Cobb’s JOSH draft review extended to May 27

Due to circumstances around the COVID-19 pandemic, public review of the Johnson Ferry and Shallowford Small Area Plan (JOSH) has been extended through May 27.

As part of the Community Work Program from the Cobb County “2040 Comprehensive Plan,” the Cobb County Board of Commissioners requested the Cobb County Community Development Agency, Planning Division, to undertake a small area planning study focused on the intersection of Johnson Ferry Road at Shallowford Road and surrounding areas, according to a county statement.

That is why this study and the planning process are named by the acronym JOSH.

After an extensive public engagement process, including six community meetings and an image preference survey, staff from the agency has completed a draft of the JOSH Small Area Plan.

JOSH is the fourth plan conducted within Commission District 2 under the leadership of District 2 Commissioner Bob Ott who has announced his resignation from the Board of Commissioners that will take effect at the end of this year.

Also under Ott’s leadership, the other three planning studies in Commission District 2 have been The Powers Ferry Master Plan, which focused on redevelopment; The Vinings Vision Plan, which focused on protection of the character of the Vinings area and The Johnson Ferry Corridor Study, which emphasized streetscape design.

Over the next 10 to 20 years, the purpose of JOSH is to provide guidance to the Board of Commissioners about land development and infrastructure improvement decisions, pertaining to land use, design guidelines, parks, green space, transportation and stormwater.

The draft is available online at CobbCounty.org/community-development/news/johnson-ferry-shallowford-road-small-area-plan.

Feedback can be shared by email at ComDevPlanning@CobbCounty.org or by mail to Cobb County Community Development, Planning Division, P.O. Box 649, Marietta, GA 30061-0649.