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Annexation moves forward, 3-2

Council gives OK, advises density reduction

By JOHN MUNFORD
jmunford@TheCitizenNews.com

On a 3-2 vote from the City Council Thursday night, John Wieland Homes was granted the right to work with Peachtree City staff on a possible 360-acre annexation that as of now is proposed to encompass 360 homes.

But two City Council members said they had a real problem with the proposed density, and they would like to see it fairly close to the current density the property is now zoned for in the county. A third councilmember, Murray Weed, who joined councilman Steve Rapson in voting against the plan, warned that he would never vote in favor of an annexation based on campaign promises he made.

Judi-ann Rutherford, who was the swing vote, said she couldn't see approving the density as proposed, but she wanted to see what could happen to the project after city staff took a crack at it. Rapson said the density numbers were too far off for his liking because it would about triple the current number of homes that can be put on the property under the current zoning. Both Rapson and Weed noted the city had already pledged money to work on the extension of MacDuff Parkway to Ga. Highway 74.

The 3-2 vote drew whoops of applause from a contingent in the audience who held up green signs supporting the annexation proposed by Wieland. Several citizens spoke about the gas main leak Monday night that shut down traffic in the area, leaving many citizens who live along MacDuff unable to get home.

Rutherford, councilman Stuart Kourajian and Mayor Steve Brown voted in favor of allowing Wieland to proceed to the second step of the annexation process to work with staff. The motion came from Brown, who included a stipulation that none of the 360 acres contain any type of multifamily element.

That decision was made easier, they said, when Wieland Vice President Dan Fields committed to pay the city up to $20,000 to cover the cost of the staff time that will be spent on the project. City Planner David Rast estimated it might take 60 city man hours, but that figure could increase depending on certain factors, including a possible land use objection by the county, he noted.

The county commission has indicated it might oppose any plan for the property to be annexed if the density is higher than currently allowed. If it does, the city and the county will have to enter mediation, which could delay the project. The county successfully fought a lawsuit from the property's previous owner, as the Fayette Superior Court and the Georgia Supreme Court upheld the zoning for lots with a minimum size of two acres.

Although the parcel is zoned by the county for lots with a minimum of two acres in size, wetlands on the property and other factors will drastically cut down the developable area for the project.

Fields said the company will now proceed with plans for traffic and safety studies, particularly in regards to the necessary at-grade railroad crossing for the intersection of Ga. Highway 74 and the intersection of south Kedron Drive. The company plans to develop the 360 acres along with an adjacent 88-acre tract currently zoned for industrial use.

Weed suggested that Brown was supportive of the annexation as a way to carve out his "legacy" to Peachtree City. Brown countered that he felt the plan needed to be explored "in the open."

Weed shot back that the proposal has been the subject of several public council meetings and several planning meetings sponsored by Wieland, and that he felt compelled to vote against the annexation because that was one of the campaign promises he made.

Weed also noted that Brown used to be anti-annexation and now he's pro-annexation, "and that's your right."

Fields said after the meeting that it should take between two to four months ideally to get a full proposal fleshed out for the council to consider. He also said the company would take into account the concerns and questions from a neighborhood near the railroad crossing as they work with the CSX railroad company to finalize those plans.

The 360-acre parcel in the county is part of an island that is sealed off from the majority of the county, surrounded by Peachtree City on two sides, Tyrone on one and Line Creek on the fourth side, Fields noted, adding that it could be difficult for the county to provide fire and EMS services to the tract.