By Rich Hintze

Homeownership is a cornerstone of the American dream, and homeowners in Cobb County have a legal right to the peaceful enjoyment of their properties. That principle has been tested recently as the Board of Commissioners (BOC) has worked to address what they call a housing crisis in the county. While it’s encouraging that the BOC has decided to withdraw the proposal to allow Accessory Dwelling Units on every residential lot, this issue is far from over. The debate over how to handle future growth in Cobb reflects larger questions about development, the housing market, and the kind of community residents want to live in.

The BOC’s decision to address Cobb County’s supposed housing crisis is based on the belief that there is a shortage of affordable housing and that the county needs to squeeze more residents into available spaces. However, it’s my belief that Cobb is already a desirable place to live—there is no shortage of buyers, no shortage of workers, and no lack of demand for housing. What we do have is a mismatch between the types of housing being built and the needs of the people who live here.