On a 4-1 vote Thursday night the Peachtree City Council approved the exploration of possibly annexing a 48-acre tract off Carriage Lane adjacent to the Peachtree City United Methodist Church.

Councilman Don Haddix was the sole vote against the motion, saying the high-priced homes would unfairly compete against a number of other similarly priced homes on the market.

Mike Lorber, representing Hyde Investments on the project, said the project wouldn’t begin for several years after the housing market improves. Hyde Investments is proposing the homes would be sold around the $800,000 range on lots larger than two acres each.

Haddix said his concern was there are 62 homes for sale in the city at more than $750,000 each.

“This might be good once things turn around and we see where homes are and what the needs of Peachtree City are,” Haddix said. “We could very easily find out people are not buying $800,000 homes anymore.”

Lorber noted that with the recent expansion of NCR the city is anticipating to add some high-end jobs as a potential market for the subdivision.

The company is proposing the subdivision to be an extension of the Hyde Park subdivision, which is about halfway built out at this point, Lorber said.

The tract proposed for the annexation is landlocked due to the location of Camp Creek and must be accessed through the city, Lorber said. He added that the city’s land use plan has contemplated making Camp Creek a natural border for the city.

City Planner David Rast noted that the new fees for annexation proposals should cover the cost of staff time spent on the issue.

Councilwoman Cyndi Plunkett said the city should not pay for the road necessary for the project, and Lorber agreed.