Tyrone requests not adopted; Fayette County sought denial of project

The Atlanta Regional Commission has signed off on the proposed “West Village” development plan, which includes a total of 1,574 homes in two developments from Levitt and Sons and John Wieland Homes.

But ARC is joining city and railroad officials in suggesting the elimination of a proposed at-grade rail crossing that would link Wieland’s Connector Village with Ga. Highway 74 at the southern intersection of Kedron Drive.

The Peachtree City Council holds all the cards on this issue as it is not obligated to annex the properties into the city’s corporate limits. The city does stand to gain significantly, however, in property tax revenue should the land be annexed and developed as proposed.

In a letter to ARC, CSX officials said they would support a crossing at Kedron Drive if a bridge could be used to span the railroad. The developers have proposed building one bridge over the railroad just south of Senoia Road to allow MacDuff Parkway to be extended all the way to Ga. Highway 74 at the intersection of the northern leg of Kedron Drive.

The project is also being reviewed by the Georgia Regional Transportation Authority.

ARC’s approval of the West Village plan comes despite the request of Fayette County Commission Chairman Greg Dunn that it be denied, and a request for significant changes to the plan from Tyrone Town Manager Barry Amos.

In a letter to ARC, Amos urged the elimination of any link to Senoia Road, citing the town’s plan to create a pedestrian friendly downtown on the road.

“Providing access to Senoia Road from these proposed developments will significantly impair the implementation of our plan,” Amos wrote, noting that the transportation analysis of the West Village projected a 20 percent increase in traffic on Senoia Road associated with the development.

The traffic analysis also does not address how many cars will continue to use Tyrone as a shortcut to Collinsworth Road for access to Interstate 85 because of the heavy congestion at Ga. Highway 74 and I-85, Amos indicated. He suggested that the proposed bridge over the railroad tracks, which would extend MacDuff Parkway, could also be extended to span Senoia Road.

Dunn noted that the traffic impact on the area will be significant, and the proposed density is far greater than would be allowed under the county’s current zoning, which requires a minimum lot size of two acres per home. The county defended that zoning successfully in a lawsuit filed several years ago by Pathway Communities over a tract that encompasses part of the annexation request from Wieland.

ARC did implement some of the recommendations from Peachtree City in its report, including requirements for MacDuff Parkway to have no more than three or four full-turning intersections with appropriate turn lanes. The city is continuing to work with Levitt and Wieland on remaining issues, Rast said.

Rast also asked ARC to require the developers to determine if bridges or tunnels could be incorporated as part of MacDuff for cart path crossings; and, if that’s not possible, the crossings should be “located at key intersections with raised speed tables and appropriate signage.”

It is anticipated that the annexations will be considered in a workshop at an upcoming meeting of the planning commission, either the Jan. 22 or Feb. 12 meeting. The final say on whether the annexation takes place rests with the City Council.

According to the transportation analysis for the developers provided by Kimley-Horn and Associates, the total number of cars leaving the developments during morning peak-hour traffic would be 569. And in the evening peak traffic hour, the number of cars coming back to the development would be 528.

The consulting firm has recommended the following improvements for the project:

Senoia Road at Crabapple Lane
• Install a traffic signal.
• Construct a separate left-turn lane along all four approaches.

CASE 1 Scenario: (if Kedron Drive South is extended from Hwy. 74 to MacDuff Connector Extension):

Senoia Road at Kedron Drive North/MacDuff Parkway
• Install a traffic signal.
• Construct an eastbound left-turn lane and an eastbound shared through/right-turn lane along MacDuff Connector Extension.
• Construct a westbound left-turn lane and a westbound shared through/right-turn lane along Kedron Drive North.
• Construct a northbound left-turn lane along Senoia Road.
• Construct a southbound left-turn lane and a southbound right-turn lane along Senoia Road.

Hwy. 74 at Crabapple Lane:
• Construct an eastbound right-turn lane along Crabapple Lane.
• Install dual left-turn lanes on the westbound approach along Crabapple Lane.

Hwy. 74 at Kedron Drive South:
• Install a traffic signal.
• Construct an eastbound left-turn lane along Kedron Drive South.
• Construct a westbound left-turn lane along Kedron Drive South.

CASE 2 Scenario: (without the Kedron Drive South extension from SR 74 to MacDuff Connector Extension):

Senoia Road at Kedron Drive North/MacDuff Parkway
• Install a traffic signal.
• Construct an eastbound left-turn lane and an eastbound shared through/right-turn lane along MacDuff Connector Extension.
• Construct a westbound left-turn lane and a westbound shared through/right-turn lane along Kedron Drive North.
• Construct a northbound left-turn lane along Senoia Road.
• Construct a southbound left-turn lane and a southbound right-turn lane along Senoia Road.

Hwy. 74 at Crabapple Lane
• Construct an eastbound right-turn lane along Crabapple Lane.
• Install dual left-turn lanes on the westbound approach along Crabapple Lane.

The development as currently planned consists of 1,079 single family homes, 335 townhomes and 160 courtyard homes. Also in the mix is a relatively small 15,000 square foot retail area.

The townhomes are located on an 88-acre tract that Wieland owns which is already in the city limits. The remaining 790 acres is currently located in unincorporated Fayette County but will be considered for annexation into Peachtree City.

The development is projected to generate an additional $751,000 in local tax revenues, according to ARC. That figure includes property and sales taxes.

The project’s overall impervious surface is estimated to be about 14 percent, and 492 of the 877 acres is open space, according to ARC. Of the developed land, 313 will be used for medium density single family housing as defined by ARC, 66 acres will be the townhome component and 5.7 acres will be used for commercial.

The commercial use was requested by ARC to provide stores to help serve the new homes.

The development will generate an estimated 367,000 gallons a day of sewage. It will also need a projected 406,000 gallons of water a day.

The developers are projecting the project will be completed by 2012.

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