Wednesday, September 26, 2001
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Wednesday, September 26, 2001 |
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P&Z nixes one-acre zoning in south Fayette; commission decides Thursday By DAVE
HAMRICK
Developer Michael Faulkner said last week he hopes to develop a neighborhood that Fayette will be proud of on Ga. Highway 85 south. But he may have to drop his plans if county commissioners reduce the number of homes he can build, he said. Commissioners will consider Faulkner's plan during their meeting tomorrow at 7 p.m. at the County Administrative Complex. Members of the county Planning and Zoning Commission seemed to like his plan for 73 homes on 124.4 acres on 85 at Christopher Drive, next to Whitewater Elementary School, but the zoning category he seeks is too dense for south Fayette, members said. They voted unanimously to recommend R-75, a two-acre category, for the property, instead of the R-55 (one-acre) category Faulkner has requested. Faulkner originally asked to put 79 homes on the property, which actually would mean lots averaging almost 1.5 acres, but during last week's Planning Commission meeting he pledged to reduce that by six, leaving a green space park. But the county doesn't have a zoning category allowing 1.5-acre lots, pointed out commission member Bob Harbison, and the one-acre category is too dense, members said. South Fayette soils are a major concern, since sewerage is not available. "I don't feel comfortable with one-acre zoning in the south part of the county," said commission member Jim Graw. Under R-75, Faulkner would have to reduce the number of homes to fewer than 60. The two-acre minimum would be applied after subtracting streets and common areas. Faulkner said his request is reasonable, because the property is surrounded by subdivisions with one-acre zoning. About 61 percent of the surrounding property is zoned R-40, which allows homes as small as 1,500 square feet on lots as small as an acre, with one R-70 (two-acre) subdivision taking up about 12 percent. Property with A-R (agricultural-residential) designation, the same as the current zoning of Faulkner's property, covers about 18.5 percent of the perimeter, or 26.6 percent if you include two schools that are in the area. He pointed out that R-55 zoning requires the homes be at least 2,500 square feet, and said under his plan the homes would sell for $350,000 and more. "What I like to create are neighborhoods, not just subdivisions," he said, adding that the community would have sidewalks so children could walk to school. His plan, he said, would be "the epitome of smart growth." Faulkner said if the Planning Commission's recommendation is upheld, he might not be able to develop the subdivision at a profit. "I'll have to look at it," he said. In other planning matters, commissioners will consider the Planning Commission's recommendation that they adopt new rules requiring that developers make final plat information available in digital form.
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