Isakson Living Refiles Rezoning Request

Isakson Living has refiled a rezoning request for a senior residential complex in East Cobb far sooner than it initially indicated.

And without presenting the revisions to community groups that opposed the original proposal.

Kevin Isakson, the development firm's director of sales and marketing, told East Cobb Patch this morning that a new application for continuing care retirement community rezoning was filed with the Cobb Planning Department on Tuesday.

The company run by Isakson, the son of U.S. Sen. Johnny Isakson, and Andy Isakson, the senator's brother, withdrew the application last month following strong opposition from nearby residential and civic groups, including the influential East Cobb Civic Association. 

The new proposal on 53 acres of residentially-zoned land next to East Cobb Park and owned by Wylene Tritt is a slimmed-down version of the initial plan, but not by much.

Instead of five-story building heights and 987 total units, the new Isakson Living Proposal with have 15 percent fewer residences, or around 840. 

Buildings along Roswell Road would be limited to three stories, and along the southern edge of the property and adjacent to the Hidden Hills neighborhood the maximum would be two and three stories. 

Interior buildings will be restricted to four stories, and additional green spaces and buffers have been worked in to the revisions.

Parking would be underground in the new proposal.

“We are seeking to be good stewards of both the land and the legacy of this community, so we listened to the community and responded with positive changes in our plan,” Kevin Isakson said in a statement (see attached PDF).

“We believe this new design addresses primary concerns while allowing Isakson Living to design a product for East Cobb seniors that is walkable to the community’s amenities and services with affordable monthly costs.”

Related stories

• Isakson Living Withdraws Rezoning Request
• Isakson Living Seeks Rezoning Delay
• East Cobb Hears Isakson Living Plans
• Petition Drive Started Against Isakson Living Proposal
• Ott: 'Political Connections' No Factor in Isakson Rezoning
• Senior Complex Proposed for East Cobb

Opponents of the original plan cited density and five-story buildings as a major concern, along with traffic and a 10-year build-out for the project.

News of the refiling caught East Cobb civic leaders and officials off guard, since Kevin Isakson said upon withdrawal that a new application would likely be submitted early next year.

"It took me by surprise," said Jill Flamm, president of the East Cobb Civic Association, who got a call about the refiling late Tuesday. 

She said she was "very disappointed" Isakson Living didn't present revised plans to the community, as her group had requested, prior to refiling.

Ironically, the refiling took place on Tuesday, when its initial application was to have gone before the Cobb Planning Commission. 

The new request was not filed in time for consideration in December, and zoning cases are not heard in Cobb in January. The earliest the new Isakson Living proposal could come up for action would be in February.

Flamm said she couldn't comment on the revised plan because "I have seen nothing. I still haven't seen what they've filed."

After the October withdrawal, some opponents created a group to push for the creation of a public park on the Tritt land, which is located next to East Cobb Park, and for overhauling the CCRC category, which they say is unsuited for a residential area.

East Cobb Patch will be updating this story with further reaction. 

Attached is the official statement from Isakson Living.