By Ashley Hungerford
Marietta Daily Journal Staff Writer
MARIETTA - A year after it was first submitted, the Board of Commissioners unanimously approved a rezoning application Tuesday for Cornerstone Development to rezone the southwest corner of Johnson Ferry Road and Lower Roswell Road to make way for a CVS Pharmacy.
Commissioners had continued the application pending the completion of the Johnson Ferry Road corridor study.
John Moore, the applicant's attorney, said they've assembled 2.17 acres on the corner to build a brick CVS drug store.
"There's not another CVS in Cobb County that looks like this," he said.
Cobb Chairman Sam Olens, who lives near the site, said he was thrilled that the development would decrease the number of curb cuts along Johnson Ferry Road and Lower Roswell Road from six down to two.
"This area in particular has too many curb cuts," he said. "I like the idea of going from six curb cuts to two."
An existing building located in the southwest corner of the busy east Cobb intersection, owned by Dr. David Perlow, will remain intact. But Perlow agreed to close the two curb cuts in front of his building, in return for Cornerstone Development providing interparcel access to his property off Lower Roswell Road.
Because of traffic concerns, the entrance into the development, and Perlow's building, will be right in/right out only.
The board also on Tuesday continued until October a request by Felecia Parker for a land-use permit to use the small building behind her home at 96 Stalcup Drive in Marietta as a guesthouse.
Parker retained attorney Parks Huff to represent her just prior to the meeting, and Huff said he would like some time to prepare and investigate the application.
He did say he knew Parker purchased her home in May from the Department of Housing and Urban Development. The foreclosed brick home was advertised as including a small guesthouse according to the sales literature, Huff said.
"And to add insult to injury, she was forced to escrow money to make improvements to the guest house," Huff said. "Ms. Parker was put in a bad situation."
The Cobb Planning Board recommended denying the application 3-2 at its Sept. 3 meeting.
Many questions about the property remain.
County staff has yet to determine when exactly the back house was built and converted into the guesthouse, and if any permits were ever issued for the structure.
County Attorney Dorothy Bishop said her staff is still determining whether the structure could be grandfathered in and allowed to remain, depending on when it was constructed.
Two residents on Stalcup Drive spoke against Parker's application, saying the back structure was built without county permission and should be demolished. Both neighbors said it is not appropriate in the single-family neighborhood.
Olens directed the county's legal staff and zoning department to compile as much history as they can on the property before October's zoning hearing.
ahungerford@mdjonline.com
Comment on this Story
Posted Comments
"There's not another CVS in Cobb County that looks like this," he said. Who cares what it looks like? What about the two right up the street? Now there will be three CVS stores in a 1.7 mile span. Cobb Chairman Sam Olens, who lives near the site, near the site??? He lives 3 miles away.
The only reason these drug stores expand is that they charge too much for generic drugs...when your drug comes of the "non-generic" list, these ever expanding drug chains don't lower the cost that much..do comparison shopping with Walmart, Costco or other large box stores with pharmacies, and you will see the amazing difference, that you pay. BTW, I remember Olens saying that this store location was the last thing the area needed...and was afraid one of the other CVS's would close down..now, why the change Sam?....p.s., I live about .5 miles from any of them...now...how does this fit in with beautifying the Johnson Ferry corridor ?...beginning to look like Buford Highway, or any other non descript, chain bang strip. Disgusting.