While the Peachtree

City Planning Commission is updating the city's land use plan, it has

decided to change the recommended zoning for land that's currently earmarked

for industrial use in the city's northwestern corner.

The property,

consisting of several tracts, is north of the 300-acre Katz tract and

extends to the city limits. City staff is recommending that land be changed

to an office-institutional land use designation, said Jim Williams, the

city's director of developmental services.

Williams also

said the city should rezone the property to reflect that idea, since the

land isn't well-suited for industrial use and residential use wouldn't

be a good idea.

"I think

it would be very undesirable to go residential in this area," Williams

said.

Williams pointed

out that churches and other public buildings would qualify to be in the

office-institutional zoning area.

"We also

think it is imperative for a new fire station to serve this area,"

Williams said. That would also improve response times to the Wynnmeade

subdivision area, which has been difficult to get to, he added.

Williams also

recommended that a church and an undeveloped site on Ga. Highway 54 west

be earmarked for open space in the land use plan. The Line Creek Baptist

Church could eventually move and make room for more commercial development,

although church leaders have said they like their location, Williams said.

The other site he recommended for open space is between MacDuff Parkway

and the Wynnmeade subdivision, although Williams admitted that a gas station

had been submitted on plans for that land previously.

"If we

do get a Wal-Mart and a Home Depot, the dollar signs will go up,"

Williams said, alluding to other retail stores wanting to open in Peachtree

City.

Planning Commission

member Rich Schumacher said the church may like its surroundings now,

but that might change if Wal-Mart and Home Depot come to the area.

After deciding

to follow Williams' recommendations, the commission voted unanimously

to recommend to City Council that all property be zoned to reflect the

changes they will have made once the land use plan updating process is

completed.

The process

requires a public hearing after the commission finishes its work. At its

next meeting, the commission is expected to tackle the land use plan for

the Aberdeen, Glenloch and Braelinn villages.