Friday, Mar. 4, 2005

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County not budging on density

By JOHN THOMPSON
jthompson@TheCitizenNews.com

Peachtree City planner David Rast received a message loud and clear Wednesday afternoon from the Fayette County Commission.

The city’s planner was sent to the meeting to determine the county’s opinion on the development of the West Village. Developer John Wieland wants to annex the property into Peachtree City and build 360 homes.

Rast asked the board if it would favor a different land use for the area or a one-acre zoning category for the property.

“The two-acre zoning has been upheld by two different courts and I have heard nothing that would change my position,” said Commissioner A.G. Van Landingham.

Commission chairman Greg Dunn also appeared surprised that Rast would consider a different land use for the area.

“We would never consider something like commercial or residential for that area. That’s just not something we would do to the residents in Peachtree City,” he said.

Dunn said the zoning upheld by the court would only allow about 138 homes on the site, because of the large amount of wetlands on the site.

“Anymore homes would give us a bona fide land use objection,” Dunn added.

Rast said Wieland is also willing to extend MacDuff Parkway to Ga. Highway 74 as part of his proposal. The road would provide a much needed relief valve for residents in the western part of Peachtree City who can only exit onto Ga. Highway 54 from the parkway.

But the road issue also troubled Commissioner Peter Pfeifer.

“We have a county transportation plan and this road is not listed as part of the plan,” he said.

As the discussion closed, Dunn thanked Rast for attending and said he didn’t understand why Rast had to attend the meeting.

“There really was no formal proposal to address,” he said.