One

of the more contentious land issues in recent

years in Peachtree City may be slowly moving

toward a relatively positive conclusion.

The

Peachtree City Planning Commission Monday night

approved rezoning of a 31.75-acre tract at the

end of Carriage Lane, owned by Mike Hyde and

Katherine Palmer. The property has been the

subject of several years of litigation and

controversy, beginning when Hyde was a member of

the Planning Commission before being removed by

the City Council.

Hyde

was not present Monday night for the hearing,

which was tabled at the June 14 meeting. He

proposed changing the zoning category of the land

from Estate Residential to Limited Use

Residential for 12 single-family detached lots.

City

staff recommended that the 12th lot, which was

only one acre, be dissolved into two of the other

lots, all of which are 2.48 acres or larger. It

was also recommended that the subdivision be tied

into the city path system before any homes are

occupied.

Hyde

proposed changing the name of Carriage Lane to

Hyde Lake Court at the development's entrance,

but the city recommended against it.

As

for the overall plan, "It may not be the

best way the land could be used, but it may be

the best we can find so far," said city

development director Jim Williams.

One

resident speaking out against the plan said that

he suspected it was being approved mainly to get

Hyde to drop his lawsuit. He suggested that Hyde

should show the city some good faith and drop the

lawsuit first, then submit a plan.

Other

concerns were aired by local residents on

adjoining properties, such as traffic.

The

plan is scheduled to go before the City Council

July 15. The Planning Commission voted 3-1 to

recommend approval of the request, with Wes

Saunders voting against and Jim Finney absent.

<!--

-----------