Applause broke out spontaneously in the Fairburn City Council chambers Monday night as the city council did something that most of the 150 in attendance had not expected. The council voted unanimously to deny a request to establish a garbage transfer station on the city’s south side.

The conceptual site plan for the transfer station proposed by site owner Walker Brothers was on property already zoned for such a facility.

Attending the meeting, Congressman David Scott mirrored what residents and affected homeowners had stated in past meetings. Residents were concerned that damage to city streets, excessive truck traffic, odors, vermin and other factors would have a negative impact on nearby residential property.

Walker Brothers representatives had no immediate reaction to the vote.

The council voted unanimously on a second motion to establish a 90-day moratorium to examine a change in the zoning ordinance that would require proposals for transfer stations to be brought before the council.