The

annexation dispute between the city of Senoia and Coweta

County grew a little more heated this week as the bill

came due for the first round of mediation.

Members of

the Senoia City Council could not believe the cost of the

first round of mediation over a disputed site on Rockaway

Road.

The

mediation is a result of House Bill 489, which requires

cities and counties to work toward compromise solutions

on annexation disputes.

The dispute

started in April after the county received an annexation

notice from the city of Senoia.

County

planner Robert Tolleson told the County Commission the

city wants to annex approximately 55 acres on Rockaway

Road, near the Twin Lakes subdivision.

Currently,

the property is zoned Rural Reserve in the county, which

requires a minimum five-acre lot size. But Tolleson

explained that the owner of the property could apply for

an R-200 zoning, which allows a minimum lot size of 1.6

acres in the county.

If the

property was annexed into the city, the property would be

in Senoia's R-1 zoning category, which requires only a

one-acre lot size.

Since the

annexation would significantly increase the density of

homes allowed on the property, Tolleson asked the

commission to file an objection and asked for mediation

in the case.

But the

price of mediation became clear Monday night as Senoia

officials approved a bill for $943 for seven hours work

Councilman

Judy Belisle said the council had no choice but to pay

the bill, but wondered if the city couldn't find a

cheaper mediator for round two.

Mayor Joan

Trammell said city and county officials are working on

finding another mediator, but are having a tough time

agreeing on one.

Trammell

also said the city is paying the price for being the

first case under HB 489 that has gone to mediation.

Since both

parties could not agree, the dispute is headed to another

mediation round.

If the

parties disagree again on the mediator's recommendations,

the matter will ultimately be decided in a local court,

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