Should office development continue northward on the west side of Ga. Highway 314?

Or should office and commercial growth end with the group of small businesses across from Banks Crossing shopping center?

Fayetteville's Planning Commission will grapple with those questions Tuesday as it begins discussion of S&R Properties' request to annex 144 acres at 314 and New Hope Road into the city, with plans for a 163-lot subdivision on 127 acres and a 20-lot office development on the remaining 17 acres, fronting 314.

City elected leaders have called for residential development on the west side of Hwy. 314, with offices on the east side to act as a buffer from heavy commercial development farther east.

But the city lost part of that battle last year when the county approved heavy commercial zoning for all of Fayette Pavilion phase three, instead of the office development the city had urged.

S&R's request calls for PUD (planned residential development) zoning for the residential portion of the property, allowing a variety of lot sizes.

Cottonwood Plantation subdivision, zoned R-40 (homes on one-acre lots), borders the property on the south, Brandon Hill subdivision, zoned R-40, on the west, and Black Rock Springs and Ansley Oaks subdivisions, both zoned R-40, on the north.

The Planning Commission will discuss the request during its work session Tuesday, May 11, at 7 p.m. at City Hall, and could vote during its business meeting, May 25 at 7:30 p.m. The commission is a recommending body. City Council will make the final decision after receiving the group's recommendation.

Other matters on the Planning Commission agenda Tuesday include:

Development plans for Main Street Square III. Developer Howard Guthrie said he plans a 4,500-sq. ft. health center and two 1,500-sq. ft. stores, with architecture similar to the first two phases of the shopping center. The center, anchored by Bacci restaurant, is next to the old Fayette County High School building.

Development plans for a new location for Tara Credit Union, on Gingercake Road.

Annexation and rezoning to C-3 (highway commercial) for restaurant property south of Fayette Pavilion on Ga. Highway 85.

Development plans for an addition to GTO's restaurant on Hwy. 85 south of the city.

A variance request for homeowners in Stonebriar subdivision who want to put six-foot fences along their front yards bordering Verdon Hill.

Elevations for Shoe Carnival at Fayette Pavilion and for an addition to the BellSouth building at 176 South Glynn St.

Development plans for Dr. Greg Alvarez's office on Jeff Davis Drive.