Cobb County, GA

In April 2016, the East Cobb Islamic Center (ECIC) received a special-use permit to build its cemetery. However, after construction began, Cobb County residents opposed the project at public hearings. Opponents cited adverse effects on property values, lack of public input and oversight in the permitting process, and concerns over the health impact of Muslim burial practices. The Board of Commissioners voted unanimously to place a moratorium on new cemetery permits until April 1, 2017. However, this moratorium did not apply retroactively to ECIC’s previously approved cemetery.

Geneva Cunningham

2016

The East Cobb Islamic Center purchased thirteen acres in the western Atlanta metro area to build a cemetery with up to 10,000 plots.

ECIC’s proposal met Cobb County’s minimum requirements and was approved. It did not require a public hearing or vote by the Board of Commissioners. The subsequently issued moratorium on cemetery permits did not retroactively apply to ECIC’s project.

In May of 2015, the East Cobb Islamic Center (ECIC) purchased a thirteen-acre plot near Macland Road to construct the first Muslim cemetery in the western Atlanta metropolitan area. The land was purchased for $335,000 with local partner mosques and community donations (Amer, 2016, Jun 30). In April 2016, Cobb County’s Community Development Agency granted ECIC a Special Exemption certificate for its cemetery project. Because it met the County’s minimum requirements, including a size of at least ten acres and an approved parking and landscaping plan. The proposal did not require a public hearing or vote by the Board of Commissioners (Santos, 2016, Jul 7).

After construction of the cemetery began, homeowners in the Vineyard Place subdivision and others adjoining the cemetery attended Cobb County hearings to oppose the project, citing the depreciation of property values, a lack of input in the cemetery’s approval process, and concerns about Islamic burial practices (Santos, 2016, Jul 7). In August 2016, the Cobb County Board of Commissioners voted to issue a moratorium on new cemetery projects in the county until April 2017. Community Development Director Dana Johnson stated, “During the time of this moratorium, staff will be researching national best practices as it relates to the regulation of cemetery uses, as well as looking at some local examples here in metro Atlanta” (Lutz, 2016, July 12).

The East Cobb Islamic Center Cemetery was not retroactively affected by the moratorium and began operating in 2018.

References

• Amer, A. K. (2016, June 30). The largest Muslim cemetery in Georgia is approved in Cobb County. AtlantaMuslim.com. Web.
• Lutz, M. (2016, July 12). Concern over Muslim cemetery leads to moratorium in Cobb. The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Web.
• Santos, A. (2016, July 7). Cobb County cemetery sparks debate over permits. The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Web.