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PTC planners OK Callula Hill 3-2Fri, 06/12/2009 - 3:07pm
By: John Munford
10 of 80 lots in question due to FAA guidelines forbidding construction near Falcon Field On a split 3-2 vote, the Peachtree City Planning Commission Monday night narrowly approved a recommendation to rezone a 37-acre site in the city’s industrial park for an 80-home subdivision that would have views of Lake McIntosh along with planes buzzing overhead due to the adjacent Falcon Field airport. The Callula Hill proposal also includes an event center that would host weddings, reunions and the like along with 12 small villas that would be rented out in conjunction with those events. One large question looms in the background. Planning Commissioner Joe Frazar said that according to Federal Aviation Administration rules, 10 of the residential lots are in an area in which no construction is allowed. “The FAA says not to build in that zone,” Frazar said. “... That was written to guide development of airports in the southeast. And it’s good guidance. ... Why would we fly in the face of sound guidance?” Pathway representative Gene Lavine countered that the city’s airport authority has already indicated the subdivision would not adversely affect its operations. Planning Commissioner Lynda Wojcik asked Lavine if he would remove the 10 lots in question. He refused, saying the information cited by Frasar, coming from an email from former Airport Director Jim Savage, may not be correct. Frazar ultimately voted in favor of the rezoning, saying that he felt the property lent itself ideally to a residential use. Joining Frazar in favor were Theo Scott and Patrick Staples. Voting against were Lynda Wojcik and Larry Sussberg, who both said the proximity to the airport was a significant issue for them, particularly in light of the noise of planes taking off and landing. Wojcik also said she felt the plan was contrary to the city’s land use plan. But Staples noted that the city attorney has informed the commission that because of the uniqueness of the property such a rezoning would not set a precedent for other rezonings of land from industrial to commercial and residential uses. The commission’s vote is a recommendation only. The final say-so rests with the Peachtree City Council. The tract, which is not connected to any residentially zoned property, abuts the Planterra Ridge golf course and clubhouse along with additional industrial-zoned properties. As such, Pathway Communities has pledged to build a cart path along Dividend Drive from TDK Boulevard up to Kelly Drive where a current cart path crossing exists to traverse Ga. HIghway 74 and link to the rest of the city. login to post comments |