Council considers precedent-setting hook-up for large shopping center on southern border; Sany wants variance

Peachtree City officials will consider Thursday whether to allow an extension of the city’s sewer lines to serve a large shopping center planned for construction just outside the city limits.

The sewer matter was tabled by the City Council at its previous meeting after concerns from several council members. Don Haddix said he didn’t want sewer access to allow rampant growth. Cyndi Plunkett said she thought the city should negotiate with the shopping center owners to get concessions such as a reduction in density before approving the sewer easement.

Plantation Center at Starr’s Mill would have a 50,000-square-foot “food store,” according to the plans approved by the Fayette County Commission when the property was rezoned back in 2000. The entire shopping center is approved for about 120,000 square feet of shops and restaurants, not including five out-parcels directly off Ga. Highway 74.

According to a city memo, an official for the shopping center said it would not use the sewer access to achieve a greater density than what the county approved in its rezoning. Even without the sewer, the shopping center would be developed but it would instead use a spray field sewage disposal system.

The sewer easement is necessary because the sewer line must run through the Jim Meade sports complex off Hwy. 74 South. The easement is part of a plan designed to use just one lift station instead of multiple lift stations, said Water and Sewer Authority General Manager Larry Turner.

The sewer plan would also serve properties on the other side of Hwy. 74, including some along Redwine Road that are also currently outside the city but could be targeted for possible annexation in the future. The annexation of a parcel means it would become part of the city limits and thus receive city services along with paying city property taxes.

When the rezoning was approved in 2000, it was opposed by the Fayette County and Peachtree City planning commissions. The county’s land use plan had designated the parcel for residential development with lots between two and five acres each.

The property is owned by Starr’s Mill LLC, a company out of Macon.

Also, Thursday Council is expected to consider approving three wetland buffer variances for the Sany America complex that will be built on Cooper Circle. The total area of encroachment on the 228-acre site is 4.7 acres.

According to a staff memo, any variance approved by council would be contingent on Sany getting approval from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and also the Georgia Environmental Protection Division.

The 623,000-square-foot development includes an assembly building, a distribution building and an office building. Sany will assemble specialized concrete pumper trucks at the site using parts shipped to the plant, officials have said previously.

Clearing and grading on the site have already begun, approved by city staff “due to the size and schedule of the project,” the staff memo indicated.

login to post comments