Politics & Government
Isakson Living Rezoning Delayed Again
The application for a proposed senior living complex has been pushed back from February to May.
There has been another delay in the Isakson Living rezoning case in East Cobb.
Cobb Zoning Division Manager John Pederson said in a notice posted on his department's website that scheduled hearings on Feb. 4 and Feb. 18 before the Cobb Planning Commission and Cobb Board of Commissioners, respectively, will now be heard on May 6 and May 20.
Pederson said the continuance was prompted by the commission's recent decision to appoint a committee to re-evaluate the continuing care retirement community zoning (CCRC) category.
The commission also placed a moratorium on CCRC applications until the ad hoc study panel has revisited the issue.
That's the category Isakson Living was seeking to rezone from low-density residential on 53 acres on Roswell Road next to East Cobb Park to build a $200 million senior living facility.
Related stories
- Isakson: 'They Changed the Rules'
- Isakson Living Refiles Rezoning Request
- 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
The Isakson Living plans, which initially called for nearly 1,000 units, have been strongly opposed by nearby residents and the East Cobb Civic Association due to density, traffic and other concerns.
Isakson Living initially sought a delay in the face of that opposition, then withdrew its proposal in October, saying it would refile in early 2014.
However, the developer -- run by the brother and son of Republican U.S. Sen. Johnny Isakson of East Cobb -- suddenly refiled in November when it learned of the commission's plans to re-examine the CCRC zoning category.
The refiled proposal calls for fewer units -- to around 840, mostly for independent living -- but that didn't satisfy opponents who say that's still too many.
CCRC is a relatively new zoning category in Cobb, having been adopted in 2008. However, no property has been zoned CCRC. Among the East Cobb citizen complaints related to the Isakson Living proposal is that CCRC is too open-ended for dense development near residential communities.
Kevin Isakson, the senator's son and his company's director of sales and marketing, told East Cobb Patch the refiling was done when it was so that it would not be subject to any changes that might be made to the CCRC category.
The move to refile further riled up civic groups and District 2 Cobb Commissioner Bob Ott, who were told by Isakson Living that any revisions would be presented to the community first.
Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.