MIC's Historic Mableton Community Garden on Floyd Road will hold an Open House on Saturday, March 14th from 10am to noon for new and returning gardeners.  Returning gardeners will have first choice for their plots, but space is available for new gardeners as well.  Plot rentals range from $30 to $45, including water and MIC membership.

The Community Garden is a great place to grow community as well as veggies!  Make new friends and learn more about gardening at the same time.  Experience is not required!  Garden Leader Terri Carter and other experienced gardeners will help you get started. Contact Terri Carter by email.

On a related note, MIC is sad to report that the community garden on Riverview Road is closing.  We were not able to reach a lease agreement with the property owner for the land.  Our thanks to everyone who nurtured this garden over the past few years, especially Val Mathis, Dave McDaniel and the family and friends of Sam Hicks.

Planning for Mableton Day 2015 is underway! The next Community Meeting will be held at the Mable House Arts Center on Tuesday, March 17 at 7pm. Each committee will report its progress. Organizations that are competing for the Community Spirit prizes will be there for orientation and volunteer opportunities will be explained.  

Mableton Day is Saturday, May 16th at the Mable House Complex. The day begins with the Mableton 5K and Mableton Jr. Fun Run, and continues with live entertainment, classic cars, vendors, arts and crafts, kids' corner and more!  Fun for the whole family right here at home. 

Want to know more?  Want to get involved?  Contact the Mableton Day team via email. Mableton Day is produced by the Mableton Day Coalition, a joint effort of MIC, the South Cobb Arts Alliance and the Amateur Advocate Association.

Register now for the Mableton Day 5K and make sure you have the chance to run or walk in the best event here in Mableton! Registration is limited and when the race is full -- it's full! The Mableton 5K marks the start of Mableton Day, a community celebration in its 10th year.  

Following the 5K at 9am is the Mableton Jr. Fun Run.  The one-mile length is great for kids and adults looking for a shorter distance event.  All entries before May 8th will receive a t-shirt, so register now and secure yours! 

The Board of Zoning Appeals approved variances requested by Habitat for Humanity for property at 381 Lee Road and adjacent lots, where the organization plans to build 8 homes. MIC supported this application.

The Board of Zoning Appeals also approved variances for an auto repair shop at 632 Puckett Drive. The approval included the stipulations requested by MIC related to parking and indoor vehicle repair. 

On the Calendar for March...

In February, the Planning Commission voted to recommend approval an application from the owner of the property at 1884 Old Alabama Road (Z-5) to change the zoning from General Commercial to Neighborhood Retail Commercial for an auto repair shop, and included many stipulations requested by MIC.  The application was held by the Board of Commissioners and is now set to be heard on March 17th. MIC is requesting that the remaining stipulations, to which the property owner has agreed, be included in the BOC's action.  The stipulations include limiting hours of operation so as not to disturb the homes and church next door, landscaping, and limiting additional development on the site.

An application to change the zoning from R-20 to OI ("Office Institutional") for 1092 Veterans Memorial Highway (Z-15) with the proposed use being a veterinary office was recommended for approval by the Planning Commission in February.  The application was continued by the Board of Commissioners and is now set to be heard on March 17th. The property includes floodplain along Nickajack Creek which is part of the proposed Nickajack Creek trail. The Planning Commission included many of MIC's requested stipulations, but MIC is seeking additional clarification to ensure the County's ability to build the trail.

A variance application for an ATM installation has been filed for the shopping center at 6200 Mableton Parkway (V-40) at the corner of Mableton Parkway and Factory Shoals Road.  The MIC Board has voted to oppose this application for several reasons: public safety concerns, lack of space in the parking lot, and ongoing code violations, especially related to trash and debris behind the shopping center.

Rocklyn Homes, the builder of Volunteer Ridge at 751 Veterans Memorial Highway (OB-12) has filed a request with the Board of Commissioners for a change to the stipulations for the property.  The new stipulation would allow a mix of materials on the fronts of the homes.  The MIC Board has not taken a position on this application.

Coming up in April....

The hearing for the application for a subdivision on Old Alabama Road (Z-86) on property surrounding New Harvest Baptist Church has been postponed again to the April 7th Planning Commission hearing.  The developer has completed an R-15 plan with an open space overlay. MIC is working with neighborhood groups to review the new plan. For more information on this rezoning, contact Sonya Wheatley, a member of MIC's Zoning Committee.

Questions? Want to get involved? Contact Robin Meyer, MIC Zoning Committee Chair.