A proposed rezoning for a 21-acre shopping center on Ga. Highway 74 across from Holly Grove Road was tabled by the Peachtree City Council Thursday night.

Council members Stuart Kourajian and Cyndi Plunkett said they were uncomfortable voting on the rezoning because they hadn’t had time to review several last-minute changes to the zoning ordinance written for the parcel.

The postponement also allows for the development to be considered in a more appropriate context, as council will also be considering a rezoning for a proposed senior housing development that, if approved, would be located behind the shopping center.

The rezoning would change the zoning designation for the parcel from general industrial to general commercial, although the ordinance outlines a variety of uses that could not take place on the property, ranging from auto sales and auto repair facilities to pawn shops, storage facilities and adult-oriented stores and services.

The vote to table the matter to the Sept. 6 council meeting came despite pressure from developer Columbia Properties that a postponement could endanger the development’s chances of becoming reality.

“We’re out of time for our project at this point,” said Andy Campbell of Columbia Properties.

Councilman Steve Boone said he felt comfortable approving the rezoning and letting city staff and the homeowner’s association working with developers to resolve the remaining issues. Kourajian said he couldn’t agree to that.

Boone was the only council member voting against the motion to table the matter.

Columbia attorney Rick Lindsey, who used to represent Peachtree City, said his client wanted to be allowed to have two fast-food restaurants on the property, although the ordinance recommended by city staff only allowed one. Columbia also wanted the city to allow a coffee house such as Starbucks to not count as a restaurant even though it might have a drive-through.

Lindsey noted that under the current general industrial zoning, the developer could build a number of fast food restaurants on the property.

Another change Lindsey requested would allow an establishment that sells alcohol such as a liquor store. Lindsey said the developer was negotiating to have a fine wine store located on the property. Lindsey also noted that there is a liquor store currently located in the Wilshire Pavilion shopping center, directly across Hwy. 74 from where the new shopping center would be located.

The ordinance does allow restaurants to sell alcohol by the drink, however.

Although the initial ordinance banned auto parts sales establishments, the latest version would allow them so long as vehicles are not repaired on the premises by any property owner, tenant or customer. The Wilshire Estates homeowner’s association asked that to be reconsidered because of the worry that people will use the parts store parking lot as a place to repair their cars.

Wilshire HOA president Laurie Farmer said although Columbia Properties officials have said they would enforce a restriction to keep repairs from happening in the parking lots, she was dubious about that occurring, and she also doesn’t want to see the city have to enforce that restriction.

Farmer said the association has been pleased by the reduction of the shopping center from its original regional draw, which featured a proposal for two big box stores, to a smaller neighborhood shopping center.

A representative of the Wilshire Pavilion merchant’s association said the group concurred with the positions advocated by the Wilshire Estates HOA.

Farmer reminded council that the development should be considered a gateway to the city, and Lindsey also said that it was important to Columbia Properties for the shopping center to look nice.

Lindsey said in all his years as city attorney, he had never seen a developer work so closely with residents as Columbia Properties has for this shopping center.

Farmer said the homeowner’s association was concerned about potential traffic problems, particularly on Holly Grove Road, but the group would be meeting with the city engineer to discuss potential solutions.

Resident Beth Pullias said she would like to see the proposal considered at the same time as the senior housing development, “so we can get a feel for what that area is going to look like.”

If the senior housing rezoning isn’t approved, the city may end up with a larger commercial rezoning request for the area, Pullias said.

Resident Juan Matute said the city needed to force developers to utilize existing vacant retail stores, such as those in the nearby Braelinn Village shopping center, before building new shopping centers. Resident Robert Brown said he also opposed the rezoning because losing the industrial zoning takes away a place to lure a potential industry to the city.

Although no tenants are signed for the shopping center yet, Lindsey said a drug store, a neighborhood hardware store and a small neighborhood bank are envisioned for the development.