By JOHN MUNFORD
jmunford@TheCitizenNews.com

Going against the Planning Commission's wishes, the Peachtree City Council has approved the rezoning of the Katz property from general industrial to general residential-4.

The rezoning paves the way for a subdivision with at least 300 homes, though that number might creep up. Council decided to allow up to 350 total homes on the 181-acre tract, which includes 101 acres inside the city limits and the 80 acres of adjoining property in the unincorporated county.

In essence, that means if the county only approves 20 units on its portion, 330 units would be built in Peachtree City.

The rezoning was approved 3-1 at Wednesday's council meeting with Dan Tennant opposing and Carol Fritz absent from the meeting.

Several conditions were tacked to the rezoning approval, including the donation of a school site for the Fayette County Board of Education by John Wieland Homes, the developer who sought the rezoning.

Council members Annie McMenamin and Robert Brooks said the rezoning gave Peachtree City a great opportunity to improve the western area of Peachtree City. The chance to extend MacDuff Parkway northward which is considered key to providing emergency services to the Wynnmeade area was important, they said. They also said the provisions for the free school site were also key.

Brooks also argued that the property would become residentially zoned if the matter was taken to court.

"Do the residents in this area want the land zoned industrial?" Brooks asked. "I don't think so."

Brooks said he also felt confident that the parkway would eventually be hooked up to Ga. Highway 74 though the remaining land to do so is in Fayette County's jurisdiction.

"I actually think this enables up to do the best thing for Peachtree City," Brooks said.

The Katz property is north of the Cedarcroft tract along Hwy. 74.

Jim Williams, the city's director of developmental services, said city staff supported the rezoning with the conditions. The rezoning allows for "step-down" density, he added.

Doug Dillard, an attorney for John Wieland Homes, argued that the land couldn't be sold while it was zoned industrial. Opponents to the rezoning, however, stressed that the land might be more suitable for office-institutional use.

Peachtree City resident Steve Brown urged council to consider the safety ramifications of having the school site near the railroad tracks should a derailment occur and spill chemicals into the air.

But Brooks said Peachtree City already has four schools that are closer to the railroad tracks than the proposed school site that is being considered.

Dillard criticized Brown's viewpoint, referring to it as a "Chicken Little" theory.

It was also discussed whether CSX railroad might consider slowing down its trains as they travel through Peachtree City. Currently, the speed limit for trains is 55 mph with a small section where it's 40 mph, said Acting Fire Chief Stony Lohr.

The company is considering making a request to raise the speed limit on its rails, Lohr added.

Another resident, Phyllis Aguayo, said she was concerned about the overall density of the development. She also worried that the rezoning would allow other industrially-zoned properties in the area to seek residential zoning status.

One of the conditions on the rezoning is that a sound and vibration study be performed. Dillard said Wieland agreed to use whatever remedy is recommended by the Georgia Tech engineer the developer has solicited to perform the study.

The concept plan must also be reworked to provide more open space with a "cluster" development concept.

The planning commission had recommended the rezoning not be approved, mainly because of the projected burden the development would place on the already overcrowded school system.

Jerry Whitaker, the director of planning and land acquisition for the Fayette County Board of Education, said the board thinks the proposed school site would be acceptable. But, he added, the site hasn't been subjected to study from engineers or architects, which could hinder the property from being suitable for locating a school there.

Dillard said Wieland would be glad to help fund those studies.

"We will fully fund this school site," Dillard said.

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