Marietta City Council Appoints Member to Board of Zoning Appeals

The Board of Zoning Appeals hears and decides special land-use permit requests, hears and decides appeals from Planning and Zoning, and grants variances from zoning regulations.

Marietta City Council appointed Tom Samples to Ward 7 of the Board of Zoning Appeals for a three-year term expiring July 11, 2015. What Board of Zoning Appeals Does: Keep up with all the news you care about by subscribing to our free email newsletter, liking us on Facebook and following us on Twitter.

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Council Mulls Variance, Recognizes Pressley

The owner of Diplomat Companies requested the variance for a property on Kingston Court where city officials said a sign is not in compliance with city ordinances.

The owner of a hotel development company will have to wait another month before the Marietta City Council decides if they will grant him a variance for signs that city officials say are non-compliant and, if so, for how long. City Manager William Bruton said that the property, which once housed a Holiday Inn, has been vacant for several years since a fire erupted in the building, causing it to close. But, according to the city's ordinance, signs cannot be on a property for more than 60 days if there isn't an open business. Mike Patel, owner of Diplomat Companies, said he has experienced numerous setbacks, including lenders failing because of the economic downturn and thefts of copper from the property at 2265 Kingston Ct. Patel told …

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On the Agenda

Visioning Committee, Backyard Poultry on Council Agenda

The Marietta City Council meets at 5 p.m. at City Hall.

The Marietta City Council is expected to vote at its meeting tonight to create a Vision 20/20 Committee to study improvements to the Marietta Square.  The council also is expected to hear from resident Kristen Pickens, who plans to talk about backyard poultry, and to approve several intersection improvements at Maxwell and Durham streets. The full agenda for tonight's meeting is attached.

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On the Agenda

Stop Sign, 20/20 Vision Discussion on Council Agenda

The Marietta City Council will hold its work session today at 5:15 p.m.

Resident's requests for a stop sign the intersection of Maxwell and Durham streets will be one item up for discussion at the Marietta City Council's work session today. The council also is expected to discuss the creation of a Vision 20/20 Committee to look at improvements to the Marietta Square. The entire work session agenda is attached to this article. The City Council meets  at 5:15 at the council chambers at City Hall.

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New Theater to Move into Theatre in the Square Location?

The former board chair at Theatre in the Square is looking to start a new theater in the same location. Co-founder of Theatre in the Square Palmer Wells says it appears groundwork for the new theater has been going on for some time.

Mike Russell, former Board Chair of Theatre in the Square, has asked Marietta City Council for $50,000 to help open the Trackside Theatre Company at the recently closed theater's location, according to the Marietta Daily Journal.  Theatre in the Square closed its curtains in March due to a lack of funding. “It is not feasible for us to finish our current season or launch a 31st season. We simply do not have the money," Russell said at the time. The requested funds for the new theater company would come from Marietta's auto rental tax; however, Mayor Steve Tumlin told the MDJ he has reservations about the new theater operating successfully since it would be run mainly by the same individuals, the MDJ reports. Theatre in the Square's Board …

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Former Councilman Named Manager in North Carolina Town

Paul Sabiston served eight years on the Marietta City Council and will now serve as the town manager of Smithfield, NC.

City Aids Theatre in the Square, Lease Renegotiated

The grant from the Marietta City Council does not solve the theater's money problems. The theater needs $64,000 in addition to the $34,000 already raised to remain open.

The Marietta City Council voted 6-0 to give Theatre in the Square $30,000 during a special meeting Wednesday, the Marietta Daily Journal and Atalanta Journal-Constitution report. The grant comes from a surplus in car rental tax proceeds, the MDJ and AJC say. The money does not solve the theater's money problems. The theater needs $64,000 in addition to the $34,000 already raised to remain open, the MDJ reports. Councilman Philip Goldstein, the theater’s landlord, has renegotiated the theater’s 30-year lease down to five years and reduced the theater’s monthly rent from $10,778 to $7,000, the MDJ says. The new lease does not include the 125-seat Alley Stage. The theater owes Goldstein more than $125,000 in back rent. Theatre in the Square …

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Why We Live Where We Live

As Public Housing Near Square Comes Down, What Will Replace It?

Marietta developer hopes to get new plan for empty Meeting Park to City Council in May. Fort Hill Homes will be demolished later this year.

Fort Hill Homes, the last of Marietta’s family public housing projects, will be torn down later this year, and what replaces it could have a major impact on the city’s downtown. Fort Hill, built in 1942 on Cole Street, a few blocks off the Marietta Square, has about 125 people still living there. Those residents are being moved into Section 8 rental housing. “We’re not in any rush. I don’t see the demolition being completed until this time next year,” said Pete Waldrep, director of development at the Marietta Housing Authority. “We’ll go all summer and probably into the fall relocating people.” Once that process is completed, the site will become about 6½ acres of green space. A couple of blocks away, and even closer to the square, is the …

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The Viewfinder

Marietta Mayor's Youth Council Gets Closer Look at Government

Students from Marietta High School meet elected city officials and tour city departments.

The Mayor's Youth Council was created to engage local high school students and encourage civic participation of future leaders. Students from Marietta High School spent March 2 meeting elected city officials and touring city departments.  The selected student participants discussed with members of City Council current local issues, roles of municipal government and personal experiences of city leaders. They also received a behind the scenes tour of Marietta's finance, economic development, public works, human resources, GIS, information technology, public information, fire and police departments from the city manager.

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Marietta Water, Power Utility Rates Increase

In spite of planned utility rate increases, Marietta Power and Water said its customers will have lower electric rates than competitors.

By City of Marietta Because of rising utility costs, beginning Jan. 1, Marietta Water and Power customers will notice an increase in their power, water and sewer rates. City Council approved the increases Dec. 16 after receiving recommendations from the Board of Lights and Water board of directors. Monthly change for average customer: Why rates are increasing: "Realizing that many of our ratepayers are experiencing other hardships in these tough economic times, the governing bodies worked together to find an alternative solution," Marietta Power and Water general manager Bob Lewis said in a news release. "Dec. 16, they approved a plan to absorb $1.6 million of the increased costs internally through the use of surplus reserves, bringing the…

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