The Peachtree City Council has agreed to allow a group of property owners in the proposed "west village" to work with city staff toward a master plan for annexing the area, north and west of the intersection of Ga. Highways 74 and 54.

Because of the city's moratorium on annexations, the council had to vote on allowing the property owners, primarily Pathway Communities and John Wieland, to "work with staff to start pulling together an overall plan" for development in the area, said Mayor Bob Lenox. The council concluded last fall, after a series of public hearings, that the area would not be annexed until a master plan was drawn up and the zonings agreed to by owners and the city.

The vote does not mean that the property will be annexed, said City Planner David Rast, just that the city staff can work with the property owners to discuss annexation. Once a plan is done, council would have to vote again to lift the annexation moratorium to apply to the specific properties, he added.

The council also approved three codes for maintenance and management of older structures in the city. The codes were adopted after several public hearings and on recommendation of the planning commission, which will serve as the Board of Appeals.

In other action, the council:

Established city election qualifying fees for 1999 at $180.

Approved a resolution of support for proposed legislation that will fund a $400,000 study toward a technical school to be located in the industrial park area in Peachtree City.

Approved a $6,000 appropriation from the council contingency fund for the Fayette County Council on Battered Women. Director Linda Wells thanked the council for its sixth year of support.

Recognized Mark Eimer of Public Works as employee of the month for his work to de-ice streets for almost 24 hours during a recent cold snap.