The

Village, an upscale, mixed-use, high-density project that

is expected to change the face of downtown Fayetteville,

is ready for the next step in a process that began early

this year.

"I

can't believe we're finally here," said developer

Bob Rolader before unveiling several color renderings

during a Planning Commission work session last week.

Following a

three-month series of meetings between developers,

elected and appointed city officials, City Council last

April approved a general concept for 203 homes plus

offices, a retail square, parks and a hotel on the

110-acre McElwaney property, on Ga. Highway 54 west near

the Courthouse Square.

Now, after

five months of detailed engineering work "to make

sure the plan we had designed on paper would work on the

ground," developer Bob Rolader is asking for zoning

that will match the design concept. The city Planning

Commission will consider his request for PCD (Planned

Community Development) zoning during its business meeting

Tuesday at 7 p.m. at City Hall.

But first,

the commission will consider whether to recommend

creation of the PCD zoning category. It currently doesn't

exist (see related story).

If the

category is created and then attached to Rolader's

project, it will pave the way for a neo-traditional

community designed to offer "a live-work

environment," Rolader said.

When the

project is built out, possibly ten to 15 years from now,

west-bound travelers leaving Fayetteville will pass a

hotel/conference center on the corner of Hwy. 54 and

Tiger Trail, nestled in an existing pecan grove and

designed to save many of the trees. Next will come an

entrance into the project, a right turn that will open

onto a commercial square lined with small businesses.

"It

will be sort of like the Courthouse Square, only without

the courthouse in it," said Rolader. Restaurants,

shops, possibly a small grocery... all are expected to

serve primarily the residents of the community, Rolader

said, to cut down on traffic.

Farther in,

north of the square, the shops will give way to a series

of neighborhoods, also arranged to face small squares,

parks that will be maintained by the homeowners

associations. Sidewalks and trees will line the narrow

streets, contributing to what Rolader calls "that

`Leave it to Beaver' look and feel."

Garages

will be tucked away on the sides and rears of houses,

often faced onto service alleyways. "We're trying to

have everything where we don't get the garage in your

face," said Rolader.

Closest to

the shops and to the northeast of the property along

Tiger Trail will be 30 attached

"Charleston-style" condominiums, as small as

1,200 square feet and selling for a minimum of $150,000.

Toward the

center will be 75 "village" lots, about 45 by

120 feet with detached homes of about 1,850 square feet,

starting around $175,000.

To the

northwest, 76 cottage lots will be about 55 by 120 feet,

homes will be about 2,250 square feet and will start at

$200,000.

In the

northwestern corner of the property, the most wooded

part, 22 "estate" lots, about 70 by 120 feet,

will be occupied by 3,000-sq. ft. homes starting at

$250,000. Restrictive covenants will prohibit the cutting

of trees at the rear of these lots, Rolader said, but

Planning Commission members suggested the wooded portion

be deeded to the homeowners association, for added

protection.

Farther

west on 54, an additional entrance into the development

will be a parkway, winding through small offices and

larger campus-style office, then looping past the estate

homes, turning east through the other neighborhoods

before exiting on Tiger Trail.

Small

offices will be geared toward professionals, and it's

hoped that many of them will live in the community,

Rolader said.

The larger

offices at the southwest corner of the property are aimed

at attracting corporate relocation, he added.

Drainage

questions involving two creeks that run through the

property have been worked out, said Rolader, who added he

is in the process of negotiating a detailed development

agreement with the city.