Thursday night, the Peachtree City Council denied a request to consider rezoning a 7-plus acre parcel from general commercial to multi-family for high-end townhomes aimed at empty-nesters.

Council also agreed to allow a developer to work with city staff on a proposal to annex 400 acres on the city’s west side, north of the Centennial subdivision. But four of the five council members warned Levitt and Sons that they felt the proposed 762 homes was far too dense and unless that number came down the annexation was unlikely to win approval.

The Seasons at Peachtree City subdivision would be gated and cater to “active adults” ages 55 and up, with homes ranging from $200,000 to $500,000, company officials said. The company is also proposing to fund on a pro-rata basis its share of the cost for extending MacDuff Parkway to Ga. Highway 74 via a bridge over the CSX railroad track that will link up with the northern end of Kedron Drive at Hwy. 74.

The homes would range in size from 1,500 to 3,000 sq. ft. with lots of at least 7,000 sq. ft. There would also be a 27,000 sq. ft. clubhouse with a performing arts center, a library, a computer room and classroom, a fitness room and eight outdoor tennis courts.

Levitt Atlanta President Dan Grosswald also committed $20,000 to reimburse the city for staff time spent on the issue, which is the same amount John Wieland Homes pledged for its annexation proposal that’s still under consideration.

Council’s vote Thursday night only allows city staff to work with Levitt on tailoring a detailed proposal for council to consider at a later date. The annexation itself has not been approved.

Mayor Harold Logsdon said he favored the proposal because the city needs housing for older adults, and he liked what he saw on a visit to a Levitt development in Canton, Ga. But council members Steve Boone, Stuart Kourajian, Judi-ann Rutherford and Cyndi Plunkett said they were more than wary of the large number of homes proposed.

Rutherford noted that the proposal doesn’t follow the city’s land use plan, which calls for having less dense zoning on the city’s borders.