By DAVE HAMRICK
dhamrick@TheCitizenNews.com

There's one major problem with Fayetteville's proposed 873-acre annexation, according to two county commissioners: it's not on the city's land use plan.

“It just blows out of the water all of the planning that we have done,” said Commissioner Linda Wells as the county's governing body discussed the proposal last week.

Commissioners' comments were solicited as part of the annexation process. A state law requiring cooperation between counties and cities provides that cities must ask their county governments for comment before taking new property into the city limits.

In general, commissioners aren't ready to say “yea” or “nay” to the proposal to annex the land, off Ga. Highway 54, but they voiced several concerns and directed interim County Administrator Chris Cofty to draft a letter articulating those concerns.

Commissioners Glen Gosa and Herb Frady said they like developer Robert Rolader's plans for the property and “have no problem” with the annexation if city leaders decide it's appropriate.

But Wells and Commissioner Greg Dunn said they do have a problem.

“The land use map of the city includes over 12,000 acres currently in the county, and the land you're talking about isn't even on it,” said Dunn.

“We're taking this way past any of the plans that Fayetteville has for future development,” agreed Wells. “It causes me discomfort.”

Annexing the property also would open hundreds more acres to annexation, none of them currently in the city's future plans, Wells said.

Rolader proposes to build 454 homes, with 16 acres used for offices, 2.5 acres for retail businesses and 215.5 acres set aside as park land.

Both Dunn and Wells said they like the plan itself, and asked whether Rolader would consider building the project in the county rather than requesting annexation, but Rolader said he would be unable to donate the park land if the project was in the county. He would have to build houses on it instead to get enough yield to make the project economically viable, he said, adding that would mean well over 500 homes instead of the 454 called for in the current plan, plus much less open space.

Commissioner Glen Gosa also pointed out that, if developed in the county, the homes would be on septic tanks instead of sewer. Since the land is in a groundwater recharge area, sewerage is preferable, said county planning director Chris Venice.

Gosa said he not only doesn't object, but actually favors the annexation, for environmental reasons. “It would be better if this were developed in the city than in the county,” he said.

Frady added, “I have a high degree of confidence that the city will develop the property properly.”

Commissioners also voiced other concerns, including:

ä The fact that almost all the traffic into and out of the planned subdivision would cross over a dam on one of several lakes that are on the property. Roads over dams tend to flood when it rains, and people could be trapped while county emergency vehicles would be unable to get in, commissioners said. Rolader said he is open to providing additional access by improving Huiett Drive.

ä What will happen to the 215.5 acres that Rolader plans to donate either to the city or to Southern Conservation Trust? Rolader said he will have the property declared a conservation easement, which will legally bind it as undeveloped land forever, but commissioners said they want details on how the city will proceed on that.

ä A traffic study purchased by Rolader doesn't address traffic on Davis Road. Rolader said the road was left out, even though the current plan shows an entrance/exit to the subdivision on that road, because he doesn't think people would use it. “It's two miles to pavement,” he said. “I don't have any intention of trying to bring any traffic out on Davis Road.” He added he would be willing to do away with the Davis Road entrance. Commissioners said they liked that idea.

ä The plan will have to be submitted to the Atlanta Regional Commission and comment sought from surrounding counties as well, because the project qualifies as a “development of regional impact.” Commissioners said they don't feel comfortable giving a formal approval or rejection of the project until after that process has run its course.