ICYMI: East Cobb Retirement Community Plans Questioned

Photo Credit: Cobb County Government

The Cobb County Board of Commissioners will decide whether to rezone a parcel of land in East Cobb for the construction of a senior living facility in March, but one local organization is asking for the council to reject the proposal.

The Concerned Citizens of East Cobb (CCEC) claims to represent thousands of residentswho oppose Isakson Living’s plans to build a Continuing Care Retirement Community (CCRC) on a 54-acre plot which was owned by the Tritt family for over 100 years. According to the group, the land has never been properly surveyed, and likely contains wetlands which should be federally protected.

CCEC has produced a portion of Isaskson Living’s alleged rezoning request, and notes that the company has failed to survey the property to determine the presence or concentration of wetlands, which could give commissioners an unclear picture on the actual state of affairs on the Tritt parcel.

In addition, CCEC says that in stark contrast to comments made by Commissioner Tim Lee in the Marietta Daily Journal on Jan. 1, the East Cobb community already has a glut of senior living facilities, many of which are below capacity.

As an alternative to Isakson Living’s proposal, CCEC recommends that the land be left for its intended use as low desnsity residential in the Comprehensive Plan, or even creating a park on the property.

Isakson Living’s plans for the site, which have been modified in the face of concerns from the local community, include the construction of 84 cottages, 8 residential buildings, 316 villas, 75,000 sq. ft. of amenities, and on site medical facilities. Isakson Living says the plan as it currently stands leaves 36 percent of the land undeveloped and 61 percent of the land as open space. The developers will also donate 9 acres of the Tritt property to the adjacent East Cobb Park.

However, CCEC says the developers would only be able to build on 31 acres of the 54-acre plot, and that grading the property to allow for the senior living center would do irreparable harm to the Sewell Mill Creek watershed aquifers.

The rezoning application will be examined by the Cobb County Planning and Zoning Commission during its March 3 hearing, with a high turnout expected representing both sides of the issue. The Cobb County Board of Commissioners will review Planning and Zoning’s recommendations during their own meeting on March 17. Both meetings will begin at 9 a.m. and be held in the meeting room on the 2nd floor of the county government building at 100 Cherokee St. in Marietta.