Rezone Case Z-7 was approved by the Cobb County Board of Commissioners.
The vote was split down party lines, with Republicans voting against and Democrats voting in favor, despite this being a bipartisan issue. The rezone process is the only part of this process where citizens can share concerns so our voices have all been effectively silenced.
The corporation requesting this rezone is based it Duluth, GA so the money made from sales will go to Duluth, GA. But how much money are we talking? These similar townhomes are listed for $399k. $399k x 24 = $9,576,000. By the time these townhomes are complete it will be easy to justify even more per unit than $399k. So a minimum of 9.6 million dollars has been handed by the Cobb County Government to a corporation that is not based in Cobb County, despite the protests of people who DO live in Cobb County.
I wonder if the democratic members of the Board of Commissioners have actually read their party’s platform. That document outlines a mission to fight corporate greed and protect infrastructure.
Some ideas to address concerns that align with the Democratic party:
- The Board of Commissioners could have ordered a traffic study to properly address traffic concerns. But they didn’t.
- The Board of Commissioners could have fought against corporate greed by keeping the area zoned single-family housing to minimize profits and maximize community care. But they didn’t.
- The Board of Commissioners could have prioritized conservation by requiring the protection of old-growth trees in this development. But they didn’t.
- The Board of Commissioners could have protected democracy by listening to request of the concerned citizens in their district. But they didn’t.
Unfortunately the Board of Commissioners did not take a single action to demonstrate their alignment with their own party’s goals.
The Board of Commissioners should be ashamed of themselves. I am certainly ashamed and embarrassed by them.
Our elected officials have shown that will not protect us from corporate monopolies or gentrification and will actually work against citizens to pursue greed. This newsletter will continue to keep you informed of rezones happening around us. Please make your voice heard by attending public meetings and sharing the things you learn with your community.
Stay safe and stay communicating!
