Controversial

proposed rules requiring 25-foot buffers surrounding timber harvesting

operations in Fayette are on the County Commission's agenda this week.

The commission

will consider the new rules at its meeting Thursday at 7 p.m. at the County

Administrative Complex.

Land owners

and representatives of the timbering industry have argued against the

idea of buffers, saying not being able to harvest what could amount to

numerous acres of timber constitutes a taking of property, but the county

Planning and Zoning Commission decided that the impact on surrounding

property owners must be considered as well, and voted to recommend the

buffers to the County Commission.

"Clearly,

a treed community improves the property values in that area," former

P&Z Chairman Fred Bowen said during recent work session discussions.

"Whether it's 50 feet or 25 feet, I feel we have to provide some

protection from what clearly is an eyesore. Fayette County is not a farming

county, so I think we have to balance all this."

Up to half

of the trees in the buffer could be removed by thinning under the proposed

ordinance, a provision that commissioners said negates the argument that

the buffer constitutes a "taking."

The proposed

law also would require that a minimum number of trees be preserved in

the area that is clear-cut, and requires graveled entrances to the timbering

sites to prevent mud on the roads. Cleanup would be required once a timbering

operation is finished.

Commissioners

did bend to one request from Scott Jones of the Georgia Forestry Association,

a lobbying group. The commission increased the time limit during which

a land owner must begin timbering after receiving a permit, from one year

to two. Too many ducks have to be gotten into a row to get underway in

just a year, Jones said.

Before approving

the proposed ordinance, planning commissioners also added language defining

"undeveloped property." During previous discussions, the group

decided to allow waiver of the buffers if the adjoining property is undeveloped.

Also on the

commission's agenda Thursday will be a discussion of court defense for

indigent residents in Fayette.

Commissioners

also will consider awarding a bid for improvements to Weeman Field in

the soccer complex. The work would be done by Tifton Turf for $8,885.