An intergovernmental agreement (IGA) between Fayetteville and Fayette County was approved last week by the Fayette County Commission and is expected to be approved Thursday by the Fayetteville City Council.
The IGA outlines intergovernmental responsibilities pertaining to aspects of the annexation by Fayetteville of nearly 1,200 acres on the city’s west side. Pinewood Atlanta Studios currently under development is located on a portion of that acreage.
The stated goal of the intergovernmental agreement was to ensure a smooth transition between governments, to develop a unified strategy that addresses the concerns of the city and county, to minimize the impact on the ongoing Pinewood development, to develop a multi-use path network, to allocate public safety services and to set responsibilities for area roadways.
Per the agreement, the city will maintain Veterans Parkway from Ga. Highway 54 to Sandy Creek Road and Sandy Creek Road along the Pinewood frontage. The city will uphold existing curb cut limits along with interparcel access via access roads for new development. The county will provide funds for possible road expansion through future one-percent sales tax initiatives.
The agreement calls for a multi-use path network to be integrated throughout the area, connected to existing framework and to be required in the upcoming development overlay plan with path tunnel guidelines.
The city and county acknowledged that a multi-use path tunnel should be constructed beneath either Sandy Creek Road or Veterans Parkway connecting to the Pinewood site and with Pinewood contributing $60,000 to the project. The bulk of the funds for the project will come from the one-percent sales tax up for a vote in November. If the initiative fails, the county will be responsible for the expense.
As for the allocation of public safety services, the Fayette County Sheriff’s Office will maintain service delivery as the city incrementally increases police services for the area.
Fire services will be provided initially by the county and city, though the city has plans for the FY 2016 budget to construct Station 93 to serve the west Fayetteville area. The new station is expected to be located on the southern side of the Pinewood property along Veterans Parkway near Hood Road. Donation of the acreage on which the fire station will be located is a condition of annexation.
The county will provide primary fire services at no charge through June 2015. After that point, the county will be compensated at 50 percent of the total assessed value of the annexed acreage until the fire station is operational.
A separate agreement between the city and county pertains to building permits and inspections services of future phases of the Pinewood development. The agreement calls for the county continuing to issue building permits and conduct inspections.
The city will maintain inspections and compliance for stormwater, parking, permit sewer projects, landscaping, signage, architectural elevations and full site plan review.
The permits and inspections agreement extends for one year and will be automatically renewed unless one of the parties provides a 90-day written notice of its intent not to renew the agreement.
The agreement also calls for the city to use county experience and resources to perform inspection services including buildings, plumbing, mechanical and electrical and fire and Americans with Disabilities Act compliance. The city will maintain permitting and inspections for architectural elevations, landscaping, parking and signage.
The agreement applies to the qualifying business plan submitted to the city after the effective annexation date tentatively set for Sept. 1.
As for the revenue share from permits and inspections, the county will receive 75 percent of those funds and the city will receive 25 percent during the IGA period. The revenue share pertains only to plans submitted after the annexation date.
The Fayetteville City Council is expected to approve the IGA at the Aug. 1 meeting.
