Work will begin soon to build a shopping center with four restaurants behind Publix at Fayette Pavilion now that Fayetteville City Council has cleared the way.

O'Charley's, Ryan's, Steak & Shake and a theme restaurant that Thomas is keeping secret for now will occupy the space, along with small retail and service shops like Leslie's Pool Supply, in a village-type setting, Thomas said. The restaurants will be inside Fayetteville's city limits, whereas the rest of the shops will be in the county.

Council Monday approved developer Stan Thomas' request for a variance, reducing the required buffer between his property and a residential tract next door.

Variances are in the purview of the city Planning Commission, but applicants are allowed to appeal to City Council. The Planning Commission voted to reject Thomas' request, but City Council overturned that decision.

Thomas in turn promised to build a berm, planted with evergreen trees three deep, along the length of the buffer, completely screening the businesses from the residential tract.

The agreement solves a catch-22 that has stalled the development. In discussions last year, council approved zoning for the restaurants, but attached a requirement that Thomas build a road through the property from Ga. Highway 85 to the south side of Fayette Pavilion, providing an additional way in and out.

But as he laid out plans for the restaurants, Thomas said, he soon discovered that the road would not fit with the 75-foot buffer required for the zoning agreed upon without reducing the required amount of parking.

The Planning Commission suggested that council simply drop the requirement for the road, but council members said they believe the road is essential to relieve traffic around the Pavilion. "We don't usually go against the Planning Commission, but the importance of the road in conjunction with the benefits of the berm will be significant," said Councilman Kenneth Steele.

Thomas said Monday that a variance to reduce the parking would not be a workable solution. "If we addressed the parking, then we could get by with a 40-foot buffer," said Thomas, "but the restaurants don't think they can put enough people in there" with reduced parking, he said.

He had applied for a variance to allow a 20-foot buffer, but council voted to require a 30-foot buffer between the restaurants and the residential property, with a 20-foot buffer between the restaurants and Rent-All Plaza, which also borders the property in question.

Thomas will build an eight-foot berm on the 30-foot portion and a six-foot berm along the remainder.

"I'm getting ready to submit things to the county [for the shops outside the city] and start building this," Thomas told council.

"I think once you see that berm, you're going to go throughout the city doing the same thing," he added.

Planned behind Publix

O'Charley's.

Ryan's.

Steak & Shake.

A theme restaurant as yet unnamed.