A new application has been filed to rezone and develop the green space between Hickory Grove Pl and Hickory Grove Rd. Although the hotel has changed and the storage facility removed, many of our concerns remain the same. 

The builder is proposing a three story, 118 room Avid Hotel. Avid is a new chain under the IHG umbrella that markets towards budget minded travelers by offering lower rates. “IHG says Avid properties will generally run $10 to $15 less than Holiday Inn Express properties” (thepointsguy.com). Within a five mile radius there are 20+ midscale hotels with the same business model. Right off of I75 at Wade Green you will find two low budget hotels and quick drive down George Busbee Parkway NW will find many more. How many of these hotels does our neighborhood need?

Not only is another hotel completely unnecessary in our neighborhood, it is unwanted as well. This neighborhood is comprised of split level homes and one story businesses. A three story hotel so drastically changes the landscape of the neighborhood and will look unsightly and out of place. 

Located behind the hotel are private homes that would have to worry about guests coming and going at all hours, parents will have to worry about their children at the bus stop on the corner of Hickory Grove Dr and Hickory Grove Pl, and the increase traffic flow would be burdensome. As it stands now, there are times during the day residents have a difficult time getting out onto Wade Green Rd or Hickory Grove Rd. 

Hotels have a place and provide a needed service, however that place is not in a residential neighborhood. There are plenty of commercial areas in Cobb County, in Kennesaw even, that are better suited for this type of development. We residents spoke out against the last proposed rezoning for a hotel because we want to protect our neighborhood. Building and development should be done with a purpose and should be beneficial to the community. 

Comments on the last petition show exactly what residents think about a hotel on this property, it does not belong. Please sign and share this petition that will be provided to the board and planning commission! As a community I am sure we can come together to fight this hotel as well and come up with something that we would prefer in that space. 

You should also once again email and call the Planning Commissioners and CC our district Commissioner JoAnn Birrell and let them know exactly how you feel about this case!

At the top of your e-mail refer to this case as Z-45 (2019). With so many zoning cases, this will make it easier for them to know exactly which case you are talking about without having to dig. The PC will make a recommendation as to whether or not the case should be denied or approved so please reach out to everyone at the PC. Here is their contact information:

Judy.Williams@cobbcounty.org

Andy.Smith@cobbcounty.org

Galt.Porter@cobbcounty.org

Fred.Beloin@cobbcounty.org

Skip.Gunther@cobbcounty.org

and CC JoAnn Birrell at Joann.Birrell@cobbcounty.org

Application can be viewed on page 36:

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1c9_b0cTZGh_10Z9wOeqvfOmIOunNgpla/view

Source: https://thepointsguy.com/reviews/avid-hotel-by-ihg-oklahoma-city/