With a deep sigh and an exclamation of "Lordy mercy," Senoia Mayor Joan Trammell pounded her gavel down Monday night on the town's new zoning ordinances, zoning map and future land use map.

By approving the new zoning guidelines Monday night, the City Council got in just under the wire before the town's moratorium on new development expired Tuesday morning.

The city's Planning Commission toiled on the new regulations for nearly 18 months. Members said they wanted to ensure that the guidelines will protect the city when the expected development boom occurs.

In the last three months, the Planning Commission came under fire from the city's business community for wanting to restrict zoning in the town's historic center, governing future commercial uses.

But in the end, the City Council listened to the business people and allowed the property to remain in the General Commercial zoning category instead of the more restrictive Historic Town Center.

As a concession, the business leaders agreed they would not oppose a historical preservation ordinance for the city. (See related story.)

The passing of the new ordinances and maps completes one of Trammell's goals she alluded to when she first took office nearly two years ago. This week, the mayor said the ordinances are well-written and researched and should offer ample protection for the city when the next development wave hits.

The council also passed changes to the land development ordinance concerning landscaping around new development. City officials decided to draft a landscape ordinance but, during research, discovered the city already has one on file.

The changes were mainly housekeeping items such as changing the wording from "city officials" to zoning "administrator," but the council wanted to make sure something was in place to cover any developments that might be applied for between now and the next council meeting.

The most contentious item of the landscape ordinance debate centered around the time line for having landscaping completed.

In order to make sure developers stick to their landscaping plans, public works director Leonard Thompson wanted to require developers to post bonds equal to the total price of landscaping, and to have the work completed within a year.

But Councilman Bob Hannah said a year would be far too long and recommended the time frame should be dropped to three months.