The Fayette Citizen-News Page
Friday, August 6, 1999
Reluctantly, city agrees to pay mediation costs

By JOHN THOMPSON
Coweta Editor

The annexation dispute between the city of Senoia and Coweta County grew a little more heated this week as the bill came due for the first round of mediation.

Members of the Senoia City Council could not believe the cost of the first round of mediation over a disputed site on Rockaway Road.

The mediation is a result of House Bill 489, which requires cities and counties to work toward compromise solutions on annexation disputes.

The dispute started in April after the county received an annexation notice from the city of Senoia.

County planner Robert Tolleson told the County Commission the city wants to annex approximately 55 acres on Rockaway Road, near the Twin Lakes subdivision.

Currently, the property is zoned Rural Reserve in the county, which requires a minimum five-acre lot size. But Tolleson explained that the owner of the property could apply for an R-200 zoning, which allows a minimum lot size of 1.6 acres in the county.

If the property was annexed into the city, the property would be in Senoia's R-1 zoning category, which requires only a one-acre lot size.

Since the annexation would significantly increase the density of homes allowed on the property, Tolleson asked the commission to file an objection and asked for mediation in the case.

But the price of mediation became clear Monday night as Senoia officials approved a bill for $943 for seven hours work by the mediator.

Councilman Judy Belisle said the council had no choice but to pay the bill, but wondered if the city couldn't find a cheaper mediator for round two.

Mayor Joan Trammell said city and county officials are working on finding another mediator, but are having a tough time agreeing on one.

Trammell also said the city is paying the price for being the first case under HB 489 that has gone to mediation.

Since both parties could not agree, the dispute is headed to another mediation round.

If the parties disagree again on the mediator's recommendations, the matter will ultimately be decided in a local court,


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