The possibility of renewing

Peachtree City's moratorium on multifamily housing projects for next year

survived Thursday night's City Council meeting.

Council voted unanimously to

have a public hearing on the possible extension of the moratorium at its

first meeting in January.

At first, it sounded like council

was leaning toward allowing the moratorium to lapse at the end of this

year. Councilman Robert Brooks, who supported the moratorium when it was

originally adopted, said he thought development of multifamily housing

in the city was "under control" since there is little land left

in the city that's zoned for such developments.

Mayor Bob Lenox pointed out

that the moratorium makes the planning process more difficult for city

staff.

"My biggest concern...

is that anybody with the wild idea of putting apartments in Peachtree

City can't talk to city staff," Lenox said, also adding that he didn't

oppose renewing the moratorium.

For city staff to become involved,

council must lift the moratorium for a particular project, Lenox pointed

out.

"I probably think it gives

us a better product," Councilwoman Carol Fritz said of the moratorium.

That sentiment was echoed by Jim Williams, the city's director of developmental

services.

Williams told council he thinks

the moratorium causes some projects not to come forward.

"It might tend to direct

development in a way that we don't even have to talk about," Williams

said.

Williams' comments appeared

to sway council quickly. Almost immediately after he spoke, council unanimously

approved scheduling the public hearing for the first council meeting in

January.