Three rezoning

petitions in Senoia may be some of the most closely watched zoning decisions

in years.

Monday night,

Senoia's City Council will vote on three controversial rezonings that

have ignited a firestorm in this growing east Coweta city.

If all the

zonings pass, residents could soon see more than 200 new homes in the

city on small lots, but with greenspace.

Residents turned

out in force Tuesday during the public hearings for the zonings and told

the Planning Commission and City Council that they don't want high-density

development in their town.

The first possible

developments discussed were by Steve Entrekin, who wants to develop two

tracts on Rockaway Road. The other development that caused citizen outrage

is on Ga. Highway 85.

Entrekin owns

two tracts and would place more than 120 homes on the 134 acres. The developer

is asking for the R-40 open space development, which would allow him to

have half-acre lots, but he would have to reserve 25 percent of the acreage

as open space.

City planner

Bill Johnston recommended the council approve the zoning since development

north of the city is planned for residential use and the market tendency

is toward smaller lots.

Entrekin said

the homes would be at least 1,800 square feet and start at $200,000.

But the residents

were overwhelmingly against the development.

Former Councilwoman

Judy Belisle beseeched the council to turn down the proposals.

"We have

something different here in Senoia. This would only benefit the developer,"

she said.

One of the

more colorful speeches came from Bill Royal, who lives on Hutchinson Lake

Road. Royal, who said he used to be a developer, said nobody wants the

Entrekin developent.

"They're

building the slums of the future. Somewhere, some backroom deals have

been made on this," he said.

Resident after

resident went to the podium and asked the Planning Commission and City

Council to increase the density of the development, but in the end, the

Planning Commission unanimously recommended approval.

The City Council

will vote on the project Monday at 7 p.m.