A proposed

open space zoning category is drawing fire from at least one Fairburn

City Councilman.

"I just

don't see what good it does the city. It's all for the developer,"

said Councilman Harvey Melear.

The open space

ordinance was to be discussed and either approved or turned down Monday

night, but Mayor Betty Hannah asked for it to be tabled until the July

8 meeting, so the council could have more time to study it.

The open space

category would allow developers to build on smaller lots if they dedicated

permanent green space to the city, said city planner Bill Johnston.

Johnston said

the number of lots would not increase in the development. Instead, they

would just be closer together with greenspace left for the residents to

enjoy.

But Melear

said developers would not seek the zoning category if they had a perfect

piece of property to develop.

"The only

time they'll ask for this is when they have some land that's already not

buildable," he said.

Johnston did

say that was possible, but said any greenspace donated to the city could

be counted in the city's 20 percent of open space that Gov. Roy Barnes

is seeking.

The planner

said the developer's lot size would be determined by how much of the property

would be dedicated as greenspace.

"The good

things for the city would be less pavement and less utilities to run,"

he said.

Johnston also

said the house size would not be slashed as a result of the smaller lots.

The City Council

is expected to render a final decision July 8.