Commission puts Enclave at East Cobb rezoning on hold over buffers, parking and stormwater questions

Melissa Murillo, one of the applicants for the Enclave at East Cobb (Z‑17), described a revised plan for roughly 11.81 acres with 15 lots (14 homes to be built) designed to preserve environmentally sensitive areas and provide sidewalks, crosswalks and stormwater facilities. Planning staff found the revised proposal compatible with the comprehensive plan and supportive of neighborhood character.

Multiple residents opposed or pressed the applicant on density, buffering and stormwater. Audrey Zee said neighbors had tried to meet with the applicant and questioned whether recent drawing revisions were materially different; she urged consideration of R‑20 rather than R‑15 zoning. Sylvia Luna Pinto and other neighbors objected to a concentrated guest parking cluster adjacent to their property and requested a "30 foot undisturbed natural buffer" in writing. Walt Strother and other residents cited topography and stormwater impacts to Sewell Mill Creek and asked for clearer evidence that runoff and access would not harm downstream properties.

Cobb County staff briefed the commission: Wilson Collins (DOT) said private street/parking layout is largely outside DOT purview while noting right‑of‑way conceptual capacity; Fire Marshal Josh Davis said fire review typically prefers distributed parking and discourages on‑street parking; and Stormwater Manager Andrew Heath said the current plan keeps development out of the floodplain but that stream‑buffer determinations and detailed stormwater designs remain outstanding and could affect lot layout or count. The commission directed the applicant to work with staff to show distributed visitor parking, clarify buffer width, and confirm whether the stream can be piped; commissioners then voted to hold the case for roughly 30 days to allow those items to be addressed.