A Valvoline oil change business and Meineke Muffler

shop wouldn't be compatible neighbors for residents of McIntosh

Commons, just off Ga. Highway 314 behind Harris Stone Cleaners,

the Fayetteville City Council decided last week.

Council members voted 2-1, with Glenn Brewer opposed,

to deny an appeal from Group VI Corp. for a special exception

to allow the facility in a C-3 (commercial) zone.

The city Planning Commission earlier denied the request,

and Group VI appealed that decision to the City Council.

Bill Tally, chairman of the Planning Commission, is a resident

of McIntosh Commons. He said homeowners in the

neighborhood opposed the Group VI plan, even though the area is already

occupied by several businesses.

The city's plan for businesses along the west side of Hwy. 314

is for light uses that would be compatible with the

neighborhood, Tally said. Harris Stone Cleaners and Kids R Kids day care

center occupy lots next to the Valvoline site. State Farm Insurance has

an office behind Harris Stone, also next to the subdivision.

"We don't feel that a repair and maintenance facility is in

keeping with that character," Tally told council during its work

session last week.

Realtor Lane Brown, representing Group VI, said the

companies would promise to have no outside storage, and no overnight

parking of vehicles outside, but council members said the project is

still not right for the site.

"A better location might be across the highway on the

east side of 314," said Councilman Larry Dell. Brewer disagreed.

"To me it's a simple retail business... not a high-impact repair

place," he said.

But Councilman Al Hovey-King said the business

wouldn't fit in. "It's a real tough issue.

This is one of the nicer architectural presentations we've seen for

such a business," he said.

In other business, owners of City Cafe in Fayetteville will

have to wait until mid-September to find out whether City Council

will give them a rebate on water and sewer fees.

The city recently passed an ordinance giving "quality

restaurants" that locate in the historic central business district an 80

percent exemption from the fees. But Jorg and Doreen Schatte had

already begun construction on their restaurant across the street

from City Hall when the ordinance was passed.

Three weeks ago, council directed city attorney David

Winkle to draft an amendment to the ordinance that would allow them

to extend the exemption to City Cafe, and conducted first reading of

that amendment last week. Second reading and a vote will be

conducted at the next meeting, Sept. 14.

The council normally would meet the first Monday, Sept.

7, but that meeting has been cancelled because it falls on

Labor Day.

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