Two rezoning matters were postponed by the Peachtree City Council at its regular meeting last Thursday ... despite a request from Ravin Homes to withdraw its rezoning application for the Cedarcroft area.

The Cedarcroft rezoning request asks for the 63 acres in the development to be rezoned as general residential (four units per acre) instead of the current general commercial designation. But Mike Rossetti, vice president of Ravin Homes, asked council to withdraw the request so the property could be developed commercially.

Lawyer Doug Dillard, who represented Ravin Homes, argued that council should allow the company to withdraw its rezoning application. Rossetti spoke to council also, expressing his frustration with the rezoning process and how the city has handled it.

“I'm going to withdraw and I think that is legitimate considering the way I have been treated,” Rossetti said.

Mayor Bob Lenox said the major holdup to the project's approval was a noise and vibration study that was recently performed in the area at the city's expense, which he estimated at $1,500. The city had asked the developer to perform the noise study, but it had not been done until the city took it on, Lenox added.

The study results were submitted to the city hours before the council meeting, serving as another reason council cited for wanting to postpone its decision until Thursday's meeting.

The noise concerns were over the nearby railroad tracks and whether a proposed barrier to be erected by Ravin Homes would be sufficient to block the noise, Lenox said.

It was pointed out, however, that the city is required to rezone the property as general residential because of a consent order that was filed due to a lawsuit against the city. Leaving the zoning as commercial would conflict with Rossetti's indications that he wants to develop the property commercially.

The Planning Commission had suggested that the Cedarcroft rezoning be approved.

The other rezoning application, regarding the 101-acre Katz property, was postponed until the Aug. 17 council meeting. The application seeks to rezone the property as general residential (four units per acre) from its current status of general industrial.

The request to postpone the rezoning came from the developer, John Wieland Homes, which wants to wait until a decision is made on the proposed West Village annexation before seeking final approval for the rezoning. The 101-acre site might be considered part of the 1,200-acre West Village plan, which the city may annex in the near future.

The Planning Commission had recommended that the Katz rezoning be denied.

Back to News Home Page | Back to the top of the page