Citing “enormous pressure” from state officials, the Coweta County commissioners have reaffirmed their position on not talking about rezoning property until public hearings are conducted.

The issue came up after officials from the state Department of Industry and Trade contacted the commissioners with a prospect for the county's “mega-site” for industrial development near Moreland. The prospect was looking for some assurance that the site will be rezoned for industrial use, but commissioners said they can't discuss rezoning in advance.

The 1,200-acre site is one of five ”mega-sites” the state will use to encourage large manufacturing operations to move their businesses to Georgia.

The site is next to Interstate 85 at exit eight.

Tuesday morning, the commissioners said they are all for economic development, but they have rules to follow.

“Part of this property is in my district. There's no reason for the board to be pressured,” said commission Chairman Vernon “Mutt” Hunter.

Hunter explained the board is forbidden to even discuss zonings until public hearings are conducted.

“It's not zoned industrial and wen't say anything about it,” he said.

The board also asked county attorney Mitch Powell to ask the attorney general for an opinion on the pressure the board has received to talk about the issue.

Commissioner Charlie Jones backed Hunter's statement up 100 percent.

“We favor excellent jobs. This is the highest pressure. We're not going to break the law,” he said.

Hunter added that if a mega-site project is good for the county, he'll support it.

Scott Frederick, director of 21st Century Coweta, told the Coweta County Commission last month that the property owners had agreed to let the property be listed as a mega-site for industrial recruitment.

Mega-sites typically draw companies such as automobile manufacturers, and Frederick said Coweta's site has everything that major industrial projects want.

“It's close to an interstate, a municipal airport, a rail line and is a short distance from Hartsfield International Airport,” said Frederick.

Typically, large scale industrial companies look for 500-acre tracts and Frederick said this site is even more attractive because of the additional acreage.

Commission Chairman “Mutt” Hunter thanked Frederick for his presentation, but said this was only the first step in having the property ready for an industrial project.

“The land hasn't even been zoned industrial. All that's been done is the land has been assembled,” he said.

The commissioners agreed at the April meeting that a mega-site task force should be formed to keep the public informed of issues such as environmental concerns, traffic studies and economic impact.

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