Friday, Sept. 16, 2005 | ||
Bad Links? | Waiting period for second shot at annexations?By JOHN MUNFORD Failed annexation bids in Peachtree City may soon get a cooling-off period thanks to a new ordinance proposed by city staff. If approved by the City Council, developers would have to wait at least six months following a no vote on an annexation to resubmit a different annexation proposal for a specific piece of property. The Planning Commission voted unanimously Monday to recommend passage of the ordinance to the City Council. The city employs a similar six-month waiting period for rezoning applications, noted City Planner David Rast. I think its good to have it at six months, said Planning Commission member Theo Scott. The commission also unanimously voted to recommend an updated landscaping ordinance that will require tree surveys to be conducted on all new construction sites. Also, the ordinance requires if any of the protected vegetation on the site dies, the developer must come back and replace it, Rast said. The city will not make the new regulations retroactive to already-developed sites, but there are penalties already on the books to prevent the destruction of city-owned greenbelt, Rast said. Planning Commission member Ray Green said he wanted to see the ordinance have more teeth so crews on-site will care about making sure protected vegetation is not destroyed or removed. If theres no financial penalty, they dont care, Green said. In a separate workshop, the commission evaluated conceptual plans for a mixed-use development at the intersection of Walt Banks Road and Lexington Circle. Lexington Lofts and Shops at the Fountains will contain 24 residential loft units and two retail stores, one of about 12,500 sq. ft. and the other at 4,500 sq. ft. The proposed development is across Walt Banks from Holy Trinity Catholic Church, and the church entrance will be redesigned by the developer so it coincides with the entrance to Lexington Circle, officials said. Several commissioners suggested the stores needed to be moved to the property line to keep with the zoning approved for the property. The plan contains a small courtyard area that was to be fenced in for exclusive use of the loft residents, but that idea was also met with some scrutiny. The lofts would consist of gated parking on the ground floor with the two upper stories being the loft units themselves, said Dwayne Purcell of May Construction. |
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