A builder wants to skip sidewalks at a 22-lot Marietta subdivision. City staff say Jordan Street and Roselane Street, by the M2R Trail, should still get them.

A homebuilder is asking the Marietta City Council to let it build a 22-lot subdivision without the sidewalks city code requires. The council hears the request at 7 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 14.

The applicant is Traton, which lists a Kennesaw Avenue address in Marietta. The site covers about 4.09 acres along Jordan Street, Croft Street, Burnap Street and Roselane Street. The details are in the case file for V2026-35, posted with the council agenda.

City staff do not back the full request. Their review says two stretches of street should still get sidewalks.

What the builder is asking for

The application asks the council to waive sidewalks on Roselane, Jordan, Croft, Railroad and Burnap streets. It makes two requests:

  • a variance from the rule that every new subdivision builds sidewalks along all its road frontages
  • a variance from the Infill Overlay rule that a developer who does not build a sidewalk must donate the land for one instead

Without the second waiver, the city would at least keep the strip of land to add sidewalks later. The application names J. Kevin Moore of Moore, Ingram, Johnson & Steele as Traton’s agent.

What city staff found

The Department of Development Services looked at each street in turn. Its review agrees that sidewalks make little sense on some frontages, and finds no hardship on others.

Street Staff finding
Croft Street Platted on paper but not usable as a street, so a sidewalk is impractical
Burnap Street Would put sidewalk behind the new homes, next to existing homes with none
Jordan Street, south side, and Railroad Street Not every lot is in the project, so a sidewalk would leave isolated pieces
Jordan Street, north side Every lot is in the project and the street is being rebuilt. No hardship found
Roselane Street Both neighboring properties already have sidewalks. This site is the only gap. No hardship found

Source: City of Marietta staff review of V2026-35, dated Oct. 6, 2026.

The project already involves major work on Jordan Street. Staff said the builder will lay new sewer lines under the full length of the street and widen its north side to current standards. “The sidewalk requirement does not prevent or limit development of the subdivision,” the review says.

Staff also noted that sidewalks were discussed when the land was rezoned under case Z2025-25. No sidewalk variance was requested or granted at that time.

The crosswalk to the M2R Trail

The 2025 rezoning carried a condition about the Mountain to River Trail, known as the M2R Trail. The builder agreed to work with Public Works on a protected crosswalk across Roselane Street to reach the trail.

The staff review says Traton will meet that condition by paying $70,000 toward building the crosswalk. Staff warned that without a sidewalk on the Roselane frontage, people would reach that crossing by the road or across grass.

Public Works engineers raised three points in the file:

  • the land offered for right-of-way is not enough for any sidewalk future homeowners might ask for
  • a time frame for finishing the crosswalk still needs to be set
  • any damaged curb and gutter must be replaced

The Marietta Fire Department had no objections.

Other cases on these streets

This is not the only request in the area. A separate rezoning, Z2026-22, covers land at North Avenue, Roselane Street and Burnap Street. It was listed for the Planning Commission on Oct. 6. Our public notices page tracks both cases.

What it means for you

  • If you walk to the M2R Trail from this neighborhood, the vote decides whether a sidewalk leads to the new crosswalk on Roselane Street.
  • To speak or watch: the council meets at 7 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 14, in the council chamber on the lobby level of City Hall, 205 Lawrence St. The city said in its meeting notice that the public can attend in person or virtually, and the meeting is broadcast live on mariettaga.gov.
  • Earlier sessions: the council holds an agenda work session at 5:15 p.m. Monday, Oct. 12, and an agenda review session at 6 p.m. Oct. 14.
  • Questions: the contact number on the city’s meeting notice is 770-794-5509. For how zoning cases work, see our building permits and zoning guide.

We will report the council’s decision after the meeting.