Two annexations that would increase Peachtree City’s population by an estimated 8 percent received a 4-to-0 go-ahead vote from the city’s planning commission Monday night.

Combined, the annexations requested from John Wieland Homes and Levitt and Sons would add nearly 1,200 single-family homes and 2,635 new residents to the city’s west side on two tracts north of the current end of MacDuff Parkway.

The county zoning in place now ranges from Agricultural-Reserve, with minimum lot sizes of five acres, to residential zoning requiring lot sizes of no less than two acres.

City staff calculated that the city would need more than 20 new employees to provide services for the annexed property at the same level of quality the city is currently providing. Included in that figure were five additional police officers and four additional firefighters.

The financial analysis showed that over 80 years — through 2087 — the subdivision would provide the city with a total positive cash flow of $3 million, said City Planner David Rast.

That’s an average of a net gain to the city of just under $38,000 per year, or about the price of a yearly salary of a veteran police officer or firefighter.

Rast explained that the financial analysis assumed an average home price of $350,000 in both developments with no inflation added to property taxes which are almost certain to occur with property tax reassessments. Assuming that home value, each home would pay $758 a year in city property taxes, adding up to more than $900,000 a year in revenue for the city.

The population estimate was compiled by figuring there will be two residents in each of the 699 units in the Levitt development and there will be 2.5 residents in each of Wieland’s 495 homes. The Levitt development will be restricted to persons ages 55 and up, so no children will be allowed to live there.

The city’s financial analysis also showed that aside from contributions from impact fees, the city will pay $246,000 a year to finance construction of a fire station for the West Village. Also the impact fees would only cover 11 percent of the construction costs for the expansion of the city’s Ga. Highway 74 Baseball and Soccer Complex, which would result in a $340,000 a year financing payment.

Although the planning commission has endorsed both annexations, the final say on the matter rests with the City Council, which is tentatively scheduled to consider the matter at a public hearing on May 3.

Before the commission voted on the projects Monday night, several residents urged the commission to deny its recommendation so the city can seek more improvements and fewer homes in the plan. Phyllis Aguayo said the subdivisions violate the city’s land use plan which calls for “step-down” zoning to be used as development’s reach the city limits.

In this case, the northernmost property involved in the annexation, which Levitt has an option to purchase, borders the Tyrone city limits.

The southern tract in the annexation, owned by John Wieland Homes, is on a parcel that is zoned for lots no smaller than two acres. That zoning designation was upheld in court after previous property owner Pathway Communities sued, urging that the property be rezoned for one acre lots.

Several residents of Wieland’s Centennial subdivision spoke in favor of the annexation because they want to see MacDuff Parkway extended to Hwy. 74 so they can have another way in and out of their neighborhood. Currently the only way in and out is via Ga. Highway 54.

Although the impact fees from the subdivisions would pay for some of the facilities needed by the city, they wouldn’t pay for the new police officers and firefighters needed to service the area, Aguayo argued.

Peachtree City resident Linda Wojcik said she’d like to see Wieland’s project come in “slightly less dense” than the current version, but she also noted that the city’s survey from the comprehensive plan advisory committee showed that a majority of city residents don’t want to see growth from annexation.

Beth Pullias, president of the Kedron Hills Community Association, said she worried that the extension of MacDuff Parkway that the developers have promised would make MacDuff a major cut-through for vehicles looking to avoid the often-clogged intersection of hwys. 54 and 74. She added that she was also concerned about how the subdivision would affect the water supply and how it would affect the local school system.

Dan Fields, vice president of John Wieland Homes, said the company’s Connector Village would be built at a rate of 49 homes per year over a 10-year period, which wouldn’t burden the local school system.

Kathryn Zickert, an attorney for Levitt, said since no children will be allowed to live in the Seasons at Peachtree City subdivision, there will be a positive impact to the school system because those residents will still pay school taxes.

The Fayette County Board of Education has indicated that students in the area will be districted to attend Burch Elementary, Flat Rock Middle and Sandy Creek High Schools, all of which are located in Tyrone.

Levitt plans a host of amenities for The Seasons including a 27,000 square-foot clubhouse, eight tennis courts and a greenhouse and garden area. Included in Wieland’s plan is a central park in the middle of the development, with a 15,000 square foot “neighborhood” shopping center across MacDuff Parkway from the park. There will also be other smaller “pocket” parks in the development.

Levitt’s plan includes 108 acres of potentially developable land that will remain as open space along with an additional 120 acres located in the flood plain that’s undevelopable.

Wieland’s plan boasts more than 40 acres of developable land that will remain open space.

The open space in both developments is significant because the city usually sees plans that max out use of the developable land, said City Planner David Rast.

Both developers also agreed to employ a variety of lot sizes, and Levitt has committed to mixing up its lot sizes to improve the subdivision’s aesthetics.

Wieland also owns an 89-acre tract to the east of the property it wants to annex, and this smaller tract is already in the city limits. It is zoned general industrial, however, and Wieland’s bid to have the parcel considered for a multi-family townhome rezoning was denied by the City Council earlier this year. Wieland wanted to locate 335 townhomes on the site.