Fayetteville's

proposed new tree preservation ordinance is

slated for City Council action Monday, following

discussion at tonight's work session.

Both

Fayetteville and Fayette County have been working

for months to hammer out new laws designed to

protect more trees from being destroyed in the

construction process.

The

law would require developers to submit surveys

showing the locations of trees in their

developments, and plans for saving as many as

possible.

At

minimum, they would be required to save 100 tree

density units, defined as 100 inches of tree

diameter measured at breast height, for each acre

of developed land, not counting buffers.

Developers

could still strip their land of trees and replace

older, existing trees with younger ones, but they

would have to plant twice as many new trees to

satisfy the proposed law.

Council

will discuss the proposed law tonight at 7 p.m.

with plans to vote Monday at 7 p.m. at City Hall.

If

the new tree law is approved, council probably

will lift a moratorium on development that has

been in place while officials worked on wording

for the new ordinance.

In

other action, Robert Holme will take his request

to be allowed to build a back yard fence in

violation of Fayetteville ordinances to the City

Council tonight and Monday.

Holme's

request for a variance to allow a fence in his

back yard, which is legally defined as a front

yard in city ordinances because it faces a city

street, was denied by the Planning Commission

last month, and he is appealing the decision to

council.

The

fence issue has been a thorn in the city's side

recently, with several requests for exceptions to

the law. Residents say not being allowed to build

fences causes a safety problem for children and

pets playing in the back yard next to the street.

And

Holme told the Planning Commission that easy

access from the street into his back yard has

made it a tempting target for thieves, who stole

a lawn mower and other items recently.

Holme

has already built the fence, saying he didn't

know it was illegal. He is asking for a variance

so he won't have to tear it down.

Council

also is scheduled to discuss Argonne Properties'

rezoning request for The Village, a 110-acre,

mixed-use development in the heart of downtown,

on Ga. Highway 54 at Tiger Trail. But the item is

expected to be tabled. The Planning Commission is

still discussing details of the new planned

community development zoning category that has

been proposed as an appropriate district for the

planned development.

proposed historic preservation ordinance also is

likely to be tabled. It's on the Planning

Commission's January agenda, with a

recommendation possibly coming in time for City

Council's Feb. 7 meeting. A moratorium on

demolition in the city's historic district is in

place until the new ordinance is adopted.

Council

tonight and Monday also will consider design

proposals for planned improvements to Church

Street, just off the Courthouse Square.

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