Man gets new hearing for dwelling
A new court hearing has been scheduled for a Smyrna man who failed to appear in court for violating the county's newly revised multifamily dwelling ordinance....
Jose Cruz Rodriguez is scheduled to appear in Cobb Magistrate Court at 9 a.m. July 21. Rodriguez, who lives at 492 Alcott Drive in Smyrna, failed to appear before Judge Joan Vaughan Bloom for having more than six people living at the residence....
Because Rodriguez did not appear on June 23, Judge Bloom issued a warrant and set his bond at $300. He was arrested at the court clerk's office the following day and released later that evening. His July 21 court appearance will be the county's first assessment of the amended ordinance.
Gwinnett County and the City of Marietta are the only other two jurisdictions in metro-Atlanta area that have implemented similar ordinances....
In Cobb, the multifamily dwelling ordinance requires houses with one or more rooms used as living quarters to be occupied with no more than six unrelated people. At least 50 square feet of sleeping space must be available for each occupant, according to the ordinance. Bathrooms, kitchens and closets, halls, utility and storage spaces are not considered when measuring the square footage of a house.
County officials said the number of family members living under one roof as described in the ordinance isn't well defined, which could make the rule difficult to enforce....