Friday, December 19, 2003
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Friday, December 19, 2003 |
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Zoning changes under review By J. FRANK LYNCH Wal-Mart and Kroger could one day be pumping gasoline to Peachtree City motorists, and the city’s planning department has fine-tuned the guidelines that would apply “just in case” even though no formal requests have been made by either company to install pumps within the city. That was among a number of adjustments to the city’s Zoning Ordinance recently given the nod by members of the city’s Planning Commission. The City Council was expected to give formal approval following required public hearings at last night’s Council meeting. City Planner David Rast said the revision in the code doesn’t restrict the installation of gas stations by either retailer, but rather sets stringent rules to make sure they are the only businesses which could qualify to sell gasoline. Another change to the code that affects the majority of Peachtree City property owners is in the way neighbors are notified when the property next door is up for rezoning request. Right now, the ordinance requires that letters be sent by Certified U.S. Mail to alert adjacent property owners when a change in the zoning category has been sought, so they may have ample time to repond, said Rast. But the vast majority of those letters, which cost the city significantly more than a regular standard mailing, never get picked up at the Post Office, said Rast. Developmental Services Director Clyde Stricklin pointed out that for whatever reason, there’s a fear in getting a notice that certified mail is waiting at the Pos Office. The rest of the notification process — placing an ad in the county legal organ 15 days prior to the hearing, and placing a sign on the affected property — will not change. But another adjustment to the code doesn’t look too kindly on deadbeat rezoning applicants who fail to appear at scheduled public hearings. Though it happens rarely, Rast said there have been times when legal ads were placed, staff work completed and adjoining property owners notified, and the applicant or a representative failed to show. When that has happened, the Council has as a matter of courtesy continued to public hearing to another date. The revision dictates that the council can, at its discretion, continue the hearing or act on without the applicant present. Another change in the language of the Zoning Ordinance itself was sought as a housekeeping matter, Rast said.
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