Peachtree City’s planning commission is recommending that a 35-acre parcel be annexed into the city despite there being no accompanying development plan.

No annexation into the city has occurred without an approved development plan already in place in more than 30 years.

The land is situated off Ga. Highway 74 North near Old Senoia Road and is surrounded by two other large parcels that were annexed into the city last year.

The proposal from Scarbrough and Rolader Development, which does not own the property, is to have the land zoned agriculture-reserve under the city’s zoning. Currently the land is zoned agricultural residential by the county, which calls for minimum lot sizes of five acres.

By contrast, the city’s agriculture-reserve zoning allows minimum lot sizes of one acre.

City Planner David Rast said the land should remain zoned under the city’s AR designation until there is a plan for the property. He added that the property would be designated for low-density residential use.

Several residents spoke out against the rezoning, saying it didn’t make sense to annex property without there being a specific plan for it.

“It seems like the city would better be served and when they have an actual plan for development they should come to be considered for annexation,” said resident Lynda Wojcik. “That way the city will have more control over the situation.”

Resident Phyllis Aguayo said she agreed the annexation would be “premature.”

“It seems to me we’d be losing our clout if we were to annex it now ... with no plan and no idea what to do with it.”

Commissioner Marty Mullin said the city will still retain control over the property because the property owner will need a rezoning to develop the property. He added that part of the land has a stream running through it, so there’s some question how much of the 35 acres will be developable.

“It’s better if we control it than Fayette County,” said Commissioner Larry Roach.

The parcel is actually four contiguous tracts that is owned by four different parties. Scarbrough and Rolader is acting as an agent for all four owners.

The commission voted 3-0 to recommend the annexation to the City Council, which has the final say-so on whether the parcel will be made part of the city.

Voting yes were commissioners Mullin, Roach and Theo Scott. The other two commissioners were not present at the meeting.

One condition of the approval requires the landowners, developers or prospective purchasers to meet with city staff and the planning commission before any development plans are submitted “to determine if the proposed use is compatible with the surrounding development or future plans for Wilksmoor Village.”

City staff recommended approval of the annexation, in part because it would remove the unincorporated island that was created by last year’s annexations.

The Fayette County Commission Thursday voted to oppose the annexation based on a lack of information, but the matter will be revisited in the future if county staff gets adequate information from the city.

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