Wednesday, September 11, 2002
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Wednesday, September 11, 2002 |
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Southside annexation tabled
By MONROE
ROARK
Amid a large number of local residents who came out to oppose a portion of the proposed southside master plan, the Fayetteville City Council voted at last Thursday night's meeting to table the items in question and bring them up again at next Thursday's meeting, which will be preceded by a work session tomorrow night. "We're not ready to vote on this," Mayor Kenneth Steele said at the outset of the discussion, although a considerable amount of time was taken to allow audience members to express heir opinions on the project. On the immediate agenda was the annexation and rezoning of approximately 53 acres at the northeast corner of Ga. highways 85 and 92, behind the Walgreen's and GTO's locations. The plan being offered calls for a mixed-use development that includes residential units as well as a Publix shopping center. Many of those in opposition at the meeting were from the Kingswood subdivision and surrounding area a bit farther south. Many of those residents are not happy with other portions of the master plan that would have retail property right next to them, further aggravating traffic problems that they believe are already out of control. Some have said that they feel this initial annexation and rezoning would cause a domino effect and make the entire development inevitable. Another complaint was the addition of the Publix, with Ingles and Kroger already at the same corner. Steele agreed that there would probably be too many grocery stores in one spot, but added that the city cannot regulate those kinds of things, "and you wouldn't want us to." Several council members said repeatedly that they were encouraged by the large turnout, which they said is necessary for citizens to have the kind of input they should have. The southside master plan, which has been in the planning stages for nearly two years, now consists of about 267 acres near the southern split of Ga. highways 85 and 92. It features a variety of uses, including townhomes, retail, office and single-family residential sites. The plan is divided into about 20 separate parcels some of which require annexation and rezoning, and others that only need rezoning. While listening to the concerns of the residents opposed to the annexation, council members also pointed out that the possible effects of county zoning must be kept in mind, although they acknowledged that sewer service would not be available at the site without annexation. Steele emphasized the reasons for considering a master plan at the site, similar to what was done at the Villages of Lafayette, now under construction across town next to Fayette County High School and the new amphitheater. "We want a cohesive plan" on the south side, Steele said, "not piecemeal county zoning." Another thing needed on the south side is a traffic plan, according to Councilman Bill Talley. He said that with the Pavilion and Villages, traffic plans were an integral part of the process.
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