Land

owners want to put a mini-warehouse on 5.75 acres

next to the Ingle's grocery store on Ga. Highway

92 south at Ga. Highway 85.

But

Fayetteville Planning Commission members aren't

offering much encouragement, saying they will

probably vote against a zoning change to allow

the project.

Ted

H., Brenda G. and John M. Meeks are asking that

the City Council change the property's zoning

from C-3 (highway commercial) to M-1 (light

industrial). The Planning Commission is expected

to make its recommendation concerning the request

at its meeting Tuesday at 7:30 p.m. at City Hall.

The

matter would then go to City Council for

discussion Dec. 6 and possible action Dec. 20.

"There is a strong demand for what we are

proposing to do here," said Ted Meeks during

the Planning Commission's work session last week.

The

family has done market research in the area, said

Meeks, adding that numerous residents of the area

have said they need a place to park trucks,

recreational vehicles and boats because covenants

in most area neighborhood don't allow parking

them at home.

The

property is not well suited for a retail

business, Meeks said.

But

the city's land use plan, adopted in its revised

form last year, calls for retail business at the

busy intersection, not light industrial, said

commission members and city planning staff

members.

"I

would not be in favor of this myself," said

commissioner Myron Coxe. "The land use plan

calls for C-3, and I'm not inclined to go against

that," added commissioner Kevin Bittinger.

Meeks

argued that until recently, the C-3 zoning

category allowed mini-warehouses, so he believes

his project is compatible with the area.

Commissioner Segis "Al" Lipscomb

replied, "We clearly define what we want in

each zoning, and what you're requesting we want

in M-1."

"This

is what we see as really the highest and best use

for our land," said Meeks. An alternative

would have been "big box" commercial

development similar to the stores in Fayette

Pavilion, he said, but the city recently changed

the rules so that big boxes aren't allowed on his

land.

"What

we're looking for now is an alternative use for

our land," he said.

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