By DAVE HAMRICK
dhamrick@thecitizennews.com

Fayette County's planning staff is recommending denial of Pathway Communities' proposed 364.7-acre subdivision at the northern border of Peachtree City.

Members of the county Planning and Zoning Commission will consider the proposal Thursday at 7 p.m. at the County Administrative Complex. Their recommendation will go to the County Commission April 27.

The company is asking for R-40 zoning, which allows one-acre lots, and proposes to build 175 homes. Much of the property is taken up with wetlands and flood plain, so the homes would be on lots of an acre or slightly more.

Peachtree City, which is studying the concept of annexing 1,100 acres that includes the Pathway parcel, is recommending that the county delay the rezoning request, to give the city time to finish its discussions of the annexation option. Failing that, the city urges the county to deny the request, citing problems with the use of septic tanks in the environmentally sensitive area and other concerns.

Pathway vice president Jerry Peterson said the company will move forward with its rezoning request with the county, even though it is in discussion with Peachtree City about annexation.

“We'll continue to talk with the city,” he said, “but as long as we have it in the pipeline, we'll follow it through. We've been talking with the city about annexation for a long time,” he added.

But several county departments have problems with the rezoning request, said county zoning director Kathy Zeitler. “There are a lot of issues,” she said.

Among those issues is the environmental concern of putting such a high-density subdivision on septic tanks so near Line Creek, she said. The land is off Ga. Highway 74, west of the railroad tracks and behind the MediaOne cable company office.

To serve the subdivision, a road would have to be built across the tracks, through land that is within the Peachtree City limits.

Access would not be good for emergency services, Zeitler said, adding that residents of the proposed subdivision also would have to cross the railroad tracks daily, not considered a safe situation.

Staff also is recommending denial of two rezoning requests for subdivisions on Davis Road between Lester and Huitt roads.

Dan Stinchcomb wants to rezone 54.28 acres from A-R (agricultural-residential), which requires five acres or more per home, to R-75, which allows two-acre lots. His plan is to build 20 homes.

“It's a lot of density for that area,” said Zeitler. “It's a very rural area.” Secondary roads serve the area, she said, and traffic would be a problem. Also, the Fire Department is concerned about service delivery, because the area is not served by county water or primary roads.

The same problems hold true for a 97.7-acre site on which Stinchcomb is requesting a change from A-R to R-80, which allows three-acre lots, Zeitler said. Stinchcomb proposes to build 21 homes on that parcel.

Also on the agenda Thursday will be a preliminary plat for Pine Ridge subdivision, also being developed by Stinchcomb. He plans 19 homes on the 110.28-acre tract, which is zoned A-R.

Staff is recommending approval, but the Fire Department is suggesting that the commission table the plat while access to county water is worked out.