Search the ArchivesNavigation Contact InformationThe Citizen Newspapers For Advertising Information Email us your news! For technical difficulties |
PTC weighs providing sewer outside cityTue, 08/26/2008 - 3:32pm
By: John Munford
The Peachtree City Council balked last Thursday at approving an easement to build a sewer line between the soccer and softball fields at the Jim Meade sports complex. The proposal would allow a proposed 162,000-square-foot combined shopping center and office complex — with five additional outparcels of undetermined square footage — outside the city limits to tie into Peachtree City’s sewer system. A state law requires that whenever a sewer line is “available” within 200 feet of a given development, it must hook up to the sewer for service. But as City Attorney Ted Meeker noted, there’s some wiggle room as to whether the sewer is “available” merely because it is built, or whether that availability has been approved by the city. Although an agreement between WASA and the city gives the City Council final approval whether sewer can be extended outside the city limits, there is concern the sewer’s construction would trigger the state law and thus provide access regardless of council’s decision on the matter. The shopping center, which has not been approved for development by the Fayette County Commission, initially planned to use a spray field disposal system for its sewage. But officials from Peachtree City’s Water and Sewer Authority have negotiated a deal that would allow the Southern Pines Plantation shopping center parcel and several other parcels to the north along Redwine Road, which are also outside the city limits, to be linked to the sewer system. The plan would also provide sewer service to the Somerby senior living complex and adjacent shopping center, both of which are inside the city limits, along with the Fayette County animal shelter and the Starr’s Mill Professional Center, which is south of the animal shelter along Ga. Highway 74. Council voted Thursday night to table the matter until its next meeting so potential concessions from Southern Pines could be explored. The entire plan will cost over $600,000, with Southern Pines chipping in $200,000, the nearby Starr’s Mill Professional Center doing likewise and also WASA adding $200,000. WASA would recoup its money by charging higher access fees to the parcels along Redwine Road, Turner said. Councilwoman Cyndi Plunkett said she didn’t want to approve the easement when the city could instead negotiate with Southern Pines to perhaps reduce the density of the shopping center or get other concessions. “We’re losing our ability to shape what’s going on at Southern Pines and I just can’t live with that,” Plunkett said, adding that perhaps the city could negotiate to not have any big box stores locate at the shopping center and increase the buffers. Councilman Don Haddix said he was concerned allowing the sewer to go to the 80-acre shopping center site would allow the sewer system to be further extended into the county. “It comes back to me as triggering high density growth out in the county,” Haddix said. Councilman Steve Boone said he didn’t think the county commission would allow that. But Haddix replied that a future commission might. Turner said the shopping center plan includes the use of a spray field to dispose of sewage on a 27-acre tract of greenspace on the 79.5-acre parcel. Boone suggested negotiating with Southern Pines to be annexed into the city in return for the sewer service. Mayor Harold Logsdon said he had no problem with that happening. “That’s exactly what I don’t want, growing Peachtree City by annexation again,” Haddix replied. Plunkett said she was upset because she got about 24 hours notice on the matter, which wasn’t enough time for her to appropriately review the documents. Logsdon said the easement only allows WASA to start construction, but Plunkett disagreed. “Except for the fact that if you put sewer within 200 feet of the county you’ve opened up lots of doors you won’t be able to close,” she said. WASA General Manager Larry Turner said the sewer built on the city’s land would extend onto the Southern Pines property so it can service the parcels across Hwy. 74 that are along Rockaway Road. The design of the system was necessary to avoid having multiple pump stations which are labor intensive and require maintenance, Turner explained. The reason for bringing the issue up now is that the developer of the Somerby tracts inside the city are ready to begin construction and so a decision must be made on the sewer plan so they can proceed. If the proposal isn’t adopted, Somerby will have to design a different way to connect to the sewer system, Turner said. login to post comments
|
Copyright 2010 - Fayette Publishing, Inc. | Privacy Policy | Terms of Use Policy
Server 4
