Cobb County Advisory Roundtable with Michael Hughes, Community Development Director, City of Mableton

Michael Hughes

Community Development Director
City of Mableton

Michael Hughes serves as Director of Community Development for the City of Mableton. He brings more than 40 years of experience in urban planning, community development, and economic development across California and Georgia.

As Director, he oversees planning and zoning, permitting, inspections, business licensing, and code compliance. He is responsible for ensuring development activities align with the City?s Comprehensive Plan and adopted policy objectives.

Michael holds a Bachelor of Science in Urban Planning from California State Polytechnic University, Pomona. His professional experience includes leadership and planning roles in Los Angeles and Pasadena, California; Atlanta and Cobb County, Georgia; and with LAW Engineering and Environmental Services, Inc. His background includes comprehensive planning, zoning administration, environmental planning, federal grant management, and coordination of federal appropriations.

He began his career in Georgia with Cobb County in 1990 as a Senior Planner and returned in 1996 as Intergovernmental Coordinator within the Community Development Agency. In 1998, he was appointed Director of Economic Development for Cobb County, a position he held until January 2020. During his tenure, he led economic development initiatives that generated substantial job creation and private capital investment and supported the redevelopment of aging commercial corridors.

Following his retirement from Cobb County, Michael served as Executive Director of the Paulding County Economic Development, Inc. and Industrial Building Authority. In April 2025, he was appointed Director of Community Development for the City of Mableton.

Michael is a member of the American Institute of Certified Planners (AICP). He is a graduate of Leadership Cobb (Class of 1999), Leadership Paulding (Class 31), and the Atlanta Regional Commission?s Regional Leadership Institute (2000).

Michael has been active in the community over the years, has served on the Chattahoochee Technical College Foundation Board of Trustees, the Tommy Nobis Center Community Advisory Board, and the Cobb Chamber Board of Directors. He is a member of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc., and previously served as Vice Chairman of the Cobb County Planning Commission representing District 4.

Michael resides in Mableton, Georgia, with his wife, Carmen, of more than 34 years. They have three adult children: Michael II, Maya, and Maxwell. Outside of work, he enjoys spending time with family, grilling, golfing, traveling, and exploring craft beers, bourbons, and cigars.