City Council OKs bridge for Pinewood Forrest; county had agreed to tunnel, so outcome awaits commission’s vote; city wants to re-do Hwy. 85 N. zoning uses
The next move is up to the county.
The Fayetteville City Council gave its blessing Thursday night to a proposal that would have a bridge span Veterans Parkway, instead of a proposed tunnel under it. The proposal now goes to the Fayette County Commission, which previously agreed to a tunnel.
The city approved a request by developer Rick Halbert to substitute a bridge for the tunnel that was agreed upon in an intergovernmental agreement in 2013. The bridge is estimated to cost $836,000 and would be funded by Fayette County, according to the agreement signed by Fayetteville and Fayette County in 2013. If the cost exceeds $836,000, the overage would be paid by Pinewood Atlanta Studios and Pinewood Forrest.
City Manager Ray Gibson said the city would be responsible for maintenance costs for the bridge, and he worried about possible liability issues for the city if a tunnel is built.
“I know it’s Dan Cathy’s vision for a bridge,” Gibson said.
Halbert agreed with Gibson.
“We would rather see the bridge.”
In other action, the City Council imposed a 90-day moratorium for any rezoning or annexation requests for the Ga. Highway 85 corridor.
“The Highway 85 corridor, from Lafayette Avenue to the northern city limits has failed to redevelop older, underutilized and deteriorating existing properties. There has been an overemphasis on narrow strip developments which utilize only street frontage and leave undeveloped property hidden from view and without adequate street frontage and thereby undesirable for development. There is excessive emphasis on automotive and other mechanical uses (fuel stations, washing establishments, repair shops, body shops, detail shops, new and used dealers, rental agencies, towing and storage facilities,” staff wrote in a report on the issue.
The report concludes the current uses and trends have a negative impact on the economic health of the community and the overlay district ordinance needs to be rewritten.
Collaborative Firm consultant Jahnee Prince said she would bring back a re-written overlay ordinance to the City Council within 90 days.
