property’s purchase
Jon Gargis

Nov 2, 2016

Proponents of the creation of a new park along Roswell Road in east Cobb are planning to create a nonprofit to aid them in their efforts.

The webpage for “The Friends of Tritt Park” says the organization’s goal is to preserve the Tritt property, a nearly 54-acre piece of land adjacent to East Cobb Park.

It had been at the center of a lawsuit against the county after Cobb commissioners denied Atlanta-based Isakson Living’s request to rezone the land for a senior living project in March 2015. The company and the property’s owner, Wylene Tritt, sued the county over the decision, which has gone through multiple rounds of mediation.

The suit was dropped in September, with an Isakson Living official saying the county’s requests to reduce the number of residences at the senior living development would prevent the company from providing its expected level of services and accommodations.

In addition to dropping the suit, Isakson Living also canceled its contract with Tritt to purchase the property, leading Tritt to send a letter to county officials asking that the county consider purchasing her property to use as a park. The letter was dated Sept. 21, the day before the suit was officially dropped.

The Friends of Tritt Park’s website calls Tritt’s property “the Green Jewel of East Cobb,” and paints a picture of what supporters envision for the land.

​“The vision for the new Tritt Park at Ivy Wood includes many activities & attractions such as nature hiking trails, mountain biking trails, disc golf, camping, botanical gardens, weddings and special events, an East Cobb history center and an art studio for art shows,” the website says.

The organization said the purchase of the property would likely be accomplished with a medley of funding, with support from the county, corporate sponsors, nonprofits and individuals. In addition to pursuing creation of a nonprofit toward its efforts, the organization is asking supporters to pledge donations that would go toward buying the park.

The Tritt property was not among the 13 pieces of land listed for potential purchase by the county, according to a list of properties obtained by the MDJ.
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For more information on The Friends of Tritt Park, visit trittpark.org.

​3 Important Events this week

10/23/2016

 
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​3 Important Events this week + District 3 Commissioner JoAnn Birrell's new date for the Park Bond 2008 funding resolution

  1. Monday, October 24 at 9:00 AM:  Listen live to the new Park Bond 2008 property list announcement during the Cobb County Board of Commissioner's work session.  It was reported that the list will be presented the day before the Tuesday Board of Commissioners meeting. Note if for some reason the Tritt property is not on the list of properties submitted to the Board of Commissioners for consideration, we need to press for it to be considered for purchase as it was the impetus for the entire park bond process that began in 2006.  The list being provided to the BoC is only a recommendation of properties.  It is within the full authority of the Commissioners to consider any property for purchase, if they chose to do so, whether it is on the list or not.
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  2. Tuesday, October 25 at 7:00 PM:  Attend or watch the Board of Commissioners meeting.  The meeting is located at 100 Cherokee Street, 2nd floor.  NOTE:  District 3 Commissioner JoAnn Birrell had planned to present a resolution to fund some of the 2008 Park Bond on October 25, but she has changed the date to Tuesday, November 8 meeting at 9:00 AM.   The new Park Bond property list is scheduled to be presented on Monday October 24 at a Board of Commissioner Work Session.  Check our Facebook page for updates. 


  3. Wednesday, October 26 at 7:00 PM:  District 2 Commissioner Bob Ott will be the speaker at the East Cobb Civic Association meeting at 4400 Lower Roswell Road in the Lower Roswell Government Center across from Mt. Bethel Church.   We encourage everyone to attend this meeting to express your support for the purchase of the Tritt property and full funding of the $40 million Park Bond.  It is the responsibility of the Board of Commissioners to fund what the people voted for by an overwhelming majority over 8 years ago. The Tritt property was the impetus for the Cobb County park bond program, and it was recommended for purchase by both the 2006 Park Bond and the 2008 Park Bond Committees.


    Read next:  Mrs. Tritt's Letter to Make the Tritt Property a Park + Our Next Steps

The Tritt property is the clear choice for District 2’s next park

10/22/2016

 
Marietta Daily Journal Letter to Editor:  The Tritt property is the clear choice for District 2’s next park

DEAR EDITOR:

​
In October 2009, the 2008 Parks Bond citizens advisory committee recommended 29 properties for purchase by Cobb County. Commission District 2, though representing 25 percent of the population of the county, had only three recommended properties, or 10 percent of the total number of properties. District 2 includes Smyrna, Vinings, the Cumberland area and much of east Cobb. This area is heavily developed, which limits green space opportunities. District 2 has only 313 acres of county parks, the least by far of any Cobb commission district.

The 2008 Parks Bond was never issued due to the economy. Since then, two of the three recommended properties in District 2 have been developed.

The lone undeveloped 2008 Parks Bond property in District 2 is the 54-acre Tritt property on Roswell Road in east Cobb. The Tritt property was a finalist for both the 2006 and 2008 Park bonds.
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The Tritt property consists of pristine hardwood forest along environmentally-sensitive Sewell Mill Creek. The property in its undeveloped state helps keep our water and air clean, helps control flooding along the creek and generates no demand on local schools and very little traffic. The property adds to the beauty and character of east Cobb, and helps keep surrounding property values high. This property has been in the related Delk and Tritt families for over 150 years, so it represents much of east Cobb’s history. It is centrally located in east Cobb, and is likely the largest parcel available for any purpose in District 2. Most importantly, the Tritt property has an owner who is ready and willing to sell to the county.

The Tritt property is the clear choice for District 2’s next park. After a long zoning battle, the east Cobb community is fully aware of how close we came to losing this property to development, and there is overwhelming support to make this property a park for all to enjoy. Hopefully, District 2 Commissioner Bob Ott will join with the people of east Cobb in recommending this property for purchase with the 2008 Park Bond.

Robert Burke
east Cobb

Mrs. Tritt's Letter to Make the Tritt Property a Park + Our Next Steps

10/10/2016

 
Picture100+ Year Old Barn on the Tritt Property
​The Tritt family is giving our community a golden opportunity to help shape the future of East Cobb. 

​Mrs. Tritt personally wrote a letter (see below) about how she would like to see the Tritt property on Roswell Road become a park for all of East Cobb to enjoy!  To make this happen, we need everyone to join in the effort!

This property is one of the last remaining large undeveloped tracts of land in the heart of East Cobb.  It is more than just saving greenspace, it is the preservation of property that was here when East Cobb was settled some 184 years ago. We can preserve the history and create an exciting and memorable destination.
​​

The 54-acre Tritt property was the #1 property recommended on both the Park Bond 2006 list and the Park Bond 2008 list. In fact, this lovely "green Jewel of East Cobb" was the impetus for the entire Park Bond process!

East Cobb Park is the most popular park in Cobb County, so it makes sense as the population increases to expand park capacity in this area.
​The vision for the new Tritt Park includes tons of activities to do such as nature hiking trails, mountain biking trails, disc golf, botanical gardens with a wedding gazebo, an East Cobb history center, and an art studio for art shows.   

The Letter from Wylene Tritt to Commissioner Bob Ott

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3 STEPS TO TAKE

  • Please strongly encourage our District 2 Commissioner Ott of the importance of this property and the need for the county to help preserve it for historical and environmental reasons by sending an email.  Send an email here --->

  • On October 25, 2016 at 7:00pm Cobb County will get a new multi-million dollar opportunity to purchase land as parks with the renewed Park Bond 2008 process. Commissioner Birrell has proposed to fund $24.7 million of the original $40 million parks referendum. Connect with the Cobb Parks Coalition to encourage the full $40 million as voters approved by referendum.

  • ​Join the Friends of Tritt Park and encourage local businesses we support through our hard earned dollars to partner with us in the effort to purchase this property for the benefit of future generations who live in and visit East Cobb for its wonderful businesses and amenities.
You can fill in the form or email your own letter to [email protected] 

    Email to Commissioner Ott: Please Choose the Tritt Property for a County Park

Send to Commissioner Ott

​The new property list for Park Bond 2008 funds may be announced at this October 25 BoC meeting too.
 
When the new Park Bond list is announced, the list has recommendations from a committee. However, Commissioners can select any property they choose to save as a park in their District.  

In fact, there is a precedent for the Board to chose another property not recommended on a committee list.  After the original 2006 Park Bond committee recommended properties, a Commissioner purchased a property not on that committee's list to expand a park.  
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View of a Birdhouse on the Tritt Property
Our goal is to push for the Tritt property to be chosen as the Park Bond property for District 2!  Please send an email (see above) to let Commissioner Ott know we want the Tritt property saved.
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View from the Tritt Property

​Our East Cobb history needs to be  preserved and shared so future generations know  our area is more than just subdivisions, retail shops, banks and gas stations. 

People  drive on roads and attend schools named after families like Tritt, Lassiter, Delk, Dickerson, Sewell, and yet the history of East Cobb is known to very few who live here.  All these families have a history and stories connected to the founding of this area and to the Tritt property directly.

Citizens love spending time in Roswell Square or Marietta Square where there is a focal point for people to gather and experience the history of those areas.  East Cobb has a chance to do the same if we are bold enough to take it!
The purchase of the Tritt property will likely be accomplished with a medley of funding, with support from the Cobb County, non-profit organizations, corporate sponsors & individuals.  Fully funding Park Bond 2008 as voters approved is a key step for the benefit of all parks & greenspace in Cobb County.
This task may seem daunting, but few things that are worthwhile come easy.   ​
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East Cobb Park dedicated in 2003
Even before the Park Bonds, this community thought the Tritt property would be a park.  East Cobb Park was originally owned by the Tritts before the Bowles who sold the land to Cobb County as a park. Mrs. Tritt spoke at the East Cobb Park dedication about how special the rest of the property 4 times as large as East Cobb Park would be for this community. ​​

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View of the Gazebo on the Tritt Property
 Volunteer to help Tritt Park at Ivy Wood 
become a beautiful reality for East Cobb!

BREAKING NEWS on the Tritt Property and Isakson Living lawsuit

9/22/2016

 
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BREAKING NEWS on the Tritt Property and Isakson Living lawsuit:

"Today, Isakson Living has ended its litigation against the Cobb County Board of Commissioners to appeal the Board’s 2015 denial of CCRC zoning..." Also, Isakson Living has terminated their contract with Mrs. Wylene Tritt for the beautiful 54-acre Tritt Property located next to East Cobb Park!
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Please let us be respectful of both Isakson and Mrs. Tritt and show grace in our response as we receive this news. We thank each one of you for sticking with this for so long, being part of a process that was at times frustrating and so very time consuming. Your commitment never wavered and we are so grateful you stuck together as a community to see it through. We will post updates on our Facebook and the website.  

God Bless you and thank you so very much for all you did to make this a reality. You are a dedicated group of citizens and we are proud to be part of this community.



We now have an opportunity to work toward making the Tritt property a park. Please join with the Cobb Parks Coalition and come to the Board of Commissioners meeting next Tuesday, September 27 at 7p to show support (wear green!) for including the 2008 Park Bond funding in the 2017 Budget. 

In 2008, residents across Cobb County voted by an overwhelming majority to fund more park space in Cobb by voter referendum. The Tritt property was on the original 2008 list of properties and was re-nominated in April 2016 of this year to be added to the list of properties under consideration for purchase by the county.
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Voters have patiently waited 8 years to see the $40 million park bond become a reality. Please come and show your support for having the Board of Commissioners fully fund the park bond and fulfill the will of the citizens of Cobb.
The Park Bond 2008 reactivation is set to be approved in the Budget 2017 on September 27 at 7p at 100 Cherokee Street near the Marietta Square. Please be there wearing green to support full funding for Park Bond 2008!


Marietta Daily Journal Article:

Isakson Living drops lawsuit over east Cobb rezoning

Sep 22, 2016

Ricky Leroux

The developer and property owner that were suing the county after commissioners denied a rezoning request for a senior living project in east Cobb have voluntarily dropped the suit, their lawyers confirmed Thursday.

Atlanta-based Isakson Living filed a request to rezone 53.7 acres on Roswell Road adjacent to East Cobb Park that was denied in March 2015, 18 months after it was originally proposed. The company and the property’s owner, Wylene Tritt, sued the county over the decision, which has gone through multiple round of mediation.

In a statement on the company’s website, Kevin Isakson, director of sales and marketing for Isakson living, explained why the suit was dropped.

“After more than three years of negotiations followed by mediation and ultimately litigation, we have determined that we will not be able to realize the superb retirement community we envisioned Tritt Walk to be,” Isakson said. “We have worked extensively with elected officials including the Cobb County Board of Commissioners, as well as representatives of adjacent neighborhoods and civic and community-based organizations, to address their concerns and incorporate their feedback into our plans for Tritt Walk. We have made multiple revisions and reduced the number of residences at Tritt Walk significantly; however, no further reductions are possible if we are to provide the Isakson Living level of services and accommodations.”

Commissioner Bob Ott, who represents east Cobb on the commission, said he’s happy to see the suit dismissed.

“It saves the county the expense of going forward with time in court,” Ott said. “I also am pleased because I think that the decision the board made was the correct one, that the proposal put in front of the board was too intense. … It was never a question of the quality and the caliber of the product. It really came down to the intensity of the overall project.”

In addition to dropping the suit, Isakson Living also cancelled its contract with Tritt to purchase the property, leading Tritt to send a letter to county officials asking that the county consider purchasing her property to use as a park. The letter is dated Sept. 21, the day before the suit was officially dropped.

“I would appreciate having my property … included on the list for consideration by the Parks Committee and the Board of Commissioners,” said Tritt in the letter, which goes on to say that “development of my property as a park would make it possible for the largest number of the county’s residents to enjoy its recreational possibilities, as well as fulfill the expressed wishes of very many who live in east Cobb.” [Read the entire letter published in the MDJ]

The Tritt property was on a list of 29 properties a parks bond citizen advisory committee compiled for the county to consider purchasing with a $40 million park bond voters approved in November 2008. The bonds were never issued by county leadership at the time, with then-Chairman Sam Olens citing an inability to issue the bonds without a tax increase due to the tanking economy.

Since that time, the economy has rebounded and the county reformed the citizen advisory committee this year to create a new list of potential park purchases. Ott said the committee has begun the process of evaluating the 166 properties across the county that were nominated for purchase and is expected to present commissioners with a report in October.

When the county was seeking nominations for properties, Ott said, he asked county staff to ask Tritt if the property was available for purchase for parks, “and at the time, we were told it wasn’t up for sale, so that’s why it wasn’t included on the list.”

Because the nominating window has closed and the committee has already begun whittling down the list of potential properties, Ott said county staff is working with the committee to find a way for the Tritt property to be considered.

“In fairness to all the properties that have been considered, I think that the county has to go back to the committee. I think it’s the committee’s decision because they are done reviewing all the (nominated) properties. … I think it would be great (for) 53 acres in east Cobb to be considered — we asked about it the first time — but I do think we have to be respectful of the time the committee has already put into it. They are all citizen volunteers.”

Fred Estfan, Tritt’s attorney and real estate broker, said Tritt is not disclosing her asking price for the county to purchase the property, but said they would “undertake a massive public campaign” in the coming weeks to get the support of the public to try to get a commitment from the county to purchase the property.

“The property is going to be sold. The question is: Is the county going to step up to the plate finally?” Tritt said. “We’ve asked them for an opportunity to present the case. It’s really a very simple thing to do. There has to be some will to do it.”

Ott said the purchase needs to go through the proper channels.


“Obviously, if money wasn’t an object, the county would love to preserve as many acres as possible, but as was demonstrated the first time we went through this, it depends on what the properties’ cost is and the other parks and greenspace in a particular area. That’s why we have the committee. To simply go and buy it because the owner wants us to buy it would negate the whole purpose of the committee.”

Email about the Tritt Property in the 2040 Plan

6/13/2016

 
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Cobb County is now drafting the 2040 Comprehensive Plan to update the 2030 Comprehensive Plan.  The 2030 Plan has parkland purchase goals, and specifically mentions the Tritt property.  

The 2040 Comprehensive Plan is taking public comments, so please email Dana Johnson and Commissioner Bob Ott to make sure these protections for the Tritt property remain in effect.

Info on the Tritt Property from the 2030 Comprehensive Plan:  "The East Cobb portion of SR 120 is similar to the Vinings area in that the remaining land available for residential development is scarce. In order to complete the nodal concept of development for the East Cobb, the county should continue to market and encourage low to medium density residential development on subject tracts. In East Cobb these tracts are generally located in Land Lots 985, 986, 906, 965, and 966 of the 16th District and Land Lots 93, 765, and 766 of the 1st District. Special emphasis on protecting sensitive habitat along Sope Creek is important as well as addressing the limitations presented by new development along Providence." 
 
The Tritt property is located in Land Lots 965 and 966, and the Sewell Mill Creek merges with Sope Creek. No commercial development should be allowed.

Also from the 2030 Comprehensive Plan: "With East Cobb fully urbanized, much of the existing hardwood forest has been removed or is under severe stress from construction damage during the development process."  
 
The Tritt property has 54-acres of hardwoods.  The Tritt property has had forest conservation status for many years.


The 2040 Comprehensive Plan meetings request input from citizens. Please email Dana Johnson and Commissioner Bob Ott to make sure these protections for the Tritt property remain in effect.


Next 2040 Plan meeting is on Tuesday, June 14, Time: 3:00 PM to 7:00 PM
West Cobb Regional Library, 1750 Dennis Kemp Lane, Kennesaw

Latest Court Document in Isakson Living Lawsuit

6/13/2016

 
Here is the latest court document from Cobb County to Isakson Living. The document was filed on May 18, 2016, but was not available on the court website until early June.

Great Letter to the Editor about the Tritt Property & Senior Living

5/26/2016

 
Senior living and Tritt property

DEAR EDITOR:

I respect that we do need assisted living in Cobb. But not by clearing the last old growth forest in our east Cobb neighborhood. Our Grandpas and Grandmas, their children and grandchildren would be able to enjoy this last refuge forever if we can save it from development. Any development.

Cobb County has allocated funds for this and similar parks and now we need to use those funds as the taxpayers intended.

Developers can re-purpose other land for assisted living developments. If you live in the area, you see proof of this everywhere. Old structures being demolished and expensive new developments being built in their place. Once a property is cleared, it doesn’t care what we build on it. But when we destroy our last remaining tract of forest in the area, it is gone from us forever.

Mr. Ott has our support as long as he is moving towards keeping this land for the enjoyment of all! Cobb County residents, both old and young alike.

Thomas Bishop
Marietta

Read the letter in the Marietta Daily Journal

Bob Ott's May 2016 Letter about Isakson Living

5/24/2016

 
District 2 Commissioner Bob Ott recently mailed this letter to his constituents about Isakson Living:
Picture
Click to view PDF

MDJ Article about the ECCA Candidate Forum for District 2 Race

5/14/2016

 
Race for east Cobb BoC seat heating up (click for article)
  • By Meris Lutz MDJ Correspondent
  • May 14, 2016
The race to represent east Cobb on the county commission has seen both the incumbent and his primary challenger accuse the other of being out of touch and unfit for the position.

Commissioner Bob Ott, who has represented District 2 since 2008, and his opponent, attorney Jonathan Page, are each vying for the Republican nomination for the post, which will be decided during the May 24 primary. No Democrat has qualified for the race, though third party and independent candidates can qualify in June.

The tone of the race was on display Tuesday at a candidate forum hosted by the East Cobb Civic Association, which saw about 50 people show up to hear from the candidates.

The issues on the table were familiar to those who have been following county politics in recent years: transparency, development, green space, public safety, taxes, transportation and the SunTrust Park stadium.

Ott touted his years of experience on the board and in the community while Page spoke of his deep Cobb roots, his leadership style and his credentials as an attorney and small business owner.
Throughout the campaign, Page has sought to portray Ott as an obstructionist who says no without offering alternatives. Ott has defended his record as a series of principled stances, a small fraction of which, he says, put him in opposition to the rest of the board.

“My opponent will say that I want to go along to get along — that is absolutely false,” Page said. “What I want to do is get the other commissioners to go along on initiatives and priorities … that do good for our county.”

Ott held himself up in contrast to Page as someone who was not afraid to ask questions and “ruffle feathers” in order to get to make the best decision.

“(Page) tries to say that experience and knowledge are bad,” Ott said. “I’ve pressed for outside-the-box traffic alternatives, which you find out about not by being in Cobb County all of your life, but by traveling around the world and seeing how other people do it.”

Ott also took several swipes at Chairman Tim Lee, who is running for re-election against challengers Mike Boyce and Larry Savage, an indication that the battle lines may extend beyond District 2.

Ott went after Lee for the water fund transfers to the general fund, for his record on public safety, and for his handling of the budget.

On the Braves stadium, Ott said that while he believed it should have been put to a referendum, there was already a majority of commissioners in favor of the deal. Instead of trying to bring it to the public for a vote, Ott said, he worked to close loopholes in the memorandum of understanding between the county and the team.

“The incumbent wants to be on all sides of the issue,” both for and against, Page said of Ott’s stance on the stadium deal.

Page said that when it came to “big ticket” expenses with long-term obligations, “(the public) should have a vote on whether you want to have a continuing obligation as a taxpayer to pay for a project.”

At another point, however, Page was caught taking a stand in favor of privatizing ambulance service in the county, before Ott pointed out that ambulance service is already privatized in Cobb.
Cobb residents in attendance said the forum was informative, although several characterized the questions as predictable.

“I came in with a very open mind, because I didn’t know anything about either candidate,” said Guy Kriske of east Cobb. “My priorities would be the water transfer and transparency of taxation, and then beyond that would be transportation.”

Patti Rice of east Cobb said she wanted to know whether either candidate supported Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump.

“I just would like to know if they’re holding a party line or not,” Rice said.

Locally, Rice said that senior housing was a very important issue to voters.

“It’s huge because of the baby boomers and all of us seeing our parents (age),” Rice said.
“I think the Braves was a big one,” added Fran Mitchell, also of east Cobb.

“We didn’t get anything on the bridge tonight,” she said, referring to a proposed $10 million multi-use bridge over Interstate 285. “They’re lying about figures, it’s transparency with this government here, I think we’ve lost the transparency.”

New BoC Agenda Item on Isakson Living

4/21/2016

 
District 2 Commissioner Bob Ott put forward an agenda item recommending the Board of Commissioners direct the Cobb County Legal Department to end mediation with Isakson Living so that the "languishing" case can proceed on to the Cobb County Superior Court.  This agenda item will be discussed and voted on at the next Board of Commissioners meeting on Tuesday, April 26, 2016 at 7:00 PM.  Everyone is welcome to attend the meeting at 100 Cherokee Street, 2nd Floor BoC room, near the Marietta Square.  Wear green shirts to show our continued support to deny the original Isakson Living plan.  You can also watch the April 26 meeting live on TV 23.  We will post updates after the vote.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------
This Agenda Item is published here: http://160.73.50.75/countyclerk/0/doc/29652/Page1.aspx

COBB COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS 
REGULAR AGENDA COVER 
REGULAR MEETING OF APRIL 26, 2016 
ITEM 
NO. 1
District 2 (Southeast Cobb) 
To direct Legal to proceed in the Cobb County Superior Court with the litigation of Tritt and Isakson Living Communities, LLC v. Cobb County, Georgia, et al. 


 
Agenda Item Number. 1 
Cobb County Board of Commissioners 
Comm. Dist. Bob Ott, Commissioner, District 2 
 
100 Cherokee Street, Suite 300 
Marietta, Georgia 30090-7000 
(770) 528-3315 / fax: (770) 528-2606 

TO: David Hankerson, County Manager 
FROM: Bob Ott, Commissioner 
This item has been electronically signed by: 
Bob Ott, Commissioner, District 2 
Lisa Cupid, Commissioner, District 4 

DATE: 
April 26, 2016 

PURPOSE 
To direct Legal to proceed in the Cobb County Superior Court with the litigation of Tritt and 
Isakson Living Communities, LLC v. Cobb County, Georgia, et al. 

BACKGROUND 
Wylene S. Tritt and Isakson Living Communities, LLC ( Plaintiffs) filed suit against Cobb County, Georgia on April 16, 2015 to appeal the BOC decision to deny the rezoning of a 53 acre tract from R-20 to CCRC. The property fronts Roswell Road in the vicinity of the new WellStar facility, with a park on one side and residential subdivisions on the other side and to the rear. The parties attended mediation on two separate occasions, November 16, 2015 and January 18, 2016. At the second mediation, the mediator ended the mediation because it appeared that the parties would not reach a resolution. The parties had previously agreed to stay discovery pending the outcome of mediation. However, in February, 2016, counsel for the Plaintiffs notified Legal that a written plan of the final offer verbalized at mediation would be delivered by March 11, 2016 so that the property could be posted, advertised and presented for a vote by the full BOC. To date no plan has been received and the matter has been languishing. 

RECOMMENDATION 
The Board of Commissioners direct Legal to proceed in the Cobb County Superior Court with the litigation of Tritt and Isakson Living Communities, LLC v. Cobb County, Georgia, et al. 

 

Cobb County District 2 Commissioner Race

4/15/2016

 
PictureThe District 2 Election will be Decided on May 24, if there are no Democrat challengers
General Information

The Cobb County Board of Commissioners, or BOC, is made up of five Commissioners: four district Commissioners who represent their districts plus one Chairman who represents the whole county. The BOC is in charge of most aspects of county government, except for schools. The BOC is in charge of zoning decisions which can affect the quality of life for Cobb residents.

Cobb County district commissioner is considered a part-time, paid position, unlike the Chairman position, which is full-time and pays considerably more.

East Cobb falls in Commission Districts 2 and 3, though due to recent boundary changes, most of East Cobb is now in District 2 (see new map below).

The candidates for the Republican nominee for Cobb County Commission District 2 are Bob Ott (incumbent) and Jonathan Page.  If no Democrat runs for this seat, the winner of the Republican primary on May 24, 2016 will be the winner of the November election.

The Primary date is May 24, 2016.  See the Cobb Elections website for more info. Early voting starts in May, and you can view all the early voting dates and locations here.

To vote in the primary, citizens must be registered by April 26, 2016.  You can check here to see if you are registered, and to get the location of your polling place


When you get to your polling location on May 24, you must choose to vote in either the Republican or Democratic primary.  Georgia is an open primary state, so you can vote in either primary, and you won’t be asked about your party affiliation, if any.  To vote for Bob Ott or Jonathan Page, you must choose to vote in the Republican primary.

PictureNew District 2 Map
New District 2 Areas

Many NEW East Cobbers can vote in this election.

The area of Cobb Commission District 2 was changed by the state legislature as part of redistricting of Cobb County in 2014.  

Many areas north of Roswell Road, which were formerly in District 3, are now in District 2.  Commissioner JoAnn Birrell’s District 3 map changed too.  

The District 2 area now includes most of the Pope High School area, as well as part of Lassiter High School.  District 2 still covers the Walton and Wheeler High School areas in East Cobb.

Voters who live in the new boundaries of District 2 can vote for the District 2 Commissioner this year, even if they voted for the District 3 Commissioner in 2014. See the new map here.

The Isakson Living project is now a major campaign issue in the District 2 race, so it's important we all vote on May 24, 2016. Johnathan Page is challenging Bob Ott for his seat on the Cobb County Board of Commissioners. A major backer of Jonathan Page criticizes Bob Ott's zoning decision on Isakson Living. In the April 14, 2016 Marietta Daily Journal, Jim Rhoden, a major supporter of Page, criticized Ott's decision to deny the Isakson Living zoning next to East Cobb Park, called "Tritt Walk" in the article.  See the full article here &/or this recent blog post about his stance.



Jonathan Page backer criticizes Bob Ott for denying Isakson Living plan

4/14/2016

 
PictureIsakson Living Proposal from February 2015. [Note about East Cobb Park location added.]
The Isakson Living project has become a major campaign issue in the Cobb Republican Primary set for May 24. Johnathan Page is challenging Bob Ott for his seat on the Cobb County Board of Commissioners. 

A major backer of Jonathan Page criticizes Bob Ott's zoning decision on Isakson Living:  In today's Marietta Daily Journal, Jim Rhoden, a major supporter of Page, criticized Ott's decision to deny the Isakson Living zoning next to East Cobb Park, called "Tritt Walk" in the article.  View the entire MDJ article here.  
​

We were pleased to see Commissioner Bob Ott uphold zoning rights and vote to deny the large-scale CCRC plan as proposed by Isakson Living on March 17, 2015.  Isakson Living then started litigation against Cobb County and the Board of Commissioners after the decision, and the case is still in mediation.  

During the March 17, 2015 meeting, the Board of Commissioners also placed a 1-year moratorium on all CCRC applications until the CCRC zoning code, drafted in part by Isakson Living, could be reviewed.  The recommended CCRC changes were proposed January 2016, but Chairman Lee voted to put a hold on adopting the suggested CCRC changes.

Excerpt from the Marietta Daily Journal article from April 14, 2016

District 2 campaign disclosure reports show split in business community
by Meris Lutz

​

Campaign donations in the race for District 2 county commissioner, which pits incumbent Bob Ott against attorney Jonathan Page, show an apparent split in the business and development community over the two candidates.

Page has sought to cast Ott as an obstructionist, while Ott has said voters don’t want a candidate who will “vote yes to get along.”

Page and Ott are both running as Republicans, meaning the outcome will likely be determined at the May 24 primary. Independent and third-party candidates, however, have until June to declare.

....

As for the apparent shared base of support between himself and Chairman Lee, Page said he was “not aware of any policy perspective that Lee and I share.”Rhoden, for his part, said he was “flattered by the suggestion that (he was) a mastermind behind anything,” saying he was “one of many” who urged Page to run.

Rhoden said he was “thoroughly disappointed” with Ott, whom he called a source of “strife and aggravation” on the Board of Commissioners who voted inconsistently.

By way of example, Rhoden pointed to Ott’s vote against Tritt Walk, a 481-unit residential senior living development proposed by developer Isakson Living. Rhoden pointed out that Ott had voted in favor of another senior living development in a residential area, Sterling Estates, which was approved with 90 units and six cottage duplexes in 2012.

Ott said the two cases were completely different, emphasizing the difference in density between 481 units and 90.
​

“Every zoning case has to be looked at on its own merits,” Ott said. He went on to say that campaign donations from property managers, businesses and members of the Cumberland CID contradicts the criticism that he is not a team player.
​

“What it shows is I meet (with the business community) and listen to their concerns and we work together to make the community better,” Ott said. “Those are the very people that my opponent is accusing me of not working with.”
Separately, District 4 Commissioner Lisa Cupid is running for re-election unopposed.


Click to read the entire Marietta Daily Journal article here. 



Chairman Lee Postponed Updating Senior Living Code

2/26/2016

 
Picture
1st Isakson Living CCRC application plan had 5-stories & 987 units
Picture
1st Isakson Living CCRC plan was as large as 2 (two) Georgia Domes
In 2013, East Cobbers wondered how Isakson Living could propose a large number of 5-story apartment buildings 108-feet tall with nearly 1,000 units planned in a single development the size of 2 Georgia Domes next to low density residential neighborhoods with 3 Walton district schools nearby and directly bordering well-loved East Cobb Park, the only passive use park in this part of East Cobb.  

​The answer is the CCRC (continuing care residential community) zoning code, drafted in large part by Isakson Living in 2008, controversial from the beginning, and unsupported by every community member on the CCRC drafting committee. It is the only Cobb zoning code that doesn't include wetlands or floodplain when calculating density, and the entire CCRC code is heavily weighted in favor of the developer, allowing for building heights of up to 4-stories. The RSL (residential senior living) zoning code limits building heights to 2-stories and 35-feet maximums in residential areas, so the CCRC is quite an deviation from the accepted land use norms. 

The CCRC proposed by Isakson Living had an independent living component with a density higher than that of most apartment complexes in Metro Atlanta.  Again, the zoning codes used by apartment complexes in Cobb County (RM-8, RM-12, RM-16) are not recommended for Low Density Residential land.

In addition, the parking level in the CCRC was not clarified as a story in the CCRC zoning code, which is how Isakson Living proposed 5-story apartments, rather than the recommended 2-stories or even up to 4-stories, in such a low density residential area.  Any zoning code in Low Density Residential neighborhoods should be limited to 35-feet or 2-stories from grade level, just as the RSL zoning code does.  In fact the RSL code could be better stated as 35-feet and 2-stories.

However, overall the RSL zoning code recognizes height and density concerns of communities in order to protect neighborhoods from overly intense developments. 

Some history of the CCRC zoning code in Cobb County:

July 2008 CCRC Zoning code approved, with reservations by all non-developer committee members

May 2013 Isakson Living proposed rezoning the 54-acre Tritt property under the CCRC code
 

October 2013 Isakson Living withdrew its CCRC application amid community opposition

November 2013 Isakson reapplied before the CCRC had a moratorium on new applications 

In 2014 Isakson Living proposed different CCRC plans for the Tritt property but all with similar heights, density & intensity 

March 2015 The Cobb Board of Commissioners denied Isakson Living CCRC rezoning

March 2015 Also, a 1-Year Moratorium on any CCRC application enacted 

April 2015 Isakson Living started litigation against Cobb County for the CCRC rezoning denial

January 2016 Cobb County planned to amend the RSL code for multi-stage senior living and delete the controversial CCRC code.  Cobb community members and civic associations supported this publicly.
February 2016
At the February 23, 2016 Board of Commissioners meeting to approve replacing the CCRC (Continuing Care Retirement Community) code by making improvements to the existing RSL (Residential Senior Living) code to allow for multi-stage senior living, Chairman Lee surprisingly delayed the vote.  

Why was the voted delayed?  
Chairman Lee said the Atlanta Regional Commission (ARC) had new information related to the proposed changes to Cobb's CCRC and RSL zoning codes, although he didn't specify what that new information was.   At the same February 23 meeting, Commissioner Bob Ott noted staff had nearly a year to look at the CCRC code changes during the Moratorium and questioned Commissioner Lee on how any information could possibly have that great an affect on this zoning code.  We agree with Commissioner Ott's assessment of the situation.

Some concerned citizens have requested the ARC information Commissioner Lee mentioned, and it appears none of the data calls into question the serious CCRC zoning code discrepancies, such as using floodplain in density calculations, allowing up to 4-stories in Low density areas, and not clarifying if parking can be counted as a story. 


  • The CCRC moratorium has been in effect for several months, which should have been ample time to consider all the implications of the proposed zoning changes.
  • If the county plans to consult industry leaders in the senior housing industry, it should also consult citizens of Cobb County to ensure that their concerns are addressed, both as residents and neighbors of these senior housing developments.
  • Kevin Isakson serves on the ARC Aging Committee, so it would be a conflict of interest for the Cobb Board of Commissioners to take guidance from him on this matter, given the county's current litigation with Isakson Living and his direct business interest in maintaining the least restrictive CCRC possible.
 
Community members do not understand this delay in voting on a reasonable compromise to the senior living zoning districts which both promotes aging in place and at the same time protects neighborhoods from overly-intense developments.

Here is the Marietta Daily Journal article about the delayed vote.

February 24, 2016 MARIETTA — The Board of Commissioners postponed a decision on changes to senior living zoning categories that had been slated for a vote at Tuesday’s regular meeting. 

The amendment followed a contentious zoning case last year concerning Tritt Walk, a proposed 481-senior living community by Isakson Living near East Cobb Park. The county is engaged in litigation with the developer and property owner over the board’s decision to deny the zoning request. 

The proposed changes would have implications for density and floodplain for new projects. 

Chairman Tim Lee asked the board Tuesday to postpone taking action on the senior living code changes “to provide staff with an opportunity to spend a little bit more time with some subject matter experts as to what the demand is in today’s world and … to try to match where the trend is going for senior housing.”

Speaking during the public hearing, Jill Flamm of the East Cobb Civic Association called the proposed changes a “definitive improvement” and called on the board to approve the amendment as drafted and not to put it off any longer.

Carol Brown of Canton Road Neighbors also expressed support for the changes, but added, “(We) think maybe it’s a good idea to review the new initiatives that are out there for people who want to age in place.”

Commissioner Bob Ott came out against postponing a decision on the amended senior living code.

“This board put in place a moratorium on new (Continued Care Retirement Communities) a year ago and gave staff the direction to spend that year, which they have done, doing exactly what, Mr. Chairman, you’re asking this board to delay for and that is review the needs and requirements of senior living,” Ott said. “I just think that delaying this any further is just kicking the can down the road ... I cannot support continuing this any further; it’s been looked at for a year.”

The board voted 4-1 to postpone voting on senior living zoning, with Ott opposing.

Read more: The Marietta Daily Journal - Cobb BoC postpones vote on senior living 

We support diverse senior living options in Cobb County, but zoning codes should always be compatible with the Cobb County land use designation. ​
Picture
The 54-acre Tritt property next to East Cobb Park
Picture
The Tritt property in residential East Cobb
The dramatic differences between RSL and CCRC zoning codes for senior living options in low density residential neighborhoods:

  • The main difference is the CCRC code can allow up to 4-stories in low density neighborhoods. The developer wanted parking as another story because the CCRC code doesn't specify if parking counts as a story. That's how Isakson Living proposed a 5-story 108-foot high complex in 2013. However, the RSL code is limited to 2-stories 35-foot high buildings in low density neighborhoods.

  • Also in the CCRC code, wetlands and stream buffers were not subtracted from density (the number of units per acre), and there was actually no cap on density. (The Tritt property is roughly 1/3 floodplain, stream buffers and wetlands.) This is how Isakson Living proposed more than 20 units/acre with roughly 1,000 units.  In contrast, an RSL on this property would be limited to 5 units/acre or about 150 units.
Isakson Living was involved in writing the Cobb County CCRC code, is the only developer to attempt rezoning with the CCRC code, and has only tried to rezone 1 property in Cobb County, despite an abundance of available land that could be suitable for a large-scale CCRC. 

Here's more information:  
http://www.cceastcobb.com/blog/replacing-the-ccrc-code-with-improved-rsl-code

Isakson Living helped draft the CCRC code:  
http://www.cceastcobb.weebly.com/blog/the-ccrc-zoning-code-was-opposed-from-the-beginning

We are for retirement communities but against the CCRC code:
http://www.cceastcobb.weebly.com/blog/we-are-for-retirement-communities-but-against-the-current-ccrc-code

Replacing the CCRC Code with Improved RSL Code

2/8/2016

 
Cobb County is in the process of amending zoning codes.  One of the code amendments under review is to replace the CCRC (Continuing Care Retirement Community) code by making improvements to the existing RSL (Residential Senior Living) code to allow for multi-stage senior living.  Isakson Living tried to rezone the Tritt property under the CCRC code. 
 
Unlike the CCRC code, the RSL code protects wetlands and does not allow them to be used in density calculations.  In addition, the RSL code provides for a specific number of allowable units in a zoning category.  Also, in contrast to the CCRC, the RSL limits buildings to 2-stories and 35-feet in LDR (Low Density Residential) areas.     
 
We need you to email the Commissioners to let them know that the community is in favor of replacing the existing CCRC code with these proposed RSL code amendments which grant more protection for residential communities.
 
Those opposed to these zoning code changes will be pressing the Board of Commissioners for less restrictive requirements on height and density again (see previous blog posts here and here), and using their influence to keep the existing CCRC code in place &/or asking for a loosening of restrictions that exist in the RSL code.
 
Please take a moment to email and make your voices heard on this issue to encourage the Board of Commissioners to make the zoning code changes to protect residential communities.

​
Picture

    Support RSL Code Changes

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Updates

1/30/2016

 
January 2016 Update: The Isakson Living case is still in litigation and is assigned to Judge Robert D. Leonard.  There have been a couple of attempts at mediation which to date have not been successful.   Representing the county are District 2 Commissioner Bob Ott and Fred Bentley Jr. the county outside counsel.  Kevin J. Moore of Marietta and Carl Westmoreland, Jr of Atlanta represent Isakson Living.  Isakson Living can continue to try to mediate with the county at any time up until a final decision is made by Judge Leonard as to the validity of their lawsuit. If you want to keep current on any filings you can go to the County Clerk website and the case is 15102908-53

November 2015 Update:  
Mediation is now scheduled for Monday, November 16. We understand the mediation will take just 1 day. If nothing is worked out in mediation the case goes before the judge to decide the legality of the county decision. If the judge sees nothing wrong, then the Board of Commissioners' denial holds and Isakson Living may choose to either walk away or take it to the appeals court. If it went back to the Board of Commissioners, there would be the standard 30-day public period to voice our opinions to the Commissioners on any mediated proposal put forth.


August 18, 2015 Update: At this time, the attorneys are securing a mediator for the process. A date has not been set for mediation. We will post any updates here and on Facebook.

April 15, 2015: Isakson Living announced plans to sue Cobb County.  Here is the Isakson Living lawsuit, and Cobb County's response.  

March 17, 2015: The Isakson Living CCRC plan for the Tritt property was Denied Rezoning by the Board of Commissioners!   

Informative Posts:  Odessa Tritt Lassiter & Why the Tritt Property is important in East Cobb History,  Blog & video on Walking the Tritt Property, Latest Isakson Living plans illustrate the intensity of their CCRC project and how unsuitable it would be for East Cobb
<<Previous
    Picture

    The Concerned Citizens of East Cobb

    The Concerned Citizens of East Cobb represents thousands of East Cobbers who want the 54-acre Tritt property next to East Cobb Park to be fully conserved as a park.

    ​Read more blog posts from this website here,
    and read previous blogs posts from the first CCEastCobb website here.

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