[{"_1":2,"_99":-5,"_100":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6529830,"mediaKeyId","3789493-325c40f255ea282813531b0994eddf5b","parentId",3789493,"title","Campus Edge tenants urge council to pressure new owner to honor leases, warn of possible homelessness","audioSeconds",1186,"startMs",10014000,"endMs",11200000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3789493-325c40f255ea282813531b0994eddf5b&start=10014&end=11200","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3789493-325c40f255ea282813531b0994eddf5b/thumbnail_10014000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6529830/Marietta/Cobb-County/Georgia/Campus-Edge-tenants-urge-council-to-pressure-new-owner-to-honor-leases-warn-of-possible-homelessness","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6529830-4d316be2ae0d52f999dadfc984ccf244/orig.mp4?Expires=1771169498&Signature=QZdPmXDtuU0LnAc5VRzcPUcoa-MtbcVcYBEEAtN4Uqlx48seFWWxe0iChf8iq43F-udVOkMBSp67MKUCXLogMDIDzqZKYu6qbeggcPI2oB6tFMAFc9-WpZ0sNJSedweRLtH-bdaP6JSzABO3S808kpzMWEW6ExfrwTjXez-Nd2RmFMdcG6UYyjz7IVkug1mCTG3BqCBgzRFTLgkm5WHcb0dHuo6X53lyzK--nujk9TTBv-73rBKMXiSBhPOGua3gMndy8KJdSYaAZCzTm9lAmd09fvdcHz0M-bfUyxWkCx7N-GA6Yqwcxgv-82NubIVawBLVohK24sYfgZGHkFWVmw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Marietta","date","2025-06-11T19:00:00Z","article","Dozens of speakers asked the City Council on Wednesday to intervene after tenants at Campus Edge apartments said they learned only weeks ago that the property is slated for redevelopment and that a new owner has indicated it will not honor current leases past July.

‘‘This was dumped on us at the absolute last minute,’’ said Raven McGuire, a resident who lives near the Marietta‑Kennesaw campus. ‘‘We were told yes, and then later told no. I have to find new housing, work and school in a matter of weeks.’’

Residents described a mix of full‑time workers, students and people without family support. They said the management company and the prospective buyer, Campus Realty Advisors, had not properly notified tenants, that some alternatives cited by the buyer were unaffordable and that many tenants could face homelessness if forced to move in 30–60 days. Speakers asked council members to press the buyer to honor existing 2025‑26 leases until tenants can find and afford new housing.

What tenants said

- Tenants reported they were not told about the rezoning and said a single sign at a mixed‑use entrance was insufficient notice. Several residents said they only learned of the plans within the last few weeks, after the buyer had already negotiated.

- Multiple speakers said the alternative properties listed by the buyer (including other complexes the buyer owns or manages) either had no arrangements in place or charged significantly higher rents and application fees that tenants cannot afford.

- Speakers described the complex as long‑standing, affordable local housing and said most residents have limited means. Several described prior experiences with housing instability and said sudden displacement would cause serious hardship.

Public records and organizer statements

Tenants said they have formed a Campus Edge Tenants’ Rights Association and submitted a demand letter to the city and property owner. Tenants and supporters asked the council to insist that the new owner honor current leases while relocation plans are negotiated and to require better tenant notice and relocation assistance if demolition proceeds.

How council responded

Council members heard the comments during the public‑comments portion of the meeting; no zoning vote for Campus Edge was recorded that night. Members acknowledged the speakers and said staff would review the tenant concerns. Several council members emphasized the importance of affordable housing and said they would take the statements under advisement as staff coordinates next steps.

Ending

Tenants said they will continue to press the matter with the city and the prospective owner and asked for a public commitment that existing leases be honored until tenants can secure alternative housing or the 2025‑26 lease term ends.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Marietta - CITY COUNCIL on 2025-06-11 7:00 PM - Jun 11, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","Tenants and student residents of Campus Edge (950 Hudson Road) told the council they were not adequately informed of a rezoning and potential demolition, demanded the new owner honor 2025‑26 leases and said short notice would create housing insecurity for students and other residents.","taxTitle","Marietta, Cobb County, Georgia","taxId",3937,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6529835,"Council approves several rezonings, annexations and a proposed data center; Bells Ferry plan draws sustained public comment",834,4042000,4876000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3789493-325c40f255ea282813531b0994eddf5b&start=4042&end=4876","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3789493-325c40f255ea282813531b0994eddf5b/thumbnail_4042000.jpg","/articles/6529835/Marietta/Cobb-County/Georgia/Council-approves-several-rezonings-annexations-and-a-proposed-data-center-Bells-Ferry-plan-draws-sustained-public-comment","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6529835-93f536779e4dfef30333a6f0c74ebb67/orig.mp4?Expires=1771169498&Signature=TIfMEXAPc-ZVBCDuji5dngrM7kEaKeQqxbXGAnRtrs1YGLD0CKWzAINXwPZy8YG3sw73TKvXI1aUr3b4TXkK3RYOAZf~yXM1uWWN0BxeVQ9I8CUj9nlfs5fm4~WcF7cVZLZLdc-DlsudlDaMrIfh3yq47VAoJddGvz6qLiSGRFx~KA9UudHropsdDuX~~tlvkmD~bu7XpIDGz2ccxzOBiPRxX6aTkzLeSFKuooPi2rQbuCDq~EF3Syc0wWPKORysFVn4re3Jg~2cpu~RfktML7TlAdNyblKL6fqU7vp4ExCEaVgyoBOYkxKWWjBAOfhxNgY62H6VnK41TwS1d4AYQA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Marietta City Council on Wednesday approved a slate of land-use actions — rezoning requests, an annexation and related code amendments — including a high-profile request to rezone 1751 Bells Ferry Road for a proposed data center campus.

The Bells Ferry proposal drew about two dozen public comments at the meeting. Presenters for the applicants described the site plan as two large data center buildings, a dedicated electrical substation to be built by agreement with MEAG, and a plan to locate the project partially below surrounding grade so the buildings would be less visually prominent from neighboring homes. Attorney Kevin Moore told the council the applicant has worked with Marietta Power and Cobb Water and said the project would select Marietta Power as its electricity provider.

Residents and community speakers questioned noise from cooling and backup systems, water and power impacts, whether added demand would raise local electricity costs, and the number of permanent jobs the campus would create. Some speakers urged the council to delay action or seek more information about environmental and community impacts. Supporters, including residents and proponents, highlighted projected tax revenue, the city’s ability to supply power locally through Marietta Power and the strategic location near transmission lines and I‑75.

What the council approved

- Z2025-11 (1751 Bells Ferry Road): Rezoning from CRC (Community Retail Commercial) to LI (Light Industrial) for a proposed data center campus and a special land use permit to relocate an existing cell tower. The council approved stipulations submitted by the applicant including four‑sided exterior building materials, shielded site lighting, nonconforming billboards to remain subject to nonconforming rules, and a commitment to work with Marietta Power on transmission and substation arrangements. Staff and the planning commission recommended approval; council vote carried 7-0.

- Z2024-208 (1951 Canton Road): Rezoning from CRC to LI for reuse of an existing industrial property. The council approved the rezoning and added a stipulation limiting renewal of an existing billboard lease: the current tenant may remain until the lease expiration in summer 2027 but successors may not extend beyond that term; the city may enforce removal if the sign is not removed within three months after expiration. Motion carried 7-0.

- Z2025-09 / Annexation (WhiteHawk Business Park; Weaver Drive/Canton Road): Council approved rezoning of multiple parcels from CRC and R‑20 (Cobb County) to LI, annexed the parcels into the city, and adopted the accompanying code amendment; the planning commission recommended approval and the council voted 7-0.

- Z2025-12 (74 Austin Avenue): Council approved rezoning 0.154 acres from CRC to R4 (single‑family residential) for a house the applicant has under contract. Council conditioned approval on the property being brought up to required permits and building-code standards before final occupancy; motion carried 7-0.

- Z2025-13 (266 Crescent Circle): Council approved rezoning from OI (office institutional) to R4 to allow residential reuse; motion carried 7-0.

- Z2025-14 (462 & 480 Roswell Street): Council approved rezoning from CRC to CRC with an additional use as a contractor’s office for Summit Heating & Air, including stipulations in the applicant’s letter to preserve landscaping, require architecture approval for building and on-site fencing and to prohibit outdoor storage outside paved areas; motion carried 7-0.

Other procedural items

- Consent‑agenda changes: Staff announced three items related to Sugar Bear Properties, LLC will be tabled and retabled to Aug. 13, 2025. Staff also said additional language would be added to the proposed lease-extension item for 156 Church Street; the item stayed on the consent agenda with the added language.

- Code amendment CA (advertising and administrative variances): Council approved a code amendment to revert Board of Zoning Appeals advertisement time to at least 15 but not more than 30 days, and to remove references to administrative variances in several code sections (720.04, 724 definitions, 710.04 fences and walls, 710.05 buffers) to align with state law; the motion carried with recorded vote 6-0 and one abstention.

Why the Bells Ferry site drew comment

Speakers who opposed or sought delay said the campus would consume large amounts of electricity and water, could produce audible noise from cooling and backup generator systems, and would provide relatively few permanent jobs (speakers cited ‘‘about 40’’). Commenters asked whether Marietta Power customers would see rates rise as a result; the applicant said the project’s developer would pay for transmission upgrades and substation construction through MEAG agreements and that the data center would pay for its own power usage and procurement.

Applicant Kevin Moore and supporters told the council the project could generate substantial property taxes and franchise fees that would benefit Marietta and the city school system, and the applicant agreed that any zoning variances in the approval would apply only to this specific plan rather than become general zoning changes.

Next steps

For sites requiring environmental cleanup and remediation, applicants said they would pursue required state approvals and remediation plans. For sites requiring leases or billboard removal, council stipulations specify timelines and enforcement by city code enforcement if sign removal is not completed.

Ending

Council members said they relied on the planning commission recommendations and staff analyses in voting; each rezoning carried by the recorded or voice votes noted above. Several applications included conditions that will require follow‑up review by city staff before issuance of building permits.","Council approved multiple rezoning and annexation items including a controversial rezoning for a 30‑acre Bells Ferry site proposed for a data center; residents and advocates raised noise, water, power‑cost and displacement concerns but council approved the application with stipulations.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6529841,"Marietta Council adopts $428 million budget for fiscal 2025-26; no tax increase",565,751000,1316000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3789493-325c40f255ea282813531b0994eddf5b&start=751&end=1316","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3789493-325c40f255ea282813531b0994eddf5b/thumbnail_751000.jpg","/articles/6529841/Marietta/Cobb-County/Georgia/Marietta-Council-adopts-428-million-budget-for-fiscal-2025-26-no-tax-increase","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6529841-6bf5dfb20b51d5ff89f95cbf2c4bf58e/orig.mp4?Expires=1771169498&Signature=gEZxAQCGMrMCNeD94-ybz1DWGB2RqIDD9McIRo6xjrRRLhrAVqPxMqxUb-QereLkE8JBSmeDZdzOAcJjcXO69tr7kbetZVu1YUX7T7hDq78eHpdxFJNb6Gw5vatctyo05DQnTThLIxrDAMpW5IYO08UliJOp2f5urNZQxyAPYpbSXS3tskNKgXERhdSwlpXjF5KVWJIp~PIv1uAWiB--ct5FVXczPzBZJjBLA1xpZ4~BWA6odNenrq6~5G41mAZ8aLMZH~B8rnDv~Cj7CS07XQsvIwBUIGYV56vaJZH0xtvQ5IPNTUl7YFd1GxbdoSghJSdLcp3WxErUl8bAfbKw7Q__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Marietta City Council on Wednesday approved an ordinance adopting the city’s fiscal 2025-26 budget totaling $428,000,000 and enacted tentative ad valorem tax levies for the coming year.

City finance and administration officials told the council the package does not raise the city’s property tax rate. ‘‘The general fund is now at $78,700,000,’’ Finance Director Bill Bruton said at the meeting, adding the general fund increase is about 2.4 percent, or roughly $1,820,000. Bruton said approximately 52 percent of the general fund pays for police and fire operations.

Council members and staff said the budget was the product of a prolonged review process. Bruton and other staff described measures intended to hold down costs amid inflation: no across-the-board tax increase, use of some reserves in the city’s self-insurance fund and operational changes intended to reduce future expenses.

Key details and context

- Total city budget: $428,000,000 for fiscal year beginning July 2025 and ending June 2026 (one-year adoption).

- General fund: $78,700,000; increase of 2.4% from prior year.

- Public safety share: Approximately 52% of the general fund is budgeted for police and fire.

- Taxes: Council approved the budget without raising the millage rate; staff said this continues a multi-year trend of not increasing taxes.

- Service changes: Council approved adding two city employees so the city can take over trash service for the downtown Central Business District from a private vendor; staff said the move will lower operating costs for that service.

- Staffing and pay: City leaders said recruiting and retention efforts, including salary adjustments and new step structures, helped fill vacancies across police, fire and public works. The city also raised its minimum starting salary to $17 per hour.

Why it matters

Public safety comprises a majority of general fund spending in the adopted plan, which signals the council’s priority on police and fire services while attempting to maintain other services without a tax increase. Staff and council members cautioned that using reserves and one‑time measures to hold the line on costs is not a permanent solution.

Vote and next steps

Council voted to approve the ordinance as presented; the motion carried on a voice vote. Staff said departments will begin implementing budget changes July 1, when the fiscal year begins.

Ending note

Council members and the mayor thanked the finance staff for months of work preparing the proposal and said the city will continue monitoring revenue and costs through the fiscal year.","City Council approved a $428,000,000 budget for fiscal 2025-26 that holds the millage rate steady, directs more than half of general fund dollars to public safety and adds two employees to bring downtown trash service in-house.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Campus Edge tenants urge council to pressure new owner to honor leases, warn of possible homelessness

Council approves several rezonings, annexations and a proposed data center; Bells Ferry plan draws sustained public comment

Marietta Council adopts $428 million budget for fiscal 2025-26; no tax increase