Despite Community Opposition, Cobb School Board Approves Bus Depot, Parking Lot

The Cobb County Board of Education voted Thursday to move forward with plans to build a bus depot on Veterans Memorial Highway and a parking lot at 440 and 460 Glover Street, despite strong objections from nearby residents.

Mableton residents, including Cassandra Brown—a candidate for Mableton City Council District 4 and board member of the Mableton Improvement Coalition—argued that the depot’s proximity to neighborhoods and a major thoroughfare threatens traffic safety, environmental health, and property values. Said Brown: “The residents of Mableton have spoken with clarity and conviction: a bus fueling station at 440 Veterans Memorial Highway is not wanted, and it does not reflect the thoughtful land use vision being shaped through the Mableton 2045 Comprehensive Development planning process that is currently underway. I stood firmly with our community in opposing this facility at the daytime work session of the Board of Education.  It is deeply disappointing that the board failed to honor repeated requests for a public hearing on this topic, after all, they work for us.”

Another resident, Patricia Hay of Kemolay Acres added, “(Glore Road) can’t even hardly accommodate two cars… When you put this bus depot there, it’s going to be really bad.”

Thursday marked the first time in years that the board did not broadcast or live-stream public comment, a policy change approved last month. Many attendees protested, holding signs reading, “Let the public hear our comments” and “Make public comment public,” raising concerns that the board is actively blocking dissent.

Critics say the board continues to misuse South Cobb citizens and surrounding  land as they place noxious uses such as the bus depot in the heart of the community, disregarding residents’ quality of life and ignoring safer alternatives that would better protect Mableton.

The board approved a $4.6 million contract with Place Services Inc. of Canton to construct the 6.9-acre bus facility, funded through the SPLOST V program, with completion slated for March 2026.

Several residents have publicly announced plans to sue the board to halt construction on both projects.

Superintendent Chris Ragsdale defended the site, citing a lack of viable alternatives, while Mableton Mayor Michael Owens confirmed