Amid a large

number of local residents who came out to oppose a portion of the proposed

southside master plan, the Fayetteville City Council voted at last Thursday

night's meeting to table the items in question and bring them up again

at next Thursday's meeting, which will be preceded by a work session tomorrow

night.

"We're

not ready to vote on this," Mayor Kenneth Steele said at the outset

of the discussion, although a considerable amount of time was taken to

allow audience members to express heir opinions on the project.

On the immediate

agenda was the annexation and rezoning of approximately 53 acres at the

northeast corner of Ga. highways 85 and 92, behind the Walgreen's and

GTO's locations. The plan being offered calls for a mixed-use development

that includes residential units as well as a Publix shopping center.

Many of those

in opposition at the meeting were from the Kingswood subdivision and surrounding

area a bit farther south. Many of those residents are not happy with other

portions of the master plan that would have retail property right next

to them, further aggravating traffic problems that they believe are already

out of control. Some have said that they feel this initial annexation

and rezoning would cause a domino effect and make the entire development

inevitable.

Another complaint

was the addition of the Publix, with Ingles and Kroger already at the

same corner. Steele agreed that there would probably be too many grocery

stores in one spot, but added that the city cannot regulate those kinds

of things, "and you wouldn't want us to."

Several council

members said repeatedly that they were encouraged by the large turnout,

which they said is necessary for citizens to have the kind of input they

should have.

The southside

master plan, which has been in the planning stages for nearly two years,

now consists of about 267 acres near the southern split of Ga. highways

85 and 92. It features a variety of uses, including townhomes, retail,

office and single-family residential sites. The plan is divided into about

20 separate parcels some of which require annexation and rezoning, and

others that only need rezoning.

While listening

to the concerns of the residents opposed to the annexation, council members

also pointed out that the possible effects of county zoning must be kept

in mind, although they acknowledged that sewer service would not be available

at the site without annexation.

Steele emphasized

the reasons for considering a master plan at the site, similar to what

was done at the Villages of Lafayette, now under construction across town

next to Fayette County High School and the new amphitheater.

"We want

a cohesive plan" on the south side, Steele said, "not piecemeal

county zoning."

Another thing

needed on the south side is a traffic plan, according to Councilman Bill

Talley. He said that with the Pavilion and Villages, traffic plans were

an integral part of the process.