Thanks to the MDJ for summarizing the meeting notes from a recent Cobb Amendment:

At most Cobb commission meetings, at least one resident attempts to persuade members into enacting either new or tougher ordinances.

Although there’s debate on the legality of some changes residents want, specifically those regarding rental properties, a draft of this year’s code modifications proves many concerns haven’t fallen on deaf ears.

Lengthy amendments imposing restrictions on blasting during construction, a weed ordinance mandating vacant properties be maintained and a burning ban are just a few of those featured in the draft released Friday.

Cobb commissioners are expected to hold two public hearings on the proposals Jan. 23 and Feb. 27, after which the board will approve or deny the changes, said Cobb Community Development Director Rob Hosack.

“Particularly the blasting ordinance - well, all three, including the weed ordinance and the burning ban” were drawn from residents’ concerns, Hosack said. “I think it’s a good example of how responsive the commissioners are.”

Mary Rose Barnes, president of the Oakdale and Cobb County civic coalitions and a regular board meeting attendee, first raised the issue of blasting last year.

Pulte Homes, the developer of a major condominium development being built off Oakdale Road, had been blasting through the blue granite for months.

The result has been extensive damage to a neighbor’s house, including a cracked foundation and driveway, and repeated tremors that registered on a seismic scale installed by insurance adjusters.

“Particularly, the 90-day required permits are wonderful,” Mrs. Barnes said. “They’ve been blasting here for nine months, and they blasted again this morning. It’s 500 feet from my house.”

Before the current 20-page new code restrictions, the county did not address the use of explosives by construction companies at all, she said.

“It’s very gratifying because we complain all the time about this and that and the other,” Mrs. Barnes said. “You just have to know about a problem and bring it to the Board of Commissioners’ attention because they don’t necessarily know. It is important that we take our time to do this, and it’s also very important that the commissioners listen to us.”

Outdoor burning, which has long been a county concern, has also been banned in the new code amendments.

According to Section 54-60, “The outside burning of trash, debris, leaves, wood, tree limbs or other similar substances, including the open burning of grass, weeds or vegetation is unlawful - and shall be prohibited except that grills, pits or outdoor fireplaces may be used for cooking purposes only.”

At the commission’s last meeting, a resident complained that open burning near her home had worsened the health of her husband, who has chronic respiratory problems.

“Myself having been past president of the East Cobb Civic Association, Tim Lee having (served) with the Northeast Cobb Civic Association, and Helen Goreham having been president of (People Looking After Neighborhoods), we have really insisted that both the homeowner and development communities have equal access to proposed changes and everyone be a part of the process,” said Cobb Commission Chairman Sam Olens.

A new weed ordinance requiring property owners to maintain landscaping at abandoned buildings is a step in the direction of quality-of-life ordinances being requested.

It may be a small step, but it’s one prompted by input from residents.

“The best example of how responsive we are was when we last approved code amendments,” Olens said. “There was a lady, Trisha Clemmons from the Northeast Cobb homeowners’ group. In her comments, she told us we could change the language and more clearly state what we were trying to do.

“That was the exact language we adopted. I doubt there’s many local governments that even after (code amendments are) published, even after the hearings, where commissioners will use wording suggested by residents.”

At this time, Hosack said, no other quality-of-life ordinances are being considered.

Beginning in 2007, commissioners approved amending the county code only once every year. Prior to that, Hosack said, the county went through the process twice.