The July 1 vote by the Coweta County Commission to abandon a portion of Wynn’s Pond Road in east Coweta paves the way for the development of the large Fischer Crossing retail development on the northeast quadrant of Fischer Road and Ga. Highway 34.
The measure called for a median cut on Ga. Highway 54 at Wynn’s Pond Road and the installation of a gated cul-de-sac on the west side of the roadway near the retail area for use by residents of the Featherston Fishing Club and emergency vehicles.
The approval came on a 4-0 vote, with Chairman Bob Blackburn excluding himself from the discussion and vote due to an affiliation with the Featherston Fishing Club.
Though no tenants have been identified, signs posted on the Fischer Crossing property note plans to establish 200,000 square feet of retail space on the site.
Unless other changes pertaining to the development are requested by the owner, the only issue preventing construction of the large shopping venue is securing the required grading and land disturbance permits.
Project representative Steven Gaultney last year agreed to the conditions that pertained to the Featherston Fishing Club property immediately to the east and northeast of the retail development.
Though Wynn’s Pond Road once ended at Fischer Road on its west side, the agreement called for closing the road approximately 1,000 feet to the east. One of the conditions stipulated that a cul-de-sac be constructed at the new western end of Wynn’s Pond Road and a gate and keypad installed to permit only Featherston Fishing Club residents and emergency vehicles access to the roadway and the homes located to the east.
Another condition dealt with the median cut on Hwy. 54 at Wynn’s Pond Road that has long been a requirement associated with the large Fischer Crossing commercial project. The median cut was part of the overall approval of the development several years ago to provide direct access to Wynn’s Pond Road from Hwy. 54 for members of the Featherston Fishing Club.
The condition agreed to by Gaultney stated that the developer will either install the median break or will provide an irrevocable letter of credit from a bank approved by the county to cover the cost of the installation. Certificates of occupancy for any new commercial construction will not be issued until the median break is installed.
Gaultney last year told commissioners the development would represent a $32-33 million investment.
Originally rezoned from RC (rural conservation) to C-7 (major commercial shopping center) several years ago in accordance with the county’s 2006-2026 Comprehensive Plan, the 77-acre northeast quadrant of the Fischer Road/Hwy. 34 intersection was to be home to a Kohl’s department store that would serve as the anchor and would include a number of other retailers. But that was during the Great Recession and resulted in the eventual loss of the property by developer Scott Seymour after Kohl’s pulled out of the project.
