A parcel on

Rockaway Road is poised to become Senoia's first

development using open space guidelines.

The new

guidelines focus on maintaining at least 25 percent open

space in the entire development and having passive

recreation areas such as walking paths in the

development.

Open space

development also increases the density in the developed

portion of the project. Ricky Hart's proposed development

on Rockaway Road sets aside the open space and places at

least 54 homes on the rest of the property.

While many

residents attending Tuesday night's City Council meeting

were in favor of maintaining green space, they cautioned

the city about rushing into a decision.

Mary

Provost, who lives in the neighboring Twin Lakes

subdivision, submitted a petition from her neighbors who

did not want to see anymore development in their

neighborhood.

"Preserve

the lake and don't rush completion of the sewer

project," she said.

The city

has embarked on building a municipal sewer system and

Hart has pledged to spend $125,000 to build a pump and

lift station to pump sewage from his development into the

city's treatment facility.

Resident

Joann Utt also urged city officials to take more time

before making a decision. The suggestion that the city

was rushing in approving a zoning caused Mayor Joan

Trammell to bristle.

"I'm

not making a hasty decision. We have spent the last three

years studying sewer and I'm not rushing at all,"

she said.

Councilman

Kyle Frank agreed with the mayor.

"Sewer

is vitally critical to this town. I think open space is a

good type of development," he said.

Hart

maintained that homes in his subdivision would have a

historic architectural flavor that would blend in with

the city's existing architecture. Scattered throughout

the development would be nature trails for all the

citizens to use.

The

rezoning passed 3-2 vote with Trammell, Frank and

Councilman Robert Hannah voting for it, while councilmen

Judy Belisle and Dianne Cleveland voted against it.