John Wieland Homes has firmed up its annexation proposal for a 377-acre tract north of the Centennial subdivision off MacDuff Parkway.

The company is proposing to build 377 homes on that land, which includes a 20-acre parcel the company recently bought. But the big-ticket item on the plan is a commitment from Wieland to construct a northern addition to MacDuff Parkway so the road can reach Ga. Highway 74.

That connection would occur at the southern intersection of Kedron Drive and Hwy. 74.

Wieland is committing to build the road, and the associated at-grade railroad crossing, before it seeks permits to begin building any of the 377 homes, said company vice president Dan Fields.

There is no proposed retail space in the project now; all 377 lots will be for residential use.

Wieland is proposing for 252 of the lots to measure 100x200 feet, or slightly under a half-acre each, with another 75 smaller lots at 50x100 feet, or slightly under one-eighth acre each, and 50 larger lots at 100x400 feet, or just under one acre each.

The land is currently located in unincorporated Fayette County, where it is zoned for lots with a minimum size of two acres each. That zoning was successfully defended in court when the former property owner, Pathway Communities, was denied a request to rezone the property for lots with a minimum size of one acre.

The company has submitted its detailed Phase II annexation proposal with the city, but that document is still under review, city officials said Tuesday afternoon. That proposal cannot be formally accepted until it has been determined that it is complete, said city spokesperson Betsy Tyler.

The latest version of the Wieland proposal would create 101.45 acres of dedicated open space that could not be developed, Fields said. Also, the plan is environmentally friendly because it would allow the subdivision to connect to the city’s sewer system instead of using individual septic systems on each lot, Fields said.

This is considered important because a portion of the 377 acres borders Line Creek, which could soon become a source of drinking water for Fayette County if the federal government signs off on the application to construct Lake McIntosh by damming up Line Creek.

It could take a year to complete the road, which might wrap up in the spring of 2007, Fields said. The total cost for the road is slated to end up between $2.5 and $3 million, he added.

The road will be well-received by residents who live off MacDuff Parkway, who have had to deal with severe traffic issues during morning and evening drive times because their only access is via Ga. Highway 54. That lack of access was one of the reasons the school board has not considered building an elementary school on a site in the Centennial area that previously was donated by Wieland.

Fields has asked the city to consider the matter in March, and the issue must first be considered by the city planning commission before it can be given a final vote by the City Council.

The homes would include a mix of attached townhomes geared toward “active adults” who want the maintenance-free lifestyle, but there will also be more traditional homes aimed at families and single professionals, Fields added.

Proposed amenities include a clubhouse, several lighted tennis courts, a pool and walking trails.