The Peachtree City Council is being asked to allow 12 new townhome units to be built without fire sprinklers as required by a city ordinance adopted in March 2008.
Marksmen Construction is ready to build the remaining 12 townhome units at The Village at Lexington Circle development off Ga. Highway 54 West.
The first 34 units in the subdivision were not required to have a sprinkler system, but because the previous developer’s building permit for the last 12 expired in June 2008, the city’s new fire protection ordinance now applies, city officials said.
The new ordinance, approved in March 2008, requires that any newly-constructed multi-family buildings have fire suppression sprinkler systems installed.
The City Council will consider the variance request at its 7 p.m. meeting Thursday night at City Hall off Ga. Highway 54 and Willowbend Road.
When Marksmen Construction acquired the property, 14 townhome units were already under construction. The company has since finished those units, of which 12 have been sold, Marksmen has told city officials.
The first 34 units were approved with a two-hour rated fire wall separating each unit, which complied with city ordinances at the time, according to city officials.
Council is also expected to vote on a staff request to award a bid for resurfacing parking lots at City Hall. The low bidder was On-Site Paving at $145,000; the initial budget for the project was $229,000.
The project includes all parking lots surrounding City Hall including the Drake Field parking lot, but excluding the newest parking area built as a part of the recent library expansion.
Funds for the project will come from a low interest loan program offered by the Georgia Municipal Association.
Council will also vote on a request from city staff to construct approach paths to the tunnel under Ga. Highway 74 at Paschall Road. The lowest bidder was JHC Corporation at $346,000.
The project will be performed in two phases, with the first being the approach paths themselves and the second phase being a path leading northward on the western side of the highway toward the post office and The Avenue shopping center, officials said.
The second phase of the project may be delayed somewhat due to issues with acquiring rights of way, officials said.
The tunnel has been in place since last year’s completion of the widening of Hwy. 74 from two to six lanes between Ga. Highway 54 and Cooper Circle. The tunnel was installed as part of the road widening and the city has committed $150,000 in funding for the tunnel.
If no further change orders are necessary, the project could realize a savings of $380,000 in transportation sales tax revenues that can be used for other such projects. A portion of the project also is being funded by the city’s public improvement program.
