A five-story, 588-bed student housing complex near Kennesaw State University's main campus won approval from the Cobb County Board of Commissioners in a 3-2 vote on Tuesday, July 21, over objections from two commissioners who raised traffic and variance concerns.
The split decision rezones a 6.4-acre site at 100 and 300 Chastain Center Boulevard, inside the Chastain Center business park off Chastain Road, about one mile east of KSU's main campus. Developer Campus Realty Advisors plans to demolish two existing office buildings and replace them with a 200-unit, 588-bed complex offering one- to four-bedroom apartments.
Commissioners JoAnn Birrell (District 3) and Keli Gambrill (District 1) voted no. Commissioner Erick Allen (District 2), who represents the area, moved the application to the consent agenda. The remaining three commissioners voted yes. Based on the board's five-member composition, that means Chairwoman Lisa Cupid and Commissioner Buddy Tesar joined Allen in approving the project.
Birrell said the project's variances and the road layout concerned her. Chastain Center Boulevard is a dead-end street with no second outlet.
"Traffic [will be] on not an arterial road. [Chastain Center Boulevard] is like a collector road that feeds to Chastain [Road]," Birrell said at the hearing.
No members of the public appeared at the zoning hearing to oppose the project, according to the Marietta Daily Journal.
Housing demand near KSU
KSU's enrollment has grown by roughly 8,100 students since 2022, reaching 51,375 in the fall 2025 semester, according to the university's website. Kevin Moore, an attorney representing Campus Realty Advisors, told the Cobb Planning Commission at its July 7 hearing that only about 13,600 beds exist for student housing on and off campus, covering roughly 27% of KSU's student body.
Moore said at the July 7 hearing that even with this project and other approved developments under construction, KSU would still fall short of a 30% student housing benchmark.
Both the Planning Commission and county zoning staff recommended approval before the case reached the full board.
What the project includes
The complex will provide 485 parking spaces, a pool, fitness center, study rooms, 24-hour security, and a ride-share pickup area. Moore said businesses in the current office buildings would relocate to one of the two remaining buildings in the Chastain Center park.
Campus Realty Advisors previously developed The Beacon student housing complex at KSU's Marietta campus.
What's next
The Board of Commissioners holds zoning hearings on the third Tuesday of each month at 9 a.m. in the Public Meeting Room on the second floor of the David Hankerson Building, 100 Cherokee Street, Marietta. The next scheduled hearing is Tuesday, August 18.
