Canton Road Neighbors Spring 2024 Update

Hello everyone,

There are some things to look forward to in our community; some things not to like, and a change on the Cobb Planning Commission.

First the good news: the long awaited Diner at the corner of Canton and Liberty Hill should be opening around the last week in March or first week in April. So far the renovation is looking good inside and out. We look forward to the grand opening!

The Perennial Garden on Canton Connector near Sandy Plains is ready to bloom with Easter colors of purple thrift and white and yellow late blooming daffodils. The garden was started in 2010 by CRN as an effort to beautify an area that had been neglected and blighted. After I struggled the last two years to get the garden ready for spring, neighbor Shirley Klebenow came to the rescue with her generous sponsorship of a landscape crew to help me clear away old brush and weedwhack high grass. Claudia’s Family Landscaping did a great job and I highly recommend her company. And a big thank you to Shirley and to Mother Nature who reliably brings us the daffodils every spring. Thanks also to Hummel Landscaping for the donation of pinestraw.

Our current Planning Commissioner for District 3 is stepping down to run for Clerk of Superior Court.

Deborah Dance has done a good job on the Planning Commission and why not? She was the former Cobb County Attorney. We wish her well in her run for office. We do not yet know who Commissioner Birrell will appoint to replace her and will have to wait until the 26th to find out who it will be.

I keep getting asked about the Lidl grocery and so does Commissioner Birrell. They have purchased the property at the corner of Canton and Piedmont and their plans have been signed off. They apparently have several other locations they are working on and still plan to build a new Lidl and the corner of Canton and Piedmont.

A note about the McAfee House, I reached out recently to Trevor Beemon of Cobb Landmarks about the house and followed up with the Realtor. At this juncture, preserving the house by removing it from the site may be needed. It would be nice if another zoning applicant came along who was willing to keep the house onsite at the corner where it has been since @ 1840.

The Zoning Caseload for April and May is lengthy. Here goes:

Z-40 Atlanta Remediation 1018 Shallowford Rd. R-20 to LI for RV and Boat Storage

Z-52 1054 Investments 1022, 1028, 1054 Shallowford Rd. R-20 to NRC for Specialty Contractor

Z-60 MRE, Canton Road GC to NRC to rebuild the existing Rite Stuff Convenience Store

OB-10 2120 Canton Settlement of Litigation from Z-60 2020 (Tom Mitchell/Petroplex RV Rental)

The above have been continued or in court for several months/years

New cases:

Z-16 Old Noonday Schoolhouse Rd GC to NRC for Specialty Contractor

Z-18 2024 Canton Rd. Stand Up Guys to rezone from GC to LI for Contractor

SLUP 5 2024 Canton Rd. Stand Up Guys Special Land Use Permit for Waste Transfer

May

Z-24 Ecton Drive, GC to NRC for Auto Detailing

Z-26 4518 Canton Rd GC to NRC for Convenience Store with fuel sales (same site as the QT application) the brand is not known, existing building to be remodeled for 5,000 sq ft C Store with 4 retail spaces behind the C Store. Canopy to be facing Canton Rd and 5 pumps are shown.

Some comments about the above cases: Generally, the 2005 Canton Road Steering Committee was convened by Commissioner Tim Lee as a way to improve a very run down 5 mile corridor. It was intended to make the area a destination rather than a pass through, and to create a better commercial environment that would serve the adjacent neighborhoods beyond just automotive uses.

Since then CRN has been active in many zoning cases and planning initiatives. We helped to draft the Design Guidelines which was a collaborative process and was approved by the BoC in 2009.

There have been significant improvements: installation of sidewalks on the east side of Canton from Jamerson to Powell Wright. Blighted structures have been removed and renovated, except for two. We have a park off of Ebenezer. We have a number of attractive new 4 sided brick commercial structures. We got a new signal on Canton at Liberty Hill and Westerly Way, thanks to Racetrac working with the community and county. We saw new quality subdivisions built from near Kell HS to New Chastain and on Piedmont. A new Diner will be opening soon, rather than another oil change franchise. We will be getting a Lidl grocery. Gritters Library will be rebuilt.

But when I see zoning applications that come in, not conforming to the land use, with plans that do not belong adjacent to residential neighborhoods, it is a problem. When I hear the argument: “its next to a junky business” as though adding to the junk makes it ok, its a problem. If at all possible we need to keep moving Canton Road forward, not just maintain the status quo and certainly not turn back the clock on progress.

Z 40 would bring an intense use to a site with a house, which backs up to a neighborhood. Z-52 is one of the few remaining blighted uses that has been operating on residentially zoned property for decades and it backs up to a neighborhood. Z-18 for Stand Up Guys is fine for an office but the SLUP for waste transfer is a slap in the face to everyone who has worked for and hoped for improvements to the area. It also is visible to diners at Chinese Cook. Nice view. OB 10 at 2120 Canton, the RV Rental lot you can’t possible miss, south of Powell Wright, has finally reached a settlement with the County. He (Mr. Mitchell) has had use of his property during litigation and didn’t give up much. How many tens of thousands of dollars has this cost Cobb Taxpayers?

A note about community participation: it seems too often that people get engaged only when they are ticked off about a fee or tax, or a zoning is threatening their home. The level of engagement that CRN has carried consistently since 2009, is a lot like work. More folks participating in a regular way that is constructive would be helpful. I am still surprised when I hear that residents don’t know what a planning commission is or how the zoning process works. Its time to learn or at least work with those of us who are trying to help.

The type of engagement that CRN has carried on has made a difference in improving the built environment and supporting positive developments like acquiring parks. It is a collaborative effort with the County and zoning attorneys representing clients, and interfacing with residents.

There aren’t many of us. Bells Ferry Civic, East Cobb Civic, Mableton Improvement Coalition and PLAN. We shouldn’t be taken for granted.

That’s all for now. Its a lot, but a lot is going on. Enjoy the Spring and flowers and our new Diner, opening soon.

Carol Brown MA, MRP Canton Road Neighbors, Inc.