Fayetteville will be a greener city if changes

to the city's zoning ordinances are adopted Monday.

Council will consider a laundry list of changes during its work session tonight at 7 p.m. and

its business meeting Monday at 7 p.m., both at

City Hall.

Among proposed changes to the ordinance is an increase in the amount of green space required

for commercial developments. Currently, 75 percent

of the development can be impervious (paved) surfaces, with 25 percent green space. If adopted,

the new ordinance will require a 60-40 split.

The historic Main Street district would be exempted, though, because most of the building lots

in that area are too small to conform.

Another new section to the ordinance is likely

to engender some controversy. One provision prohibits parking commercial vehicles in residential

areas overnight.

City planner Jahnee Prince said she is recommending that council strike that part of the

proposed ordinance, which was adapted from existing laws

in other communities. "If we approve that, then the

city should provide parking lots for commercial

vehicles for people who are self-employed," she said.

The provision would apply to commercial vehicles with more than four wheels.

Included in the same proposed section are

limits on the number of vehicles that can be parked

overnight on a residential lot.

A four-bedroom home could have no more than six vehicles.

It's a way of preventing over-occupancy of

homes, said Prince.

A new corridor ordinance governing state highways and Jimmy Mayfield Boulevard would

require planted buffers along the highways, more

space between driveways and other touches designed

to create a more parklike appearance, Prince said. Modeled after a similar ordinance in

Beaufort County, S.C., the law also includes architectural

and lighting requirements.

Also included in the proposed changes are

myriad clarifications and editing changes, said Prince.

Council also will discuss annexation and rezoning for a medical professional park on Ga.

Highway 54 near Fayette Community Hospital. Being

developed by Hayes Development Corp., the project

will include a two-story medical office building and

a bank site.

Greg Alvarez's request for rezoning at 265 N. Jeff Davis Drive for another medical office park

also is on the agenda.

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