McDonough Road widening questioned by commissioner

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The Fayette County Board of Commissioners will discuss this week whether to ask the Georgia Department of Transportation to stop its widening project for McDonough Road and Hwy. 54 on the east side of Fayetteville.

A resolution to that effect is on the agenda for the July 23 regular meeting. It is being introduced by Commissioner Steve Brown, citing “no demand for the projects from Fayette citizens and the considerable costs and inconvenience to taxpayers.”

In an email to The Citizen, Brown said the issue “has a big impact on Fayette County” and that the project is being pushed by GDOT’s 13th District, not the 3rd District or the county itself.

“This is really about pumping others’ traffic through our county,” said Brown.

A few months ago the board voted to approve the funds to move the water infrastructure, a move Brown said he opposed.

The only other new business on the agenda is a recommendation to appoint John H. Culbreth, Sr. to the county’s Planning Commission to fill an unexpired term that lasts until the end of 2016. The opening was created when Bob Simmons resigned upon moving to a neighboring county. Culbreth has served on the McIntosh Trail Community Service Board but he has resigned from that post in lieu of being appointed to the Planning Commission, according to county officials.

Three public hearings are scheduled for the meeting:

A rezoning request from A-R to R-70 for single-family residential development on 1.96 acres fronting on Flat Creek Trail. It was recommended for approval by the Planning Commission with one condition.

A rezoning request from A-R to R-75 for a single-family residential subdivision on 10.56 acres fronting on South Jeff Davis Drive. The Planning Commission recommended approval.

A request to add two lots to the minor subdivision plat for the property mentioned in the previous rezoning request.

The consent agenda includes consideration of a $28,000 change order for additional grout-fill of the Lake Peachtree spillway, along with the minutes for the July 9 and July 15 board meetings.

The board is scheduled to recognize Dr. William M. Strain, M.D., for his 24 years of service on the Fayette County Board of Health; the McIntosh Trail Community Service Board for its opening of the new Pine Woods Behavioral Health Crisis Center; and the county’s Water System and 911 Communications Department that were instrumental in the Insurance Services Office (ISO) awarding Peachtree City its new Class 1 Public Protection Classification.