Friday, March 29, 2002
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Friday, March 29, 2002 |
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Crabapple Lane school plan tabled Concerns over buffer, layout motivate Planning Commission By JOHN
MUNFORD
Plans for a new elementary school on Crabapple Lane near Ga. Highway 74 in north Peachtree City have been sent back to the drawing board by the city's Planning Commission. The commission declined to approve the plans at its regular meeting Monday night, based largely on concerns about a lack of buffering for an adjacent homeowner. "I think you could create a better site plan," said commissioner Robert Ames, who suggested rotating the footprint of the building so the bus access road would be further from the property line. But school representatives noted this is the seventh version of the plans. "You do have some more time," noted commission Chairman Wes Saunders before the commission tabled the plan until its April 8 meeting. The school system plans to build a six-foot-high black vinyl coated chain link fence along the property line between it and the residence, said Klaus Darnall, construction supervisor for Fayette County Schools. There are no plans for additional trees in that area, and the homeowner, Bob Bierbauer, estimated that his residence is approximately 100 feet from the property line. "You'll be overlooking the school," said Ames, noting the elevation disparity between the two tracts. Bonnie Bierbauer said she also worries about noise coming from the school, particularly from the playground. "I would like to see a sound barrier or a wall," she said. "I'd like to see something other than a single chain link fence." The site will be located at the intersection of Crabapple Lane and Hwy. 74, across the street from Peachtree City's northernmost fire station. School officials hope to begin construction in June so the school will be ready for the 2003-2004 school year, Darnall said. Plans call for a parking lot in front of the school that will have room to "stack" autos in line as they drop off and pick up students, Darnall said. The design also features a road to the bus loop at the side of the school. The building will look similar to Kedron Elementary School with a few extra classrooms added on, Darnall said. School officials plan to add acceleration and deceleration lanes on Crabapple Lane to facilitate the extra traffic. Ames said he was also concerned about erosion becoming a problem, since that occurred on several previous school sites in the city. But City Planner David Rast said city officials are working with the school system on this project to prevent such problems. This will be the third and final elementary school built with funds from the bond issue that was approved by local voters.
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