By JOHN THOMPSON
jthompson@TheCitizen.com
and JOHN MUNFORD
jmunford@TheCitizen.com

The Fayette County Commission is hoping that Peachtree City will not allow nearly 1,300 homes and more commercial development to be built on the west side of Peachtree City.

The County Commission wrote a letter to Peachtree City Mayor Harold Logsdon Aug. 11 after learning last Thursday of Peachtree City’s possible annexation of two large tracts in what has come to be known as the West Village.

“The development of the West Village of Peachtree City in any manner will forever change the area and its characteristics. However, this board urges you to strongly consider how this development as proposed will negatively impinge on not only the immediately surrounding areas, but all of Peachtree City and the entire west side of our county, for that matter,” read the letter, signed by Commission Chairman Greg Dunn on behalf of the board.

The first tract is 400 acres owned by the Scarbrough Group and Ray and Donna Stillwell, just west of Ga. Highway 74 and extending to the Coweta County line. Levitt & Sons wants to build 752 homes for seniors, along with a 27,000 square-foot clubhouse. The developers would leave 180 acres as open space. The tract includes wetlands along Line Creek.

The second tract is 379 acres and adjoins Levitt’s development and is owned by John Wieland. Wieland wants to build 546 homes, along with developing a neighborhood retail center on five acres.

County attorney Dennis Davenport told the board Thursday night that it was probably futile to file an objection to the proposals because the land is an unincorporated island.

“I would like to get a reduction in density,” said Dunn.

Davenport suggested the commission write a letter and suggest a meeting with Peachtree City officials to examine the density question.

Logsdon said he was pleased the commission decided not to object to the annexation and the city council will take the county’s main concern to heart.

“We are going to look at the density,” Logsdon said. “That will be a part of our consideration.”

The density of both projects’ initial applications was cited by several council members are being far too high.

The annexations may be considered as soon as the council’s second meeting in September, but that’s a guess at this point, Logsdon said.

Logsdon has been a proponent of annexing the remaining unincorporated land in western Peachtree City between the northern city limits and the southern border of Tyrone. Doing so would “complete the West Village,” Logsdon said.

The annexations must be reviewed by the Atlanta Regional Commission because they are large enough to be considered developments of regional impact.

County officials did agree to object to another annexation and rezoning request from Peachtree City, a parcel at the south end of the city. Group VI wants 13 acres annexed into the city on Ga. Highway 74 South. Work on one of the tracts is already underway for a medical complex, but the development company wants to add retail into the mix.

“The development of a retail component in this area would constitute a dramatic change in what Fayette County’s land use plan designates for the area,“ wrote the commission in its objection.

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