The Fayetteville City Council will discuss the annexation of 98 acres Thursday night that is the final component in the master development plan of the mixed-use development across from Pinewood Studios on Veterans Parkway.
The city’s planning staff has already signed off on the annexation and the Fayette County Commission did not object to the proposal. The city recommends the city annex the property for several reasons.
“With the development growth and interest in the West Fayetteville Area, the demand for housing created by new business activity has become evident. The addition of Pinewood Atlanta Studios, Georgia Military College and Fayette Piedmont Hospital’s expansion project (adding 95 beds, 292 doctors and 852 other employees to their staff) have specifically contributed to this increased demand,” said the city’s report on the proposal.
The staff recommends allowing the annexation and zoning to PCD, provided the developers provide traffic calming devices on major streets, do a stormwater study and consider options for a centralized fire hydrant system. The development will also have to fit the standards of a Development of Regional Impact, which is currently being studied by the Atlanta Regional Commission.
Another issue the city will discuss involving Pinewood Forrest is a modification of an intergovernmental agreement signed with the county in 2013. The agreement stated a tunnel would be built on either Veterans Parkway or Sandy Creek Road for access to Pinewood Studios from the new development. Staff is now recommending to look at the feasibility and cost structure of building a roundabout to connect the two developments and presenting the information to the city and county at a later date.
Finally, the city will get a first glimpse at next year’s budget. The general fund is set to increase from $10.3 million to $11.5 million and feature six new hires, including three police officers, a part-time firefighter, a public works position and a planning position.
The meeting begins Thursday at 7 p.m. at City Hall on South Glynn Street.
