Another new

development is coming to Fairburn, complete with townhomes and a commercial

area.

But the rezoning

of the property at Ga. Highway 138 and Vickers Road Monday night proved

unusual as the normally solid Fairburn City Council split on the decision.

The development

is on 76.8 acres and features 214 units.

Planned for

the site are 102 single family detached homes and 112 townhomes, along

with 8.5 acres of commercial space and 20.87 acres left as open space.

Developer Pat

Gilly told the City Council the development would be an asset to the city,

with the homes starting at $140,000 and the townhomes starting at $100,000.

He pledged

to have architectural accents, such as brick or masonry, on the homes

and said the townhomes would be fee simple, privately owned structures,

instead of rental units.

Gilly also

said he would seek the council's advice for what types of businesses the

leaders would like to see at the site.

But Councilman

Harvey Melear was not convinced the development would be in the best interests

of the city. Melear criticized Gilly's plan for the site and said it looked

like a "mill village."

"I promise

you it will be the best looking mill village you've ever seen," said

Gilly.

Melear also

said the proposed open space is a ravine, and not buildable.

"You're

taking every available building space and not leaving any areas for trees,"

Melear said.

Councilman

Gene Wiggins also had problems with a report from the town's engineer,

who said that issues with an entrance on Hwy. 138 should have been settled

before the rezoning application was brought before the council.

In the end,

Wiggins and Melear voted against the proposal, while C ouncilmen

Roy Farr, Doug Crawford, Glenn Higgins and Frankie Arnold supported the

project.