Higher

density housing and more green space could be the path of

Senoia's future after Tuesday night's City Council

meeting.

vote, the council approved the first reading of an

amendment to the city's zoning ordinances to provide for

an open space zoning category.

Under the

new category, developers will be able to build homes on

lots as small as one-quarter acre, if public sewer is

available.

In return,

developers agree to leave at least 25 percent of the

total tract as open space that be used for such items as

public trails and parks that can be used by all residents

of the city.

During the

discussion of the zoning, one of the major sticking

points was whether to count areas such as wetlands, flood

plains and steep elevations in the 25 percent of open

space.

Councilman

Judy Belisle argued that these areas were already

protected so the developer should not be able to use

these areas as open space.

But city

planner Bill Johnston said if developers were not allowed

to use this as open space, the areas would be platted and

residents would wind up with wetlands in their backyards

and the land would be not protected.

The council

finally agreed that the developer would not be able to

count more than 75 percent of wetlands and flood plains

areas as part of the 25 percent open space.

The

ordinance also reads that no more than 75 percent of the

open space can be used for active recreation areas, such

as golf courses.

"Not

everyone plays golf," said Johnston.

Belisle

said she also had a problem with increasing the density,

but Mayor Joan Trammell said the payoff is worth it.

"I

want more green space and to keep more of our trees.

Developers will only be getting 10 percent more houses

under this proposal," she said.

The open

space zoning also requires developers to keep open space

50 feet around the perimeter of the development.

Councilman

Dianne Cleveland wanted to study the issue more and

suggested tabling it to next week's meeting, but the vote

failed.

Councilman

Kyle Frank then made a motion to approve the zoning and

it passed with Frank, Trammell and Councilman Robert

Hannah supporting it.