Commissioners approve stricter stipulations for Paces Ferry bakery after neighbors cite damage and deliveries

The Cobb County Board of Commissioners on Sept. 16 approved amended stipulations for a bakery‑type operation on Atlanta Road, adding hours, delivery and waste rules, lighting restrictions and a vegetative buffer after neighbors raised concerns about construction debris, shipping activity and noise.

Commissioner Allen read the new conditions into the record, saying, in part, "Hours of operations no earlier than 6AM with customer hours from 8AM to 7PM, Monday through Saturday. No business operations, including baking or equipment maintenance repair after 9PM, Monday through Saturday." The board also kept customer service closed on Sundays.

The revised stipulations require all baking, cleaning and customer tastings to occur inside the facility; inbound and outbound deliveries must happen between 9 a.m. and 7 p.m. Monday through Friday and use the building's south or front entrances. The north side of the building and the shared drive cannot be used for loading or unloading. The applicant must install an enclosure for two 96‑gallon rolling trash bins on the south side, with doors kept closed except during emptying. The enclosure and a vegetative buffer in the rear must be in place by Nov. 16, 2025, and trash and grease‑trap servicing must be limited to daytime hours.

Neighbors and the homeowners association testified they had seen construction debris, damage to fences, large delivery vehicles on adjacent property and activity inconsistent with the neighborhood‑oriented, low‑intensity use originally allowed by the 2013 rezoning. Commissioners said the new stipulations are intended to preserve neighborhood livability while allowing the business to operate under tighter controls; all previous stipulations not in conflict remain in effect.

The motion to approve the amended stipulations passed 3‑0 with two commissioners absent.