A developer wanting to annex 400 acres into Peachtree City for an “active adult” gated community was given a cautious go-ahead by the City Council last week, allowing city staff to work on the proposal.

The approval came with a warning. Four council members said Levitt and Sons should lower the number of homes they want to build or risk a negative vote from council.

The proposal as it stands would provide 762 homes aimed at “active adults” 55 and over, with homes ranging from $200,000 to $500,000. Although the property is 400 acres, it abuts Line Creek and due to floodplain and other issues would have about 300 developable acres.

The company is pledging to provide its pro-rata share of funding to build a bridge over the CSX railroad track to extend MacDuff Parkway north to Ga. Highway 74 at the intersection with the northern end of Kedron Drive.

Councilwoman Judi-ann Rutherford said such a high-density subdivision is not pondered in the city’s land use plan, which states that zoning should be less dense near the city’s borders. This property, if annexed, would bring the city limits far closer to Tyrone.

Councilwoman Cyndi Plunkett echoed Rutherford’s comments and said the density troubled her too.

“It’s so not what we do here,” Plunkett said. “You can tell me it’s the best thing since sliced bread, but I’m here to tell you that I don’t think it is now.”

Although the 55-and-over demographic wouldn’t overburden the schools, Rutherford noted the subdivision would certainly put a burden on the city’s fire, EMS and police services.

Logsdon has said even if the land remained in the unincorporated county, the city would still have to provide public safety services without receiving property taxes in return to pay for those services.

And, he added at Thursday’s meeting, “We need a senior development here.”

Councilman Stuart Kourajian said he liked the idea of the development’s demographics and the construction of the MacDuff bridge. But he too had reservations over the density.

“The thing I don’t like is the number of homes,” Kourajian said, noting that he wouldn’t vote to annex under the current proposal offered by Levitt and Sons.

Councilman Steve Boone said he, too, was bothered by the proposed density for the project.

“750 homes is just way too many for that area,” Boone said.

Plunkett told Levitt officials that she couldn’t support the project unless it came back at a “much” reduced density.

Rutherford noted that the proposal to have the community gated isn’t in keeping with what Peachtree City has done either.

“You’re telling us you don’t want to be a part of Peachtree City,” Rutherford said.

Other than the extension of MacDuff Parkway, the remainder of the streets Levitt would build would be maintained by the homeowner’s association instead of the city, said Levitt attorney Shannan F. Oliver.

The homes would range in size from 1,500 to 3,000 square feet with lots of at least 7,000 square feet, about a sixth of an acre, Oliver said. There would also be a 27,000-square-foot clubhouse with a performing arts center, a library, a computer room and classroom, a fitness room and eight outdoor tennis courts.

The company is asking the city to annex the property and zone it for limited use residential, which would allow Council to put more specific restrictions on the development than the regular zoning classifications call for.

Resident Phyllis Aguayo told Council the road would be wonderful to have, but not if it comes at the expense of additional traffic. She noted that the Fayette County Commission fought and won a legal battle to keep the area zoned for parcels with a minimum lot size of two acres, which would end up with far less density than the Levitt proposal.

“I can’t believe we’re even considering this ... in that area of Peachtree City,” Aguayo said.

Resident Bill Nigro said the company’s proposal for just under 100 acres of open space was really just land that is undevelopable.

“It’s not open space. It’s land you really can’t build on anyway,” Nigro said.

Dan Grosswald, president of Levitt and Sons Atlanta office, agreed to contribute up to $20,000 to reimburse the city for staff time spent assessing the annexation application.

A similar deal was struck with John Wieland Homes, which is seeking to annex 360 acres in the same area to build 360 homes. Wieland originally proposed 750 homes but trimmed the number down due to density concerns from council.