Wal-Mart and Kroger could one

day be pumping gasoline to Peachtree City motorists, and the city's

planning department has fine-tuned the guidelines that would apply "just

in case" even though no formal requests have been made by either

company to install pumps within the city.

That was among a number of

adjustments to the city's Zoning Ordinance recently given the nod

The City Council was expected

to give formal approval following required public hearings at last night's

Council meeting.

City Planner David Rast said

the revision in the code doesn't restrict the installation of gas

stations by either retailer, but rather sets stringent rules to make sure

they are the only businesses which could qualify to sell gasoline.

Another change to the code

that affects the majority of Peachtree City property owners is in the

way neighbors are notified when the property next door is up for rezoning

request. Right now, the ordinance requires that letters be sent by Certified

U.S. Mail to alert adjacent property owners when a change in the zoning

category has been sought, so they may have ample time to repond, said

Rast. But the vast majority of those letters, which cost the city significantly

more than a regular standard mailing, never get picked up at the Post

Office, said Rast.

Developmental Services Director

Clyde Stricklin pointed out that for whatever reason, there's a fear

in getting a notice that certified mail is waiting at the Pos Office.

The rest of the notification

process - placing an ad in the county legal organ 15 days prior to

the hearing, and placing a sign on the affected property - will not

change.

But another adjustment to the

code doesn't look too kindly on deadbeat rezoning applicants who

fail to appear at scheduled public hearings.

Though it happens rarely, Rast

said there have been times when legal ads were placed, staff work completed

and adjoining property owners notified, and the applicant or a representative

failed to show. When that has happened, the Council has as a matter of

courtesy continued to public hearing to another date.

The revision dictates that

the council can, at its discretion, continue the hearing or act on without

the applicant present.

Another change in the language

of the Zoning Ordinance itself was sought as a housekeeping matter, Rast

said.