Hearing set for Senoia annexation

By JOHN THOMPSON
jthompson@thecitizennews.com

Residents who want more information about SenoiaÕs recent annexation efforts should circle August 29 on their calendar. City officials announced a public hearing that day at 7 p.m. at City Hall to discuss the cityÕs efforts to annex 100 acres on Rockaway Road.

Senoia notified the county June 30 of its intentions to annex 101 acres on Rockaway Road into the city. In his letter notifying the county of SenoiaÕs intentions, city administrator Leonard Thompson said that the applicants, Margaret Brooker and Helen Staska, want R-20 open space zoning in the city.

The open space zoning category was approved by the Senoia City Council earlier this year and allows developers to build homes on quarter-acre lots. The developer must also reserve 25 percent of the total land as open space.

After learning of SenoiaÕs intentions, County Administrator Theron Gay told city officials the annexation notice was not in compliance with the recently passed H.B. 489 requirements for governments working together on annexation issues.

Applicants are required to supply the intended use of the property, which Senoia did not do, said Gay.

ÒWhile the applicant has requested R-20 zoning, Coweta County is not sure of specific uses within that classification, or if it is SenoiaÕs intent to place that zoning classification on the property once annexed,Ó Gay added.

Gay said the city is also required to allow for a 30-day response time, instead of the five days it requested. Mayor Joan Trammell said the city also needs to work on an annexation policy to deal with future requests.