Though tabled as an agenda item at the Sept. 27 regular session, the Fayetteville Planning & Zoning Commission heard from a number of neighbors of the proposed Grove Park subdivision on Ga. Highway 314. The vocal group that nearly filled the council chambers was adamant in its opposition to the development.

A rezoning request submitted by Scarbrough & Rolader calls for the redesignation of approximately 19 acres at Hwy. 314 and White Road currently zoned C-3 Commercial to be changed to DR-15 to allow for the construction of 60 single-family homes targeting residents aged 55 and older. The developer had requested that the Grove Park agenda item be tabled because they were still in process of arranging a meeting with residents of adjacent neighborhoods after concerns surfaced at the Sept. 13 work session.

Acknowledging the many people in the room Sept. 27 that had attended specific to the Grove Park proposal, Commission Chair Sarah Murphy allowed public comments prior to commissioners voting to table it until October. Though a number of the public comments Sept. 13 voiced various concerns but only minimal opposition to the rezoning, such was not the case Sept. 27. Both during and after the meeting it was clear that a large number of those attending were directly opposed to the rezoning for residential purposes and preferred, instead, that any development remain commercial.

Most all of the nearly one dozen residents addressing the board referenced the long-term noxious odors in the immediate area coming from the sewer system, something that would likely continue regardless the zoning decision. But residents remained steadfast that a residential development would not benefit the local community.

What will 60 additional houses do to the problem? new resident Sophia Nash said to commissioners. Were not complaining but put yourself in our shoes. We send our kids to school here and we pay our taxes here.

Residents both inside and outside City Hall said their opposition to a residential development included a number of factors including the proposed lot size of nearly three per acre, erosion control and buffer requirement issues and stormwater runoff concerns.

Commissioners said they would pass the volume of complaints about the sewer line odor to the appropriate city staff. Though some residents said they would be glad to see the city address the issue, others were less convinced that a problem that had existed for so long without resolution was one that the city took seriously. Some of those said they had requested help from the city for months or even several years. One resident said the problem with noxious odor had existed for 14 years.

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