Goal: protect setbacks on commercial, industrial projects

Peachtree City will now require foundation surveys for all commercial or industrial construction projects to make sure they don’t encroach into restricted setback areas.

The new change was approved without any discussion at last week’s City Council meeting in large part because it was on the “consent agenda” which consists of items that are generally considered housekeeping in nature.

The new ordinance was at least precipitated in part by a council vote in August to deny a developer’s variance request after it was discovered that the foundation of the new expansion for Alternate Energy Systems encroached six inches into the 50-foot rear setback for the property.

At that August meeting, council voted 3-2 to deny the variance, with Mayor Harold Logsdon and Councilman Steve Boone voting against the denial because they determined it would create a significant financial hardship on the company.

According to building official Tom Carty, Group VI was able to buy the small sliver of land from the property owner to the rear, thus enabling the expansion project to be in compliance with the setback code of the city’s zoning ordinance. There is also a wooded buffer between the two parcels.

Historically council has averted almost all setback variance requests hoping to avoid setting a legal precedent. But last August city staff suggested approving the variance because Group VI made “an honest mistake.”

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