City Council Meeting 02/12/2025
Another month, another meeting!
This one's a little late due to my procrastination :)
The meeting kicked off with another presentation for new Marietta PD police officers. There were only 3 this time.
The PD also got the CALEA Accreditation Award and the city got a Tree City USA Award. They also declared Feb. 16th as "Arbor day". Something about planting a lot of trees?
Next, there was a speaker who came up and hit on a range of topics, ranging for thanking certain councilmembers for helping take up the wreaths at the confederate cemetary, him being glad that he hasn't heard of any rights violations from the PD regarding the new anti homelessness camping ordinance (only relating to private property), and wanting more private housing to be built for students instead of dorms.
The rest of the meeting kicked off, and the vast majority of it was on the Consent Agenda.
There were a few zoning items that came up, but by far the most contentious one was about a dad who built a small tree house in his front yard and was asking for a variance to keep it up. It apparently is a hang out spot in the neighborhood for the kids, and most neighbors were fine with it. He had 15 signatures from the surrounding residents saying they like the tree house and 3 neighbors coming in person to speak in favor.
The problem is that the zoning code doesn't allow for it, and he didn't apply for a building permit.
To remedy that he offered to pay extra for a late building permit and have the variance lapse after 4 years so the kids could enjoy it for a bit longer.
The Board of zoning appeals recommended denial, so this was an appeal to the council. The council was strongly split on this one.
3 of the 7 members were in favor, 4 were strong "No"s. 2 substitute motions to keep the tree house failed, and the motion to tear it down passed.
Turns out the mayor was in favor of the tree house as well, because he vetoed it. They couldn't figure out a path forward, so it's been tabled for a month.
The last two items of note were 2 new Public Works projects concerning Whitlock Drive and Burnt Hickory Road/Polk Street.
Whitlock Drive is getting some slip lanes added at an intersection, and burt hickory road/polk street is getting a new roundabout.
aaaand that's it!
https://www.mariettaga.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Item/5529?fileID=54948