Kolter Homes can build — and thus sell — up to 100 homes in Wilksmoor Village prior to the completion of MacDuff Parkway. That decision by the Peachtree City Council came on a 3-2 vote at the Sept. 4 meeting.
That’s on top of the 100 homes already approved for developer John Wieland Homes nearby. MacDuff Parkway currently has only one way in and one way out — the intersection at busy Ga. Highway 54 West.
Mayor Vanessa Fleisch and councilmen Terry Ernst and Mike King voted in favor of loosening the restrictions, and Councilman Eric Imker and Councilwoman Kim Learnard opposed.
Commenting on her vote, Learnard on Sunday said the original document noted that no certificates of occupancy (CO) would be issued until the development was completed. Learnard said she had wanted both developers, including representatives from Wieland and Kolter, to give council members a joint status report on the projects.
“I might have felt differently if they were there together to report on the status,” Learnard said.
Imker was unavailable for comment.
Kolter initially wanted 200 COs for its 650-home subdivision but later requested that number be reduced to 100. The 100 CO limit was the same as John Wieland Homes received in July for its 204-home subdivision, also located in Wilksmoor Village on the city’s northwest side.
The idea of agreeing to Kolter’s request of up to 200 COs prior to the extension of MacDuff Parkway proved to be a sticking point with the City Council at the Aug. 21 meeting.
The Sept. 4 vote by the council altered the previous ordinance requirement that the road extension and bridge be completed before the first certificate of occupancy could be issued.
The amendment to the LUR-14 (Limited Use Residential) zoning ordinance includes the construction of a bridge over the CSX Railroad line adjacent to Senoia Road where MacDuff Parkway will intersect. CSX has the final say on the bridge project.
The intersection of MacDuff Parkway and Senoia Road will also require the installation of a traffic signal.
City planner David Rast said discussions with CSX are underway to finalize the details for the bridge.
There is also an issue with a small “sliver” of land on the north side of Senoia Road in the vicinity of Kedron Drive. City attorney Ted Meeker said though the city owns the property, there is some potential for litigation on the issue.
Concerning her prior vote to give Wieland up to 100 COs prior to the completion of the parkway, Learnard said that vote dealt with the 87-acre piece of property which was not covered in the recent rezoning.
