By the middle of August, Senoia could play a big part in how cities and counties get along together.

City attorney Kemp Wright said Monday he expects a ruling from the Georgia Supreme Court by August on the city's suit against Coweta County.

Oral arguments were heard June 12 in the city's argument that Coweta County should not have a voice in the city's zoning regulations.

The city won the first round in its battle against Coweta County when Superior Court Judge William Lee agreed with the city that it should be able to annex 55 acres into the city and zone the land as its council members please.

The case has turned into a battle over the recently enacted state House Bill 489, which requires cities and counties to work closer to prevent duplication of services.

But part of the law also requires cities and counties to work through a long mediation period on annexation disputes. Lee declared those parts of the law unconstitutional and said the Georgia Constitution gives the local governments exclusive zoning power.

Because Coweta County representatives can object to Senoia's zoning on the land in the ordinary course of public hearings, the judge deemed the law calling for further discussion between the two entities unconstitutional.

“The problem with this system is that it gives the county ultimate control over a city's attempt to rezone. This is an unconstitutional interference with a city's zoning power,” wrote Lee.

Lee explained that Coweta County had the property zoned at one unit per five acres, while Senoia wants the property to be zoned for one-acre lots.

“The General Assembly has no authority to grant a county the authority to enact zoning and planning laws except by constitutional provision,” he said.

Cities and counties across the state are looking at this case to see if portions of HB 489 will be declared unconstitutional.

Wright said oral arguments went pretty well with two justices actively asking questions.

The reason the ruling will take so long, he explained, is that the issue revolves around the constitutionality of a law.

Justices always take longer when debating these cases, he said.

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