The city of

Senoia nearly put the cart before the horse Monday night.

Town

leaders were poised to vote on a preliminary plat on a

new development on Rockaway Road at Monday night's City

Council meeting.

But

Councilwoman Judy Belisle questioned whether the council

should not first approve the resolution that contains the

new type of zoning the developer is seeking.

Last month

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, Belisle said she 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.

After

checking with the city's attorney, Trammell said the

council could vote on the plat next month after the

second reading of the zoning ordinance had been

completed.

In other

news, the council learned it had a grant of $10,000. City

administrator Leonard Thompson said the city recently

discovered it had a $10,000 matching grant that could be

used for a new structure, such as a pedestrian bridge.

The council

is hopeful it will also receive a grant to build a

walking trail from the ball fields on Howard Road to the

city's park on Seavy Street. Trammell said the funds

could be used for a bridge over a creek in the park.