BZA grants setback reduction for Littleport Lane lot with stormwater and redundancy conditions

The Cobb County Board of Zoning Appeals voted 5–0 on Jan. 14 to grant Trailside Equities LLC a reduction in the front building setback on Littleport Lane from 45 feet to 35 feet after hearing technical testimony about septic constraints and steep topography.

Applicant Jordan Dini told the board the lot was platted for septic and that soils and contours limit where a septic field can be placed, making the standard 45-foot setback impractical; he said without relief the lot would be unbuildable. Neighbors Joseph and Linda Malevsky opposed the request, saying the site has very steep slopes (they estimated up to 50–60 percent), historical evidence that the lot had been treated as unbuildable, and a concern that dosing pumps could fail and discharge partially treated wastewater toward adjacent yards and a nearby Army Corps parcel.

Cobb County Stormwater Management, represented by Andrew Heath, supported the setback reduction in principle but recommended site- specific conditions: set the lowest floor 2 feet above the roadway overflow elevation, provide stormwater mitigation if impervious area thresholds are exceeded, and design a septic pumping system with redundant pumps and an alarm. Commissioner Beloyne’s motion to approve included those staff stormwater comments and required redundancy in the dosing tank/pumps and an alarm system; the board also recommended but did not require a generator. The motion passed 5–0.

Next steps: the applicant must submit a detailed site plan for permitting that demonstrates compliance with stormwater comments and septic/health-department requirements; any permitting conditions noted by staff must be satisfied before building permits issue.