Cobb County zoning board approves consent variances for multiple property owners

Cobb County's Board of Zoning Appeals approved a consent agenda of zoning variances during its April 9, 2025, meeting, granting relief on a range of setback, accessory-structure and signage rules for multiple properties across the county.

The board approved each item on the consent docket after county staff and the zoning manager indicated there were no outstanding objections and no members of the public spoke in opposition.

The consent docket included the following approved variance cases: v37 (Jill and Darlene Terry; accessory structure location), v39 (Dennis K. Throup; reduced side setbacks, subject to stormwater management comments), v41 (Donald T. Carlisle; rear setback/accessory structure), v42 (Edward and Aaron Walker; reduced rear setback), v43 (Outback Deck Inc.; rear setback), v44 (Manish Puri; increase pervious coverage to 63.2% and allow a 560 sq. ft. pergola; approval subject to stormwater mitigation conditions), v45 (Barbara and Huey Williams; fence height and shed setback; approved per submitted exhibit), v46 (Carlos Ramirez; accessory structure/setback; approved subject to the garage not being used for dwelling or commercial uses), v48 (Matthew and Kelly Whitley; reduced side setback), v50 (Thomas Deese; reduced rear setback), v51 (Kevin Kreider; reduced side setback and accessory structure setbacks), v52 (Glaze Express Car Wash Inc.; increase sign height/area; approval subject to traffic, fire and sewer comments and final location/design approval by the zoning manager), and v53 (Claudia and Bryce; multiple impervious and accessory-structure setbacks; approval subject to stormwater comments and a prohibition on using the detached garage for dwelling or commercial uses).

Staff comments and stipulations were read into the record for several items. Notably: v44 (Manish Puri) was approved subject to (1) stormwater-management comments and (2) the applicant meeting with Stormwater Management within 60 days to obtain an approved mitigation plan and having that work inspected and verified within 120 days; failure to complete the work within 120 days would revoke the variance. v46 and v53 included explicit conditions prohibiting use of newly approved detached garages for dwelling or commercial uses. v52's sign variance approval was conditioned on traffic, fire and sewer department comments and final approval of location/design by the zoning manager.

Before taking the consent votes the board noted one withdrawal (variance case v47, Hang Chang Zhang, withdrawn without prejudice) and granted a staff request to continue variance case v38 (John Ellis) until the next hearing. After the zoning manager read the consent items and confirmed no opposition, a motion to approve the consent agenda carried.

The board chair instructed that applicants on consent were free to leave after the vote.

Ending: The board moved on to held and continued cases after approving the consent docket.