Friday, March 30, 2001
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Friday, March 30, 2001 |
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Senoia facing big zoning decisions By JOHN
THOMPSON
Three rezoning petitions in Senoia may be some of the most closely watched zoning decisions in years. Monday night, Senoia's City Council will vote on three controversial rezonings that have ignited a firestorm in this growing east Coweta city. If all the zonings pass, residents could soon see more than 200 new homes in the city on small lots, but with greenspace. Residents turned out in force Tuesday during the public hearings for the zonings and told the Planning Commission and City Council that they don't want high-density development in their town. The first possible developments discussed were by Steve Entrekin, who wants to develop two tracts on Rockaway Road. The other development that caused citizen outrage is on Ga. Highway 85. Entrekin owns two tracts and would place more than 120 homes on the 134 acres. The developer is asking for the R-40 open space development, which would allow him to have half-acre lots, but he would have to reserve 25 percent of the acreage as open space. City planner Bill Johnston recommended the council approve the zoning since development north of the city is planned for residential use and the market tendency is toward smaller lots. Entrekin said the homes would be at least 1,800 square feet and start at $200,000. But the residents were overwhelmingly against the development. Former Councilwoman Judy Belisle beseeched the council to turn down the proposals. "We have something different here in Senoia. This would only benefit the developer," she said. One of the more colorful speeches came from Bill Royal, who lives on Hutchinson Lake Road. Royal, who said he used to be a developer, said nobody wants the Entrekin developent. "They're building the slums of the future. Somewhere, some backroom deals have been made on this," he said. Resident after resident went to the podium and asked the Planning Commission and City Council to increase the density of the development, but in the end, the Planning Commission unanimously recommended approval. The City Council will vote on the project Monday at 7 p.m.
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