Fayetteville Planning and Zoning commissioners said no Feb. 28 to a portion of a rezoning request that would locate a mixed use medical office and residential development near the southeast corner of Ga. Highway 54 and Burch Road.

The request for the 23.8-acre tract, known as the Stone property, calls for rezoning approximately 20 of the acres currently zoned C-3 (Commercial) and R-40 (Residential) to MO (Medical Office) while three of the remaining acres located along Hwy. 54 would retain its C-3 zoning for commercial development.

Development plans call for establishing a mixed use development consisting of medical offices near Hwy. 54 and an assisted living center and independent living homes toward the rear of the property.

The proposal calls for access to the property on Hwy. 54 just east of the Burch Road intersection and on Burch Road a short distance from the traffic light at Hwy. 54. As proposed, the main entrance to the property would be off Hwy. 54 with the secondary entrance off Burch Road.

The proposed Burch Road entrance would be outside the city limits and would cross private property that would be accessed as a driveway entrance, according to the development plans.

While commissioners were generally favorable to the concept, they and several area residents believed that a proposed access driveway from the property onto Burch Road would cause a significant increase in traffic along the residential street because Burch would likely become much more heavily used, especially for those intending to travel west of Hwy. 54. Burch Road would be the logical access route rather than using the right-only exit on Hwy. 54 and having to make a U-turn to travel toward the hospital or other points west, they said. Commissioner Bill Talley said he believed the Burch Road driveway would quickly become the development’s primary entrance. He was not alone in his belief.

“I’m uncomfortable with the access of Burch Road. It compromises the residential feel and will add to the congestion. It’s a historically dangerous intersection,” said Commissioner Kevin Bittinger, speaking to the proximity of the proposed Burch Road driveway to Hwy. 54. “The concept plan is okay but it needs to be re-engineered for a different secondary access.”

Other area residents expressed concerns about a potential negative impact on stormwater runoff that would add to current flooding problems south of the proposed development on Braemar Road. Others referenced the need for additional buffer along the south side of the development.

As proposed, the medical/residential development will feature a roadway encircling an area of oak trees near the center of the property and will include greenspace and a park. An existing pond on the property will be refurbished to add to the aesthetics, commissioners were told. Sidewalks will be installed in and around the pond and along Hwy. 54.

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