Sewer rate increases, stiffer penalties for loitering and new residential and retail development proposals: Each of these were reviewed July 17 by Fayetteville City Council and all should be up for a vote at the Aug. 7 meeting.

The council will have the second reading of the third phase of water and sewer adjustments implemented annually since 2006. The increase will affect sewer rates only, amounting to an increase of $5.78 to the average bill, city Finance Director Lynn Robinson said at the July 17 council meeting.

The base rate for residential customers would increase from $13.20 to $15.95, from $11.22 to $13.56 for seniors and from $25.20 to $27.95 for businesses. The usage charge for all categories would increase from $2.30 to $2.85 per 1,000 gallons over the 2,000 gallon base.

Also ready for a vote Thursday will be an amendment to the city’s loitering ordinance. The amendment will add a provision for parental responsibility to the current ordinance. The proposed loitering ordinance says parents will be issued a warning citation on the first offense received by the minor child. Future offenses will result in penalties to be determined in city court.

Two items on the Thursday agenda deal with second readings of residential and retail developments on Fayetteville’s west side.

The first is the proposed rezoning of the Stella’s Place residential development on Grady Avenue from R-22 Planned Unit Development (PUD) to MO (Medical Office), a zoning category that would accommodate attached residential units for older adults. The city’s Planning and Zoning Commission June 24 recommended approval of the 86-unit development. Council members at the July 17 meeting expressed favor toward the proposal.

Also at the meeting, council members should hear the second reading of an amendment to the 13.7-acre Villages of Lafayette retail/office/residential development proposed along Ga. Highway 54 between Meeting Place Drive and Lafayette Avenue. The proposal for the 162,850 square-foot development was tabled in May to allow East Point-based Heritage Creek to review its options and pursue an anchor tenant.

login to post comments