Friday, April 18, 2003

Fairburn council OK's child care plan

By ALISA KING
Special to The Citizen

During Monday's Fairburn City Council meeting, the council approved the Board of Education and Sheltering Arms conceptual site plan for the development of a child care facility and nature area on a portion of the Campbell Elementary School campus.

The area proposed for development is currently zoned R-3 Residential and is east of the existing school and north of the existing homes on Fairview Drive.

Primary access to the area would be via an extension of Shaw Drive; a secondary access would be via a pedestrian path from the school. The proposed building would be located in about the center of the heavily wooded tract, with a series of nature trails and outdoor classrooms surrounding the building on three sides.

The area between the developed portion of the property and the adjoining residences would be left undisturbed for a depth of at least 100 feet, with an additional 25-foot buffer area reserved for landscaping.

Although the city does not permit a child care facility to be used in this zoning district, the Board of Education owns the property and therefore the city's zoning does not apply to them.

The school board had rejected a proposal to possibly rezone the property to a classification other than R-3 to accommodate the proposed child care use. Also, they indicated that if they do not proceed with the child care project, they may want to dispose of the surplus land for development in accordance with the existing R-3 zoning.

Council approved the site plan with access off Shaw Drive with the understanding that the Board of Education will limit school bus traffic on Fairview and that Sheltering Arms will provide firm assurances that the proposed 100-foot buffer will remain permanently undisturbed.

According to City Administrator Jim Williams, this recommendation is based on the premise that the Sheltering Arms facility will be a much better alternative for the development of the property than would a residential subdivision constructed in accordance with the existing zoning.

He also stated that based on the premise that the traffic on Shaw Drive that will be generated by Sheltering Arms will be substantially less disruptive to the area than would the traffic generated by the potential residential subdivision.

"Assuming the property in question will be developed eventually," he said, "the Sheltering Arms alternative would probably be superior to any other idea that may be proposed. It would certainly be better than the residential subdivision idea that appears to be most likely."