For Fayetteville Police Chief Steve Heaton it was a matter of slowing motorists down on three city roadways. The City Council at the Sept. 15 generally agreed, though Councilman Al Hovey-King said he would like more details before voting to lower the speed limit from 45 miles per hour to 35 mies per hour on South Jeff Davis Drive.
Hovey-King is not running for reelection to his post in the November city election.
Council members heard the first reading of a proposal to lower the speed limit from 45 mph to 35 mph on Beauregard Boulevard from South Glynn Street to Ramah Road and on South Jeff Davis beginning at the city limits. The proposal also looks to continue the expanded school zone along Grady Avenue.
Heaton told council members that the proposal followed a recent speed limit review that was conducted as a result of changes and upgrades made to the three areas included in the proposal.
Commenting on South Jeff Davis, Heaton noted that some motorists are currently reaching speeds of 55 mph after taking advantage of the 10 mph leeway given to motorists when radar is being used.
Addressing the proposed 35 mph speed limit on South Jeff Davis, Hovey-King said he was not convinced that lowering the speed limit was the most appropriate way to reduce speed in the area. Noting Heaton’s comments that the number of homes along the roadway can contribute to congestion, Hovey-King said most of those homes have been there for 25-30 years.
Hovey-King said he would like to see more background information on the proposal at the next meeting, with Heaton saying he would have that information available.
Pertaining to the other proposed speed limit reductions, the recently installed roundabout at Grady Avenue and Beauregard Avenue has slowed traffic along Beauregard, as does the four-way stop at Bates Avenue. Heaton suggested that the area might benefit from having a 35 mph speed limit down to Ramah Road.
And Heaton cited visibility issues as a reason to decrease the speed limit in the school zone area along Grady between Beauregard and Ga. Highway 54 West.
Neither of those proposals drew comments from the council.
Also on the agenda were proposed ordinance amendments relating to sweepstakes Internet cafes and the precious metals ordinance.
The council heard the second reading and approved a measure that would extend the moratorium on sweepstakes Internet cafes that was adopted in March. The proposal would extend the moratorium until July 1 to allow enough time for the Georgia General Assembly to address the issue and for any new law to become effective.
The council also heard the first reading of an amendment to the precious metals ordinance that would clarify the methods of remittance and fee collection.
