Marietta Reserve plan moves forward after council asks for trail connections and debates sidewalk width

Planning staff presented revisions to the Marietta Reserve detailed plan, including reduced building separation between detached homes, two additional architectural elevations, and slight lot‑width increases for end townhome lots. The development, off Durer Drive and Powder Springs Road in Ward 2, was brought back after the council asked for minor changes at a prior meeting.

Staff (speaker 14) said the developer had adjusted plans to address parking, tree spacing and elevation concerns; the updated package included a new playground and removed a screening stipulation tied to Cobb County comments. Councilmembers and staff focused discussion on pedestrian design: plans show a 5‑foot sidewalk plus a 2‑foot landscape buffer (the “beauty strip”), but several councilors asked whether the sidewalk should be widened to 7 feet and the buffer removed.

Acting Chief of Fire/Public Works (speaker 12) cautioned that the site is tight and that changing sidewalk widths would have cascading impacts on setbacks, utilities and driveway measurements. “Changing from a 5 foot to a 7 foot would also have a cascading effect,” staff said, urging caution and offering to study the proposal further.

Council instructed staff and the developer to provide two additional trail/connection points the developer had indicated they could add; a motion to move the plan forward to Wednesday’s meeting recommending approval, with the ask to show the two connections, carried.

What happens next: The detailed plan will be presented for a public hearing and final action at the council meeting on Wednesday; staff said they will try to provide the requested connection plans before that date.