One-acre zoning gets 3-2 approval

By DAVE HAMRICK
dhamrick@thecitizennews.com

Developer Mukut Gupta scored two out of three from the Fayette County Planning Commission, and will now take his case to the county Board of Commissioners.

The board will consider Gupta’s rezoning requests in its meeting tomorrow, Aug. 24, 7 p.m. at the County Administrative Complex.

Planning commissioners voted 3-2 to recommend approval of his rezoning request that would allow one-acre lots on a 40.5-acre site on Old Senoia Road, angering a half dozen residents of the area.

Resident John Davis argued that driving conditions on the road are already dangerous, and would be more so with the 28 homes that Gupta proposes to build. And properties surrounding the proposed subdivision are zoned for five-acre lots, he added.

“We’re for less houses and less people in that area,” he said.
But commission member Fred Bowen said the property and those immediately surrounding it are next to a larger area of one-acre zoning. Commissioner Jim Graw argued that the one-acre properties are across Harp Road and across Old Senoia Road from the proposed subdivision, creating a natural dividing line.

Staff had recommended that the property be zoned for two-acre lots, and pointed out that the nearest subdivision zoned for one-acre lots actually has two-acre lots on it.

“This is a tough, tough decision,” admitted commissioner Al Gilbert.

In the end, he voted to recommend approval, as did Bowen and commission Chairman Bob Harbison. Graw and Bill Beckwith voted against.

Two other Gupta proposals received unanimous votes by the commission, one positive and one negative.

After several residents pleaded for preservation of the rural nature of their neighborhood, commissioners voted to recommend denial of Gupta’s request for three-acre zoning on Spear Road. The developer proposes 23 lots on 77.45 acres.

“Most of the surrounding area is A-R, five acres-plus,” said Tommy Laubernds, who said he has lived on Spear Road for 30 years. “It’s a pretty piece of land. I think it’s really important that we stay with the five-acre minimum on this property,” he added.

Commissioners agreed. “Driving down Spear Road is like stepping back in time,” said Bowen. “Anything that we could do to preserve that special part of the county, we should do that.”

A third request from Gupta received unanimous approval — zoning for 32 homes on 38.15 acres on Hilo Road. There was no neighborhood opposition.