Two proposed annexations that would dramatically increase the size of Peachtree City’s West Village received different reactions from the city’s Planning Commission Monday night.

In a workshop format, the commission had good things to say about the responsiveness of Levitt and Sons, which wants to annex 400 acres to build 699 homes in a development that will be restricted solely to persons ages 55 and up.

A proposal from John Wieland Homes just south of the Levitt tract, however, needs more work before it can be brought up for a vote, the commission decided. At the suggestion of City Planner David Rast, a joint meeting of the Planning Commission and the City Council will be held in the near future to discuss various possibilities on the Wieland site.

The two projects are intertwined because both developers have agreed to pay for installing a bridge so MacDuff Parkway can extend over the CSX railroad tracks. They also were considered as one overall development by regional planning agencies at the state level.

Planning commissioner Marty Mullin said he was particularly disappointed that Wieland withdrew an adjacent 89-acre tract it owns to the east of the parcel it is seeking to annex. Wieland took that action after the City Council voted Thursday to, in effect, preclude the 335-townhome development from occurring on the 89 acres, which are in the city limits.

Mullin said although the townhome project was seen as being too dense, he felt the proposed ballfields in the area were an integral part of the plan as a nice amenity.

“I hate to look at this as two separate pieces,” Mullin said. “It could be a big mistake in my opinion.”

Dan Fields, vice president of John Wieland Homes, agreed to work with the commission on possibly relocating the proposed 15,000-square-foot retail area from the northern tip of the parcel to a more centralized location. The retail element is a small part of the overall 379-acre tract with a proposed 540 single family detached homes.

Fields said the homes would start at $350,000 and the site includes several “pocket parks” that, along with the other open space in the project, would be owned and maintained by the homeowners association.

Mullin suggested that if the retail area is built elsewhere on MacDuff Parkway, 90-degree parallel parking for the stores would help calm traffic on the road. Fields confirmed that the road will only be two lanes wide.

Wieland and Levitt are proposing to extend MacDuff Parkway from its current terminus to Ga. Highway 74 at the traffic light for the northern leg of Kedron Drive.

Wieland was lauded for presenting a plan devoid of cul-de-sacs, which Mullin said promoted better connectivity. But the company also has to eliminate several proposed intersections from MacDuff Parkway to meet a condition applied by the Georgia Regional Transportation Agency.

Planning commissioner Patrick Staples said he didn’t think the Wieland plan evolved as well as the Levitt plan did. Staples said he’s also like to see as many hardwood trees preserved on the site as possible.

Levitt was praised for implementing a number of previous planning commission suggestions including a wish to mix up the type of housing in its Seasons at Peachtree City project. Kathryn Zickert noted that 160 of the units were grouped into a “quad style” and although they aren’t directly connected they will have a courtyard feel, she said.

The subdivision will offer 13 different floor plans on four different lot sizes, she noted. An effort will be made to preserve trees on individual lots in part because it helps sell the homes, Zickert added.

The company has abandoned its plans to gate the community at the request of the City Council, Zickert noted. Levitt also will work with the city’s senior adult council on coordinating activities, but the level of coordination will be determined after the impact fees for the development are set.

Seasons will feature several tennis courts, a pool and a clubhouse in addition to other amenities designed for its residents.

Zickert said the subdivision would have little impact on the school system, police and fire services in the city. Former Mayor Steve Brown challenged that assertion, saying that the number of calls for fire and police services would increase if the property is annexed. A tax increase to cover those services would also be necessary, he added.

Zickert also said there would be a 100-foot separation from the northern property line, which borders a rock quarry in Tyrone. Levitt’s plan includes 180 acres of open space including undevelopable wetlands and several passive park areas.

Resident Linda Wojcik said she opposed the annexations because of the high density. She pointed to the city’s recent citizen survey that showed a minority of residents preferred the city to grow by annexation.

“People do not want higher density,” Wojcik said. She also pointed to the lack of trees on cart paths in Wieland’s latest Peachtree City neighborhood, Centennial.