By DAVE HAMRICK
dhamrick@thecitizennews.com

Peachtree City leaders will have another month to discuss whether they want to annex a proposed Pathway Communities development before the Fayette County Planning Commission takes action on the matter.

The commission last week tabled Pathway's rezoning request for 364.7 acres on the northern edge of the city next to Line Creek. Two commissioners were out of town, and applicants are always allowed to request tabling when a full board is not present.

A special task force in Peachtree City is studying the idea of annexing not only the Pathway site, but a total of 1,100 acres north of the city. Proponents say the annexation will give the city greater control over development in the area, and that having city sewerage available will be better for the environment.

Opponents say the availability of sewer service will offer developers greater density, meaning more and faster growth for the area, considered a negative by many.

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 unbuildable wetlands and flood plain, so the homes would be on lots of an acre or slightly more.

Peachtree City officials had recommended that the county delay the rezoning request, to give the city time to finish its discussions of the annexation option. Failing that, the city has urged 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, as well as its 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.

The county Planning Department is recommending denial of the rezoning request. “There are a lot of issues,” said zoning administrator Kathy Zeitler.

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, also tabled last week.

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 tabled was 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.

Planning commissioners will take up the rezoning requests again May 4 at 7 p.m. at the County Administrative Complex.