Friday, May 17, 2002

Fayette could be getting a new city

By JOHN THOMPSON
jthompson@TheCitizenNews.com

Could Fairburn become Fayette's sixth city?

That's the question the Fayette County Commission will wrangle with at a called meeting.

The County Commission wanted the meeting for May 22, but during Monday night's meeting of the Fairburn City Council, the council said that date was unacceptable.

Mayor Betty Hannah said she would be at a homeland security conference in Fulton County and would not be able to attend the meeting.

The City Council instructed city attorney Brad Sears to see if June 5 was an acceptable date with the County Commission.

The issue started last week when Fairburn officials requested that nearly 10 acres on Milam road be annexed into the city.

The property is part of a 47-acre site owned by the Bedford School, which wants to expand its school and have it all in the city limits, said Fairburn City Clerk Nancy Faulkner.

"The site is 75 percent in Fulton County, but it would be Fayette's sixth city," said Commission Chairman Greg Dunn.

But county officials said the move could set a precedent.

County Commission executive assistant Carol Chandler said adjacent property owners could also petition for annexation.

"The zoning categories would be Fairburn's, so higher density development could occur," she said.

With higher density, comes more stress on the county's infrastructure, such as schools and roads, she added.

But Fairburn officials say the annexation is done just to keep all the school's property in one municipality.

Both sides will present their cases when they can settle on a date at the Fayette County Administrative Complex


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