Cobb County Board of Commissioners Work Session - 07/28/26

The Cobb County Board of Commissioners held a work session on July 28, 2026, focusing on three main presentations: an update on the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) spending, housing initiatives, and data center regulations. The ARPA update detailed the allocation and spending of approximately $167 million across 99 projects, with $123 million spent to date and a focus on ensuring full expenditure by the September 30 deadline. Strategies include reallocating funds and utilizing unrestricted interest income to meet project goals, particularly for capital projects like the South Cobb Health Complex. The housing presentation introduced a "development toolbox" of policy options ranging from quick wins like accessory dwelling units and density bonuses to longer-term strategies such as land banks and transfer of development rights, with an emphasis on further research and public engagement. The data center discussion addressed zoning challenges, proposing new definitions and regulations to manage impacts such as noise, water and power usage, and land use compatibility. The board discussed refining definitions to distinguish large-scale data centers from smaller IT server rooms, and plans to extend the current moratorium on data center development to allow time for code amendments. Overall, the meeting emphasized careful management of federal funds, strategic housing policy development, and proactive regulation of emerging land use issues related to data centers.