July 7th Board of Commissioners Preview PLUS Kennesaw, Powder Springs holding public input meetings this month
Kennesaw is seeking feedback on ADUs, while Powder Springs is kicking off the update process for its Livable Centers Initiative (LCI) Plan.
We’re officially in the summer, as if the temperatures reaching the 90s coupled with our Georgia humidity weren’t enough of an indicator for you. And while school is still out, our local governments are still in, as the Cobb County Board of Commissioners holds its regular meeting this Tuesday morning, while two of our county’s cities have scheduled in the coming days opportunities to weigh in on future development.
If you haven’t seen the news yet, July is a huge month for us here at A Better Cobb! We launched our Membership Program and highly encourage everyone to join for many reasons:
We will start sending out newsletters and information that is more relevant to you and the city you live in. Kennesaw residents will get Kennesaw information…Smyrna residents will get updates related to Smyrna.
You connect to an awesome community of other like-minded advocates who want to see a happier, healthier, friendlier Cobb County.
We’re going to continue working on benefits and perks for ABC members, including rewards for attending and participating in civic meetings.
We have big plans and it all kicks off with our Launch Party on July 27th. Register today to join in on the fun and celebration!
Kennesaw’s first of three public input meetings on ‘accessory dwelling units’ is this Wednesday
As previously shared in our May 26 newsletter, the City of Kennesaw is holding town hall discussions on a potential policy allowing accessory dwelling units, or ADUs. The first is set for this Wednesday, July 9, at 6:30 p.m. in City Council Chambers, 2529 J.O. Stephenson Ave.
Subsequent meetings are set for:
July 23, 6:30 p.m. at the Ben Robertson Community Center, 2753 Watts Drive
Aug. 13, 6:30 p.m. at the Ben Robertson Community Center, 2753 Watts Drive
Per the city’s announcement of these meetings on Facebook: The City of Kennesaw invites residents to upcoming meetings to learn about a proposed ordinance allowing ADUs in residential zoning districts. Join us for an overview, live polling and your chance to ask questions. … Whether you own, rent, or are simply interested, your feedback matters! Questions? Contact Planning and Zoning at 770-590-8268 or zoningdept@kennesaw-ga.gov.
Refresher on ADUs. What is an ADU? The American Planning Association defines it as “a smaller, independent residential dwelling unit located on the same lot as a stand-alone (i.e., detached) single-family home.” It goes on to explain:
ADUs go by many different names throughout the U.S., including accessory apartments, secondary suites, and granny flats. ADUs can be converted portions of existing homes (i.e., internal ADUs), additions to new or existing homes (i.e., attached ADUs), or new stand-alone accessory structures or converted portions of existing stand-alone accessory structures (i.e., detached ADUs).
In Kennesaw, the city as part of its proposal governing ADUs is looking to restrict them to just a few zoning categories, cap them at 900 square feet and bar them from being rented, the MDJ previously reported.
And as previously shared, A Better Cobb’s Policy team sent an email to the Kennesaw City Council with these recommendations:
Increase or remove the overly restrictive setbacks
Remove unnecessary HOA or Design Committee approval
Remove the burdensome buffers between ADUs
Remove the yearly proof of owner-occupancy
We encourage Kennesaw residents to attend Wednesday’s meeting and/or subsequent meetings to learn more about the city’s intentions on ADUs and, if desired, weigh in with your thoughts.
Powder Springs seeking citizen input during Livable Centers Initiative Plan kickoff July 14
The City of Powder Springs is updating its Livable Centers Initiative (LCI) Plan, last completed in 2016, and it will host a kick-off open house at 6:30 p.m. Monday, July 14, at the Ford Center (4181 Atlanta St.). This meeting follows a regularly scheduled Powder Springs Downtown Development Authority meeting.
Per the city’s announcement: Over the past decade, our downtown has experienced exciting growth and new investment—and now it’s time to build on that momentum. This updated plan will explore fresh ideas and propose new recommendations to support sustainable growth, create vibrant public spaces, and enhance transportation options for all. We need your voice! Community input is vital to this process. Share your thoughts on what’s working, what could be improved, and your vision for the future of Powder Springs at our kick-off open house…
Tuesday, July 8th Board of Commissioners Preview
On Tuesday, July 8th, there will be the 9 a.m. Board of Commissioners Regular Meeting.
Here’s a preview to the Meeting:
Presentations (2 items)
Public Hearings (2 items)
The first public hearing on the 2025 proposed property tax increase as
defined by Georgia law. Although the Cobb Board of Commissioners is not proposing a change in the county’s M&O (Maintenance &
Operations, also known as County General Fund) millage rate for 2025, increased property values — both across existing property and newly added development — creates a corresponding increase in the county's
property tax digest equivalent to 0.091 mills in the County General Fund. State law requires that a "rollback" millage rate be computed — a hypothetical property tax rate that would produce the same total tax revenue on the current year's digest that last year's millage rate would have produced had no reassessments occurred. Since the county’s proposed millage rate is over the calculated "rollback" rate, it is considered a tax increase under state law and therefore the Board of Commissioners must hold three public hearings before voting on the property tax rate.
The first public hearing on the FY 2026 Proposed Budget. While state law requires one public hearing before adoption of a budget, the county has chosen to hold two additional hearings prior to considering adoption of the budget at its July 22 meeting. The holding of three public hearings on the budget prior to adoption is commonplace for Cobb County and not uncommon with other government entities.
Public Comment Round 1 (10 speakers, up to 3 minutes each on any topic)
Consent Agenda (17 items)
Of note, a few transit items are included in the Consent Agenda:
Item 6: To approve a Federal Transit Administration grant-funded project for the replacement of two CobbLinc support
vehicles.
Item 8: To adopt a resolution authorizing the submission of a Low or No Emission Grant Program application to the Federal Transit Administration for the Cumberland Autonomous Vehicle Circulator Pilot Program. Background from the county: In coordination with the Cumberland Community Improvement District, the Department recommends submission of a Low or No Emission Grant Program application for funding assistance for the Cumberland AV Circulator Pilot Program. This project includes procurement of an AV fleet, three years of operating expenses, fleet storage and charging facilities expenses, and leasing of a facility command center. The total estimated project cost for this application is $8 million. Federal funding requested in this grant application will fund 85 percent of the estimated cost, in an amount not to exceed $6.8 million. A 15-percent local match will be required, in an amount not to exceed $1.2 million. The CCID has committed to provide the required local match, as approved by the CCID Board of Directors at their meeting held on June 26, 2025. To compete for the LoNo grant funds, the Board must authorize the submission of a grant application to the FTA by the County's authorized representative.
Here is the take from Matt Stigall, ABC Board Member and Transit Advisory Board Appointee: “This proposed project is frustrating to see for a few different reasons. First, this proposal doesn’t really improve transit service in the area as this would replace the Blue Circulator that exists today. Second, this is yet another partnership with a third-party vendor, similar to the microtransit pilot in South Cobb. Most of these third-party offerings have minimal cohesion and integration with the rest of the transit service. Lastly, this proposal came out of the blue. None of this was mentioned at the previous Transit Advisory Board meeting. It’s hard to operate as an advisory board when we are not given timely, accurate, and relevant information.”
Regular Agenda (7 items)
Not really too much to highlight in the regular agenda
Public Comment Round 2 (10 speakers, up to 3 minutes each)
Appointments & Announcements (4 items)
All four are announcements of appointments and reappointments to various boards being made by newly elected Commissioner Erick Allen, but just one caught our eye: Allen is appointing Tracy Stevenson to the One Percent Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax Citizens' Oversight Committee; each commissioner appoints three members to the 15-member committee. The appointment is notable as Stevenson ran against Allen in February’s Democratic primary for the commission seat — that contest ultimately went to a March runoff between Allen and Jaha Howard, with the former advancing to and ultimately winning the special general election for the commission seat in April. Another appointment Commissioner Erick Allen is making is John Jackson to the Transit Advisory Board. As a regular transit user, he will be a welcome voice to the Advisory Board.
Go ahead and put on your calendar to attend the BoC Meeting on July 22nd at 7PM. We will be hosting a housing rally and will want to pack the room out with supporters for attainable housing policies.
That’s it for this edition of the ABC Newsletter! Don’t forget to sign up as an ABC Member to receive future newsletters!