The Fayetteville

City Council moved ahead last week with plans to modify the intersection

of Ga. Highway 85 and Pine Trail Road, hoping to alleviate traffic concerns

near Fayette Pavilion.

Some residents

of Pine Trail Road, which runs between Office Depot and the Uptown Square

shopping center, where Ruby Tuesday and Barnes & Noble are located,

have expressed concerns that the proposed changes could make Pine Trail

Road the main entrance into Uptown Square and the road would continue

to be a cut-through to Banks Road.

Access to Uptown

Square from Pine Trail Road is currently right-in, right-out only. The

city plans to change that and make it a typical intersection.

Two signs warn

approaching traffic about the current configuration, with instructions

to enter Uptown Square directly from Ga. Highway 85, even if that means

making a U-turn at the stop light when coming from the north. But many

motorists ignore those signs and, when finding themselves on Pine Trail,

simply turn around in residents' driveways just beyond the shopping center,

city officials have concluded.

After tabling

the issue at their July 18 meeting, council members asked city engineer

Don Easterbrook to take another look at the possiblity of additional signage

in the median and elsewhere on Hwy. 85. Easterbrook reported at last week's

council meeting that the Georgia Department of Transportation would not

allow that, since that agency also thinks the redesign of the intersection

is the best way to go.

In other business

last week, the council:

Approved a

sign variance request for Best Buy, which is moving into the former Home

Place location in Fayette Pavilion. Store officials hope to be open by

October.

Tabled a sign

variance request for Advance Auto Parts at 295 North Glynn Street.

Approved a

letter of intent for a study of the Ginger Cake Creek watershed.

Approved a

conditional beer and wine license for the Haji Quick Stop Shell station

at 350 North Glynn Street, whose license was recently suspended due to

illegal alcohol sales to minors.

Approved an

amendment to the city's Zoning Ordinance regarding demolition.

Approved a

2-percent increase in the city's retirement plan for current retirees.

Approved a

rezoning request from Jessica Evans to office-institutional for property

at 570 Lanier Avenue.

Tabled a rezoning

request from Charles Bernstein for 17.5 acres of the proposed Villas at

Gingercake, to PUD (planned unit development).