What is Zoning?

Cobb County has the authority to control land development in an effort to achieve an overall balance in land usage throughout the county.  Cobb County's Land Use Plan promotes optimal residental and commercial development while attempting to protect the rights of citizens and be attractive to future residents. To efficiently analyze zoning change requests from developers and land owners as well as to properly control the County's land usage, a comprehensive land use plan and a future land use map are utilized in combination with numerious zoning classifications, ordinances and zoning practices.

Comprehensive Land Use Plan

The Comprehensive Land Use Plan is a guide for the residents and elected officials who will shape the physical and social environment of Cobb County. The Plan, through policy and action statements, implementation strategies, and a future land use map, describe how the County will direct the anticipated growth and development.  It identifies and explains the different land use categories.  The Comprehensive Land Use Plan undergoes a substantial overhaul every 10 years to ensure it accurately reflects widespread changes throughout the county.

Future Land Use Map

This map is a result of the analysis from the Comrehensive Land Use Plan and depicts the "desired" or future land use for each part of and parcel in the County.  It depicts the type of residential, commerical, industrial, etc activity that would be appropriate based on current and expected future conditions.  It is a key input that the County Planning Commission and Board of Commissioners utilize in reaching their zoning decisions.

Zoning Ordinance

The Zoning Ordinance explains the purpose and intent of each zoning and land use category utilized in the county, lists specific usage types (i.e. density of residential, type of commerical, etc), special exception uses (i.e. for cell towers), use limitations and the requirements for:

• Lot size and setbacks
  

• Landscape buffer and screening
  

• Floodplain/wetlands preservation
  

• Buildings and structures
  

• Parking
  

• Lighting
  

• Accessory buildings, structures, uses and decks
  

• etc.
  

Zoning Hearings

Each month (except Januarys), Cobb County conducts two public hearings regarding zoning changes requests. The first meeting is conducted in front of the Cobb County Planning Commission on the first Tuesday of each month.  The Planning Commission is appointed by the elected County Commissioners and serve as a recommendation board.  The second meeting is conducted in front of the Cobb County Board of Commissioners on the third Tuesday of each month. The Board of Commissioners makes a final determination on the disposition of a zoning request.  Each of these public meeting begin at 9:00 am and are held in the Board of Commissioners Chamber at 100 Cherokee St on the square in Marietta. 

Details regarding all of this zoning information, links to the future land use map and comprehensive plan can be found on the Cobb County zoning web site.

For information on the Mableton Improvement Coalition, please email info@mableton.org

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