East Cobb neighbors concerned over Walmart drone hub proposed for store nearby

COBB COUNTY, Ga. — Six Walmart stores in metro Atlanta offer drone service, and now the company wants to add a drone hub in East Cobb.

So far, an online petition opposing it has over 500 signatures.

Many neighbors near the proposed site told Channel 2 Cobb County Bureau Chief Michele Newell that they’re worried about the noise.

“We are very concerned about what this is going to do to our property values, but also the noise we are going to be hearing,” neighbor Stefanie Stoltz said.

Stoltz is one of the more than 500 people who signed the petition in opposition to the proposed drone station on Johnson Ferry Road.

“We are also concerned about potential dangers if something malfunctions and it drops,” Stoltz said.

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Stoltz’s house is about 300 feet away from the Walmart.

“I get it, and I support the petition,” shopper Jennifer Otero said.

“I would love having some more stuff that could get to my house quicker,” Walmart shopper Tanner Psencik said.

Multiple people on the NextDoor app who posted comments under the petition support a drone station.

One person said, “Great news, so excited for drone delivery.”

Another said, “Drones create less pollution and less noise.”

According to the application submitted to Cobb County for drone operations, a kiosk and fencing would be installed on Walmart’s parking lot.

It said no land disturbance is proposed, and all proposed items will be anchor bolted to the pavement.

Six Walmart stores in metro Atlanta offer drone delivery service.

“We’re excited to expand drone delivery in Metro Atlanta with Wing, especially given the strong response we’ve seen from customers. We care deeply about the neighborhoods we serve, and safety and privacy remain top priorities. As we grow, we will continue working closely with local officials and residents to help ensure our operations are responsible, respectful, and aligned with community needs,” a Walmart spokesperson said.

Commissioners are expected to hear from both sides in a public hearing next week.

“I cannot form an opinion in support or opposition until the public hearing, where both sides have an opportunity to present,” District 3 Commissioner JoAnn Birrell said.

“Wing’s lightweight delivery drones are among the safest ways to transport goods and hot meals, with more than 750,000 deliveries to homes to-date. Wing is proud of our ongoing partnerships with local municipalities, and we take our approach to community engagement seriously.

“For the past several months, we’ve spent meaningful time with metro Atlanta communities to understand their needs and discuss our service.

“Today, we operate 13 sites and serve tens of thousands of homes throughout the region. Since launching in December 2025, we continue to hear positive feedback from our communities and customers about how drone delivery’s speed and ease help them avoid unnecessary daily trips to the store. For more specific information, please visit:wing.com/learnmore,” a wing spokesperson said.