The Fayette County Commissioners voted unanimously last week to proceed with a ZIP code change for residents in northern Fayette County, a development that has been talked about for decades.

The County Commission will send a letter to the United State Postal Service indicating its support to change the ZIP code for residents with 30213 (Fairburn) and 30296 (Riverdale) ZIP codes to be changed to 30214 (Fayetteville north of Ga. Highway 54).

After the Postal Service receives the letter, it will conduct a survey of the residents in the affected area. If a simple majority favor the change, the change would take place.

If the change does not occur, it’s likely to be another decade before the Postal Service addresses the issue again.

Captain David Scarbrough of Fire and Emergency Services said if the change was implemented, 10 streets would have to change because of a duplication in 911’s database correlating the street name to a particular ZIP code.

“We could possibly hold a lottery with the residents on the street to come up with a new name,” he said.

Scarbrough anticipates the survey being conducted within 30-60 days and said the change could occur in the first quarter of 2009 if residents approve it.

In other news, the Commission gave approval for the Planning Department to study the issue of personal care homes in single family residences.

Planning Department representative Dennis Dutton said the department has received a number of inquiries about residents establishing personal care homes. Currently, all a resident needs to do is file an application with the state and pay a $10 fee.

Dutton explained the county’s regulations do not cover the issue and wanted some guidance on how the county should proceed.

Commissioner Herb Frady was not in favor of allowing the homes in residential zoning and said other areas of the county would allow for that use.

The commission voted to let the department to study the issue further and bring it back to the board with a recommendation.

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