The Cobb County Board of Commissioners in a 3-0 vote approved 19 amendments to Cobb's Comprehensive Plan during Tuesday morning's zoning hearing. The Planning and Zoning Commission had previously approved each amendment. Three have been held until the next meeting for further review.

The Comprehensive Plan for Cobb County is mandated by the Georgia Planning Act 634, which requires that each jurisdiction in the state develop and implement a comprehensive plan for future land use. The plan is reviewed by its respective regional development center, which, for Cobb, is the Atlanta Regional Commission. The act's intent is to "provide a framework to facilitate and encourage coordinated, comprehensive planning and development at the local, regional and state government levels."

Cobb developed its plan in 2007, which provides an inventory and assessment of existing conditions, needs for the next 20 years, goals, policy objectives and short-term projects to implement goals and objectives.

Amendments are studied and proposed from October of the end of the calendar year and January of the next year. Staff members use this time to review proposed changes that could come as the result of suggestions by the commissioners, planning commission, residents or business owners.

Three decisions were made throughout the year concerning changes to Cobb's zoning map, including the switch from Industrial Compatible to Neighborhood Activity Center on the west side of U.S. Hwy 41 north of Cedarcrest Road; the change from Community Activity Center to Medium Density Residential at the northeast side of Austell-Powder Springs Road and south of Furr Avenue; and the move from Low Density Residential and Neighborhood Activity Center to all Neighborhood Activity Center at the intersection of the northwest corner of Factory Shoals and South Gordon roads.

"The residential ordinances are meant to help with stabilizing a certain area," Dana Johnson, Cobb's planning division manager said.

"What happens to the land once it is rezoned is up to private entities," Cobb Chairman Sam Olens added.

In addition to the three zoning decision comprehensive plan amendments, the board also approved 11 commissioner-proposed comprehensive plan amendments and five staff-proposed comprehensive plan amendments with a 3-0 vote. Each of the amendments were approved 5-0 during last Tuesday's planning commission hearing. Commissioners Helen Goreham and Tim Lee were absent from Tuesday's meeting.

Other approved amendments included amendments to allow additions from the Riverline Master Plan, to create more of an identity for Vinings as a concentrated area, and an amendment that allows for the use of the new Kennesaw State University and Atlanta Beat soccer stadium currently underway at the intersection of Busbee Drive and George Busbee Parkway in Kennesaw.