Friday, November 3, 2000
Friday, November 3, 2000 |
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Planning Commission will consider rezoning request for Lexington Commons
By JOHN
MUNFORD The Peachtree City Planning Commission is expected to revisit the rezoning request for Lexington Commons, the commercial and retail portion of a mixed-use project that will be located at the intersection of Walt Banks Road and Ga. Highway 54. Developers want to reduce the overall commercial space of the project and increase the number of lofts from 160 to 260. At its last meeting, the Planning Commission heard a presentation from the various developers and consultants involved in the project. The commission decided to continue the public hearing at its next meeting after several commissioners said they weren't willing to approve the rezoning immediately. There is a rush to get the rezoning approved because of a Dec. 15 deadline to purchase the property. After that date, the property would likely lose its specially designed limited-use commercial zoning. The rezoning request involves several significant changes to the development plan for Lexington Commons. Jim Williams, the city's director of developmental services, told the Planning Commission that the main issues of contention between the developers and the city involve the size of the largest retail stores, traffic improvements that will be needed in the area and the buffering along Walt Banks Road and Hwy. 54. The developers indicated they wanted to retain the size limits of the largest retail stores, with the largest building housing a grocery store. Shrinking the sizes could prevent the location of specialty businesses such as a chain bookstore, they added. John Perlman, a commercial developer with Adams and Company Real Estate, said it was important for the stores to be visible from the roadway through the buffering. The Planning Commission questioned the appropriateness of having a hotel and a child care business at Lexington Commons. Jeff DeHart of Scout Properties replied that they needed to generate traffic from outside the area to draw customers for the retail stores. It is estimated that between $50 million ad $60 million will be spent on Lexington Commons, which will be located adjacent to a new subdivision with 130 single-family homes.
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