Marietta City Council Work Session – July 6, 2026

The Marietta City Council held a work session on July 6, 2026, at 10:30 AM. The meeting covered a wide range of topics including the formation of an advisory committee for the Franklin Gateway 10-acre parcel, a detailed plan revision for the NWSL training facility, an extensive debate on a potential moratorium on data center developments, and multiple zoning and variance requests. Several items were moved to the regular Wednesday meeting or to a special called meeting, and a key motion on data centers was placed on the consent agenda.

Consent Calendar

• Minutes Approval: The June 8, 2026 work session minutes were approved unanimously. The June 10, 2026 regular meeting and June 23, 2026 special meeting minutes were placed on consent without objection.
• Data Center Moratorium Motion: Councilmember Waters made a motion for a moratorium on future data center development through December 31, 2026, or until the earlier passage of a related ordinance. The motion was seconded and placed on consent after Councilmember Sims reserved the right to possibly oppose by Wednesday. Several council members expressed a preference for a faster code amendment changing data centers to a special land use permit rather than a moratorium.
• 25 Crescent LLC Rezoning: Rezoning for an administrative office use at 225 Crescent Circle was placed on consent with no objection.
• Bridgepoint Church Rezoning: Rezoning to allow weekday early childhood education at the church was placed on consent.

Discussion Items

• Advisory Committee for Franklin Gateway 10 Acres: The Mayor proposed an advisory committee of 14 members (including Parks and Rec chair, council members, Gateway CID representative, YELLS youth leader, fire department, parks and rec, and six resident/business leaders) to recommend uses for the 10-acre property. Councilman Goldstein suggested using "nominated" instead of "appointed" and updating Roberts Rules of Order reference. Councilman Sims requested more time to review, and one council member expressed preference for members from the Gateway area but was open to others. The item was moved to Wednesday's meeting.
• NWSL Training Facility Revised Detail: The applicant (AMBSC) presented a revised plan moving the guard stand to the center of the site to improve vehicle stacking. Staff confirmed parking and trees unchanged, but stormwater detention had been moved off city property. A legal question on notice provisions was noted. The item was moved to Wednesday as a non-consent item.
• Data Center Moratorium Debate: A lengthy discussion occurred regarding a potential moratorium on data centers. Topics included:
  • Cobb County's stay (through August 23, 2026) and the city's own power capacity (about 227 megawatts available).
  • Councilmember Goldstein expressed concern about over-reliance on three large customers and the need to protect residential ratepayers.
  • Staff noted data centers are not explicitly in zoning code and currently allowed by right in LI and HI districts. Councilmember Sims argued this was "dangerous" and shifted support to a moratorium.
  • Councilmember Waters moved for a moratorium through December 31, 2026 (or earlier if an ordinance passes). The motion was seconded and placed on consent.
  • Several council members preferred a code amendment to require a special land use permit instead, and staff agreed to research and bring back options. A town hall was suggested for July 30, and discussions with MIAG (Mechanicsville Independent Aggregate Group) about future generation were noted for November.
• Horizon 720 Rezoning (787, 720 Horizon): This rezoning had been denied two years ago and is under lawsuit. The apartment complex next door objected to notice. City Attorney did not object to a delay. Councilmember Sims recommended tabling one month for community conversation. The applicant (Freeman family) requested to move forward quickly, citing years of work. A compromise was reached to table to a special called meeting on July 28, 2026. Councilmember Sims made a motion to table to August 12, but it failed for lack of second. A motion to table to July 28 passed 6-1. Councilmember Sims disclosed a campaign donation from the Freeman family.
• 286 North Hill Castro Home Occupation: A special land use permit request for a tutoring business (Type B home occupation) was briefly presented and will be a public hearing on Wednesday.
• Prime Storage Data Center (1155 Powers Ferry): Request to rezone to allow a data center in an existing building (90,000 sq ft, 40% for computers, 12-18 megawatts). Council questioned noise mitigation, air cooling (not water-cooled), power contracts, and expansion limits. The applicant agreed to enhanced soundproofing, a maximum power usage covenant, and no AI hyperscale use. Staff noted BLW would profit without burdening other ratepayers.
• Franklin Gateway Small Grocery: Rezoning from PRDMF to NRC for a small grocery, with variances for reduced parking (17 to 9 spaces) and a front dumpster. Planning commission recommended approval with dumpster enclosure condition.
• St. Basil Orthodox Church Variances: Request for gravel parking (originally utility laydown) and off-site parking covenant at 516 West Atlanta. Staff noted the property is in a historic overlay and future expansions may trigger additional variances. Council requested verification of written parking agreement with neighboring property.
• 1122 Powers Ferry Road (Former Kroger to Gym): Rezoning and variances to allow a national fitness chain. Variance requests include reducing 40-foot buffer adjacent to residential (to existing 5 feet) and allowing more than 12 parking spaces without planters. Staff recommended a 6-foot opaque fence and tying landscaping to submitted plan.
• 102 Burnap (Trayton Variances): Request for infill residential overlay variances similar to previously approved properties at 105 Jordan and 104 Burnap. Staff asked to provide prior stipulations for consistency.

Key Outcomes

• Advisory Committee item moved to Wednesday, July 8, 2026 meeting.
• NWSL training facility item moved to Wednesday, July 8 as non-consent.
• Data Center Moratorium: A motion for a moratorium through December 31, 2026 (or earlier ordinance passage) was made and placed on the consent agenda for Wednesday.
• Horizon 720: Tabled to a special called council meeting on July 28, 2026 (vote 6-1). Councilmember Sims recused from voting on St. Basil Orthodox Church item after disclosing adjacent property ownership.
• Several items (minutes, 25 Crescent LLC, Bridgepoint Church) were placed on consent.
• Public hearings: Multiple items will be heard as public hearings on Wednesday, including 286 North Hill Castro, Prime Storage, Franklin Gateway grocery, St. Basil Church, 1122 Powers Ferry, and 102 Burnap.