First United Methodist Church seeks rezoning of two Whitlock Avenue properties in Marietta

The Marietta Planning Commission on its September meeting heard a request from the First United Methodist Church of Marietta to rezone two adjoining properties at 92 and 96 Whitlock Avenue from OI (office institutional) to R‑3 (single‑family residential).

The rezoning request was presented by Angie Smith, chairperson of the board of trustees for First United Methodist Church of Marietta. Smith said 92 Whitlock — identified in the meeting as “The Rock House” — had previously housed a counseling center and currently contains the church’s youth minister. She said 96 Whitlock, the parsonage, is vacant and “under contract.” Smith told the commission that a prior rezoning several years ago anticipated consolidating the lots, but the consolidation did not occur because of church finances and deferred capital improvements. She said the church seeks rezoning to make sale of the properties easier in the near term, though there is no current plan to sell 92 Whitlock.

Commission members asked no follow-up questions during the public portion of the items, and the chair requested whether anyone in the audience opposed either rezoning; no opposition was offered. A motion to approve the rezoning of 92 Whitlock was made and seconded, and the presiding officer indicated the vote was unanimous. The commission then heard the separate but related request to rezone 96 Whitlock; Smith reiterated her earlier remarks that 96 Whitlock is vacant and under contract. A motion to approve that rezoning also was moved, seconded and approved with no opposition recorded on the record.

The commission identified the first case on the record as “E2025‑18” for 92 Whitlock and referenced the second case as “Z2025‑19” for 96 Whitlock; the motion language in the transcript contains a differing case number for the first item (spoken as “Z 20 20 five‑eight”). The transcript does not resolve that numbering discrepancy; the commission record should be consulted for the official case numbers.

No formal conditions, changes to zoning text, or development plans were presented at the hearing. The presiding officer noted the items were housekeeping in nature and moved the commission to a vote after asking for public comment. The items passed on the floor vote and the meeting proceeded to the next agenda item.

The commission chair also reminded attendees that a work session would occur the following Monday and the regular meeting would take place the following Wednesday.