Commission recommends rezoning of 1951 Canton Road to allow small-scale light-industrial uses

The Marietta Planning Commission recommended approval of a rezoning request to change 1951 Canton Road from CRC (Community Retail Commercial) to LI (Light Industrial), supporting a plan to repurpose an existing, deteriorated commercial development for small-scale industrial and trade uses.

Attorney and agent Jordan Edwards, representing Cone Commercial Real Estate and Ryan Cone, told the commission the property is at the extreme northeast tip of the city and is surrounded on three sides by unincorporated Cobb County. Edwards said the City’s comprehensive plan lists industrial warehousing as the future land use for this area and argued that small-scale light-industrial tenants (woodworking, upholstery, small assembly, service contractors) would be compatible with adjacent uses.

Edwards said one southern building on the property contains soil contamination from a former dry-cleaning operation; the applicant has been in contact with the state and intends to remediate the plume and demolish the contaminated structure. He told commissioners the proposal is not to build large new structures but to adaptively reuse existing buildings, which are already divided into smaller tenant spaces.

Commissioners asked about outdoor storage, truck activity and the site’s large surface parking area; the applicant said no outdoor storage is proposed beyond what code allows and that some existing leases may be terminated while compatible tenants would remain. The commission moved, seconded and voted to recommend approval; the matter will be forwarded to City Council for final action.