and JOHN THOMPSON

[email protected]

With development coming from

three sides, the intersection of Rockaway Road and Ga. Highway 74 in southwestern

Fayette could become one of the busiest areas in the county.

A proposed 124-home subdivision

with two small commercial outparcels would finish the development of the

south end of Ga. Highway 74 in Peachtree City.

But there's plenty of room

to grow on Rockaway Road in Senoia, and Fayette County already has developments

planned for the area.

The highlight of the planned

Peachtree City subdivision would be the realignment of Rockaway Road,

giving motorists going to and from Senoia access to Hwy. 74 at an existing

traffic light across from Holly Grove Road.

Rockaway Road is a frequent

choke point for traffic, especially during peak travel times. Traffic

figures compiled by the Fayette County Sheriff's Department earlier this

year counted 5,452 vehicles traveling southbound on Hwy. 74 just south

of the school complex in a 24-hour period. The northbound 24-hour count

was 5,822 vehicles.

Rockaway Road was also surveyed

in a 24-hour period and 2,104 going southbound. The survey location was

on Rockaway just inside the county line, said Maj. Wayne Hannah of the

Fayette County Sheriff's Department.

Once Rockaway Road is realigned,

the current Rockaway intersection would be closed off. To access the Meade

softball complex and the Peachtree City recycling center, motorists would

use an access road off the new Rockaway Road.

The developer of the subdivision,

Piedmont Properties, plans to fund the road project and later seek reimbursement

from the Georgia Department of Transportation.

Another part of the plan includes

donating 79 acres of floodplain to the city for use as a nature trail.

But the entire plan hinges

on a rezoning approval from the Peachtree City Council. The entire 125-acre

tract is currently zoned general industrial, although the land use plan

earmarked it for residential development.

The developer is seeking a

limited use residential zoning for the subdivision, but a general commercial

zoning is needed for the two outparcels off Hwy. 74. Neither of the two

outparcels, totalling just over 6 acres, would be connected to Hwy. 74;

they would be accessed via the new Rockaway Road.

Two-thirds of the homes will

be built by Bob Adams Homes, which has a reputation for senior-oriented

housing. City officials are hoping the subdivision won't have a major

impact on the school system but there are no guarantees.

The area already has a 250-home

subdivision, Wilshire Estates, and its commercial cousin, Wilshire Pavilion,

which is anchored by a Publix grocery store.

Also nearby is the Fayette

County Animal Shelter. And across Line Creek is the Peachtree City Water

and Sewer Authority's Line Creek wastewater treatment plant.

On the Fayette County side

of Hwy. 74, a plan has just been submitted for development of a major

shopping center that went through the rezoning process more than a year

ago.

The county also recently rezoned

a tract to Office-Institutional that could feature a bank and small offices.

Across the county line in Senoia,

Rockaway Road has become the focal point for development. The Twin Lakes

subdivision was one of the first on the road, and currently has 46 homes,

said Senoia City Administrator Murray McAfee.

But 28 more homes are being

planned for the subdivision, he added.

Nearby is Hutchinson's Cove,

which features 48 homes and is built out, he added.

Two more subdivisions also

are planned for the road. Developers for Morningside have started grading

land, and 141 homes will be built on the site over the next few years,

McAfee said.

Near Morningside is another

proposed subdivision. Part of the property has to be annexed into Senoia

from Coweta County. If the entire development is built, 120 homes would

be added to the city, McAfee added.

Senoia's city administrator

was surprised at the news that Rockaway Road could be realigned.

"I hope if they do it,

they do it soon. We can't wait six or seven years for a traffic solution

out there," he said.

Back

to News Home Page |