Coweta-Fayette

EMC is leaving Newnan to set up shop in Palmetto.

The Coweta

County Commission gave unanimous approval Tuesday night to rezone 73 acres

at the intersection of Weldon Road and Collingsworth Road from Rural Reserve

to LM-Light Industrial.

The electric

cooperative plans to build its new headquarters at the site and company

officials have said construction could start as soon as January.

In the conceptual

site plan submitted to the County Commission last week, EMC plans to build

a two-story administration building, along with a one-story vehicle storage

building and a one story warehouse.

In its recommendation

for approving the rezoning, the county's planning department said the

business was important to the area's economy and deep buffers would mitigate

any adverse aesthetic effect associated with the development.

The planning

department also had several conditions which EMC agreed to follow.

Some of the

conditions included:

Provide additional

right-of-way along Collingsworth Road.

Install a

100-ft. wide buffer where the property adjoins residents.

Provide deceleration

lanes at both of the warehouse road entrances on Collingsworth Road and

Weldon Road.