Site in Wilksmoor Village zoned for industrial use

City residents are invited to attend a second planning charrette to address the future of an 89-acre parcel off Ga. Highway 74 north and across from south Kedron Drive.

The parcel, currently owned by John Wieland Homes and Neighborhoods, is zoned for industrial use. The city’s future land use map has the site designated for office use.

The company, however, wants to build townhomes and single family detached units on the site.

The meeting will be at City Hall Wednesday, Jan. 23 at 7 p.m.

The 89 acres is located on a parcel perhaps most famous for housing the old Wometco Cable Company building.

The parcel is also home to the Peach Pit, a closed construction landfill that is not contaminated, as confirmed by tests ordered by Wieland officials.

The first planning charrette featured a visual preference survey to determine people’s likes and dislikes of images for residential, mixed use and commercial development along with images from residential streetscape scenes and landscaping examples.

Using that feedback, Wieland will be presenting a new concept plan at the Jan. 23 meeting, officials said. The company’s presentation will also include the area north of the 89-acre tract that is being considered for office-institutional development.

It’s possible for Wieland would consider deeding the city space on the 89-acre site for soccer fields, a Wieland official has said.

An unresolved matter, however, is how the site will be accessed, as it is not yet clear if the current at-grade crossing located near the old cable building site will remain open. The rail line, owned by CSX Railroad, was recently expanded in the area with a rail siding, which allows a full-size train to divert off the main railroad line so others can pass by.

The rail siding has sparked citizen complaints about trains being parked on the tracks, increasing the amount of time some train cars carrying hazardous chemicals spend in Peachtree City.