By DAVE HAMRICK
dhamrick@thecitizennews.com

Fayetteville's proposed new tree preservation ordinance is slated for City Council action Monday, following discussion at tonight's work session.

Both Fayetteville and Fayette County have been working for months to hammer out new laws designed to protect more trees from being destroyed in the construction process.

The law would require developers to submit surveys showing the locations of trees in their developments, and plans for saving as many as possible.

At minimum, they would be required to save 100 tree density units, defined as 100 inches of tree diameter measured at breast height, for each acre of developed land, not counting buffers.

Developers could still strip their land of trees and replace older, existing trees with younger ones, but they would have to plant twice as many new trees to satisfy the proposed law.

Council will discuss the proposed law tonight at 7 p.m. with plans to vote Monday at 7 p.m. at City Hall.

If the new tree law is approved, council probably will lift a moratorium on development that has been in place while officials worked on wording for the new ordinance.

In other action, Robert Holme will take his request to be allowed to build a back yard fence in violation of Fayetteville ordinances to the City Council tonight and Monday.

Holme's request for a variance to allow a fence in his back yard, which is legally defined as a front yard in city ordinances because it faces a city street, was denied by the Planning Commission last month, and he is appealing the decision to council.

The fence issue has been a thorn in the city's side recently, with several requests for exceptions to the law. Residents say not being allowed to build fences causes a safety problem for children and pets playing in the back yard next to the street.

And Holme told the Planning Commission that easy access from the street into his back yard has made it a tempting target for thieves, who stole a lawn mower and other items recently.

Holme has already built the fence, saying he didn't know it was illegal. He is asking for a variance so he won't have to tear it down.

Council also is scheduled to discuss Argonne Properties' rezoning request for The Village, a 110-acre, mixed-use development in the heart of downtown, on Ga. Highway 54 at Tiger Trail. But the item is expected to be tabled. The Planning Commission is still discussing details of the new planned community development zoning category that has been proposed as an appropriate district for the planned development.

A proposed historic preservation ordinance also is likely to be tabled. It's on the Planning Commission's January agenda, with a recommendation possibly coming in time for City Council's Feb. 7 meeting. A moratorium on demolition in the city's historic district is in place until the new ordinance is adopted.

Council tonight and Monday also will consider design proposals for planned improvements to Church Street, just off the Courthouse Square.