Friday, January 9, 2004
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Friday, January 9, 2004 |
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Brown pushing annexation for Spear Road development By J. FRANK LYNCH Steve Brown has proposed that a developer wanting to build an estate subdivision off Spear Road and Ebenezer Road annex more than 200 acres of unincorporated county land along the eastern city limits, rather than de-annex about 48 acres now inside the city. Builder Rod Wright of Peach State Land Development Company wants to build 36 homes on five-acre minimum lots in the proposed Platinum Ridge neighborhood. But about 50 acres of one tract in the 250-acre development straddle Camp Creek and actually lie inside the city limits. Wright’s solution was to ask the city for de-annexation of the property now owned by Pathways Communities, and it seemed logical considering Peachtree City has a moratorium on new annexations prohibiting the alternative. But Mayor Steve Brown wants to persue the idea anyway, and convinced a representative appearing on behalf of Wright to let the council table the de-annexation request until Jan. 15, so that Brown can “look into it.” But that isn’t as simple or innocent as it appears on the surface, as City Attorney Ted Meeker pointed out to Brown. The city’s annexation moratorium doesn’t just forbid any new acreage being brought into the city proper, it bans even consideration of projects that would require it. So strict is the policy, city hall staff isn’t allowed to look at plans or proposals or make recommendations for the annexed land until after the council has waived the moratorium, a situation that has never occured. Brown halted discussion of the de-annexation request Monday night, arguing that concerns that the city maintain control over the Camp Creek watershed as well as public safety response times were reason enough to at least consider bringing the property into the city proper. Brown convinced Donald Brandenberg, representing Wright, to allow the council to table his request and take it up at the next meeting, Jan. 15, even though Brandenburg was concerned about the timing. Requesting a de-annexation is a much shorter process than one seeking annexation, considering the moratoriium requirements. City Planner Davis Rast estimated it would take a minimum of two to three months just to approve. And Meeker warned Brown that even talking with the developer about deannexation before the council had agreed to lift the ban was walking on thin ice. “Just let me look into this,” Brown implored of Brandenburg, who finally agreed. Brown said the density of the development is five acres, whereas the city’s zoning in that area is for three acres, and with just 36 houses the impact on the city would be minimal. “In a few years, those houses will be worth more than $1 million and that will do a lot for the city’s tax base,” Brown said as well. The mayor said he would avoid utiltizing city staff as he worked with Wright on a compromise. The issue is scheduled to appear before the council again next Thursday.
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