Friday, December 5, 2003

Council gives nod to more townhomes

By LINDSAY BIANCHI
Special to The Citizen

Maybe they were buoyed by the holiday season or perhaps they were trying to get things done before they lost City Councilman Harvey Melear for good, but whatever the reason the Fairburn City Council unanimously passed every proposal Monday night at their last meeting for 2003.

Monday was Melear’s last meeting as a City Councilman. He lost his bid for reelection In November.

The second monthly meeting scheduled for December 22 was canceled because of the holidays.

H.E.H. Paving, located at 337 Bay Street was the first to receive approval for M-1 conditional use of their property.

With requirements for a paved parking lot, landscape planning to be installed within 60 days of approval and agreement to the site plans for any changes, the request met with only one other objection.

Troy Harrison who lives adjacent to the paving company at 301 Bay Street suggested that a wooden fence be erected between the commercial property and the residential area of the neighborhood. He was not opposed to the company.

"We would just like it to look a little nicer." Harrison said.

Hobson Milner, owner of H.E.H. Paving was agreeable to the suggestion. Harrison thanked him and said he may want to use Milner's services one day.

Next, the City Council moved on to a rezoning request for Plantation Estate Subdivision. The 27 acre development proposed along Plantation Road was previously zoned 19 acres RM-1 multifamily residential and 8 acres AG-2 agricultural. The property's new zoning will be R-CT residential condominium townhouse.

With a density of 8 units per acre, the property will have 201 individually owned townhouse units. Several conditions were added by the planning commission at their November 6 meeting including ample tree placement, landscaping plan requirements and parking allotment restrictions.

Property on West Broad Street which is for sale by St. John's AME Church was rezoned back to C-2 commercial from O-I Office Industrial. The church was unable to initiate its development plans within the 12 month grace period and Green Oil is looking to revive the property.

Ed Wyatt, representing Green Oil admitted there were a lot of "challenges at the sit."

He said the old station needed to be torn down and argued strongly in favor of salvaging the remainder for a planned convenience store and gas station and possibly a touchless carwash.

The City Council also approved a soil erosion and sediment control ordinance to comply with state law and the city's stormwater management program.

Hayes’ Pipe Supply of Fairburn had the low bid of $11,046 for improvements to 1,000 feet of waterline along Spence Road. The job is slated to be finished some time in February,which should put an end to water discoloration in the neighborhood, officials said.

Finally phase two of the digital cable contract was approved to purchase additional equipment with $98,000 taken from the electric department's budget. Assured that the money would be repaid from cable sales and service, the staff adjourned with happy holiday wishes for all.