Main Document: Including all below Appendices and Proposed Land Use Changes

APPENDIX 1: Future Land Use

APPENDIX 2:Community Profile

APPENDIX 3: Community Engagement

APPENDIX 4: Report of Accomplishments

APPENDIX 5: Supplemental Plans

APPENDIX 6: Regional Water Plan & Environmental Criteria

Proposed Land Use Changes

The State of Georgia requires local governments to maintain their plans to accurately reflect current community conditions and the community’s goals and priorities for the future.  Maintenance of the plan includes plan amendments and regular updates.

The current 2040 Comprehensive Plan was adopted in 2017. There has since been three land-use plan amendments in 2018, 2019, and 2020. Regular updates are required every 5-years in accordance with the Qualified Local Government (QLG) recertification schedule maintained by the State of Georgia Department of Community Affairs (DCA). In order to maintain Qualified Local Government status and to continue to promote a healthy and economically vibrant county, staff along with help from Cobb’s citizens will be launching a five-year update to the 2040 Comprehensive Plan in 2022.

The focus of this 5-year update will be limited in scope to the 5-year update elements as required by the DCA minimum standards and procedures. This update will culminate with the re-adoption of the 2040 plan with updates to the following:

• Existing needs and opportunities,
• Land use,
• Community work program;
• Transportation*; and
• A new broadband services element.

*The transportation element is included by reference to ensure the plan includes the applicable needs, goals, and work program items from the most up-to-date Comprehensive Transportation Plan: CobbForward.

In order to streamline the 2040 Comprehensive Plan and eliminate redundancy and possible inconsistencies, some optional elements that are guided by other planning efforts may be replaced by reference in the supplemental plans section of the Comprehensive Plan. 

Community involvement, public participation, and stakeholder input is paramount in order to ensure the 5-Year Update reflects the full range of our community’s needs and values.

The county will soon be seeking input from community members on the needs and opportunities for the county and their respective communities including what they value, want to retain, and what they want to change. Multiple opportunities will be available for input including in-person community meetings, virtual meetings and interactive tools from our Comprehensive Plan 5-Year update Story Map.

To learn more about the Comprehensive Plan and how to participate, view the 5-Year Update Story Map (COMING SOON!). This resource provides a wealth of information to keep you in the loop as the update process progresses. The site will continue to be updated throughout the process.

Meeting Links:

Monday, January 24, 6-8pm:  

• WATCH a replay of this virtual meeting by clicking here.
• Replay Password: 5Year2040

Thursday, February 3, 6-8pm:

• WATCH a replay of this virtual meeting by clicking here. 
• Replay Password: 5Year2040

Thursday, February 10, 6-8pm: 

• WATCH a replay of this virtual meeting by clicking here. 
• Replay Password: 5Year2040

Thursday, February 24, 6-8pm:

• WATCH a replay of this virtual meeting by clicking here. 
• Replay Password: 5Year2040

Thursday, March 3, 6-8pm: 

• This was an in-person meeting. No recording available. 

Monday, April 18, 6-8pm:

• In-Person Open House
• Cobb County Civic Center

• Population & Household
• Age Groups
• Diversity 
• Education & Poverty
• Median Income
• Per Capita Income

• Future Land Use Map

• Schools
• Libraries
• Parks
• Police Facilities
• Fire Facilities

• Road Classification & Bridges
• Transit
• Airport Facilities & Railroad

• Flood Plains
• Groundwater Recharge Areas
• Historical Sites
• Slopes
• Watersheds
• Wetlands

A Comprehensive Plan is a long-range plan intended to direct the growth and physical development of a community for a 20+ year period. Preparing a comprehensive plan allows for utility, transportation, and community facilities planning, aiding in a more time and cost-effective planning and budgeting program. The plan includes policies relevant to the development of various physical elements that make a community successful, including transportation, housing, recreation, and public facilities.

A Comprehensive Plan also provides for the distribution and relationships of various land uses; this land-use element serves as a basis for future physical development recommendations. These recommendations are supported by a set of goals and objectives drawn from existing conditions and the desires and aspirations of the citizens.

"The plan should be comprehensive in scope, general in nature, and long-range in perspective."
-T.J. Kent Jr.

The 2040 Comprehensive Plan is Cobb County’s long-range policy document and growth strategy for the next two decades. The plan fosters an image of an attractive place to invest, conduct business, and raise a family.  It reflects the community’s vision through needs and opportunities, goals and policies, and a community work program. The land use element guides future physical development that promotes an environment of predictability for existing and future residents, businesses, industry and investors.

The 2040 Comprehensive Plan is a large document including many pages with graphics, tables, and maps. The plan has been broken down into multiple PDF files, as seen below.

The 2040 Comprehensive Plan: Vision for a New Era file below is the primary planning document. It is the heart of the Comprehensive Plan, including the community’s needs, goals and policies, and work program items for each planning element. The following eight (8) appendices provide background information that help to substantiate the vision:

• 2040 Comprehensive Plan: Vision for a New Era
• Appendix 1: Community Profile (Background Report)
• Appendix 2: Community Engagement
• Appendix 3: Community Work Program
• Appendix 4: Small Area Policy Guidelines
• Appendix 5: Report of Accomplishments
• Appendix 6: Supplemental Plan Synopsis
• Appendix 7: Cobb Survey Report
• Appendix 8: Regional Water Plan & Environmental Criteria

View the Cobb County Future Land Use Map

Please note: some files may take longer to download due to size and download speed

2019 Revision: Appendix 4, 6, and Main | Result of the 2019 Annual Comprehensive Plan Amendment cycle