A rezoning request

scheduled for consideration by the Peachtree City

Planning Commission this Monday could have a major effect

on the current workings of the annexation task force.

John Wieland Homes is the

applicant for the 102-acre site west of the CSX railroad

and north of the Cedarcroft subdivision.

Known as the Katz property,

it is actually two tracts - one owned by the Katz

family, and the other by Pathway Communities. They have

been combined for the purposes of this request, according

to city development director Jim Williams.

Wieland wants to build 408

homes on the site. The requested residential zoning would

allow four homes per acre. The property is now zoned

industrial.

But city officials feel

that the request is not a good idea, especially in light

of the work the task force is now doing to consider the

merit of developing the entire 1,100-acre West Village as

a part of Peachtree City.

Although the property

owners have been working with the group, as have Wieland

representatives, approval of this request could seriously

complicate the task force's mission and possibly cause

problems within the groups, Williams said.

Williams said city staff

has taken the same position with this request as they did

with another West Village parcel that Pathway has

petitioned Fayette County to rezone. He wants the

Planning Commission to table the request, or if Wieland

pushes for a fast decision, to recommend denial.

"We're of the opinion

that putting that many houses that close to the railroad

tracks is a bad idea under any circumstances," said

Williams.

The Planning Commission

meeting will be preceded Monday by a 6 p.m. workshop with

Dr. Kevin Armbrust from the University of Georgia. He

will address the group on watershed protection and, in

particular, the effects of pesticides and lawn chemicals

on the environment. The public is invited to attend.

This is part of a new

program that Williams says is helping the Planning

Commission become educated on a number of topics relevant

to their duties. Workshops like this one will be

scheduled every few months.

Armbrust is getting ready

to begin a major study in this area, Williams said, he

will explain how his work could benefit the city.

Other items on the agenda

for the regular Monday meeting, which starts at 7, are

conceptual site plans for L.T. Mechanical and an

expansion of MA Industries, both of which are on Dividend

Drive.

Also scheduled are

discussions of scenic road status for Sumner Road, a

proposed median cut at Nature's Nursery, and a possible

change in the Planning Commission's conceptual site plan

review procedures.

A landscape plan for

Lexington Commons, on Ga. Highway 54 at Walt Banks Road,

and a concept plat for Ashton Park subdivision on

Robinson Road, are up for consideration as well.