'Urban zones' planned for West Fayetteville (Atlanta, Peachtree City: 2014, apartments, townhouses)

[Newsboy]

The annexation of 1,200 acres on Fayetteville's west side last fall to accommodate Pinewood Atlanta Studios has led to a DRAMATIC shift in thinking about the way future developments should look in the city. Fayetteville is considering adopting URBAN ZONING DISTRICTS to encourage high-density, walkable, multi-use (office, retail, residential) developments on the massive tracks of farmland that now surround the studios and Piedmont Fayette Hospital.

FROM THE FAYETTE CITIZEN:

T3 Sub-Urban areas would consist of low-density residential areas adjacent to higher zones that have some mixed use ... building heights would include 1- or 2-story structures with some 3-story buildings.

T4A General Urban would consist of lower-scale, mixed-use development that supports the T3 zone. Retail, office and various types of residential structures would be included. Structures would include one or two stories and would feature shallow to medium front and side yard setbacks.

T4B General Urban would consist of a variety of residential and non-residential uses with 2- to 3-story structures. Building types would tend toward more urban forms. Streets would be laid out in grids and with buildings set somewhat close to or abutting sidewalks.

T5 Urban Center areas would consist of higher density mixed-use buildings to accommodate retail, offices, townhouses and apartments of 2-5 stories in height. This area would have a tight network of streets and wide sidewalks.

A final zoning category, SD, would feature structures of 1-5 stories and would include the areas of Pinewood Atlanta Studios and a portion of the property north of Hwy. 54 and west of Veterans Parkway.

Needless to say, *some* people in Fayette County aren't at all happy at the prospect of Fayetteville becoming more "urban."

‘Urban’ zones planned for West F’ville | The Citizen

Also, the city is close to finalizing plans to construct an pedestrian / cart bridge ACROSS Ga. Hwy 54, connecting Piedmont Fayette to the retail and residential developments on the south side of the busy highway. The new bridge would serve as an architectural "gateway" to the city, planners say. It would be similar to the iconic cart bridges in Peachtree City.

Hwy. 54 hospital pedestrian bridge closer to reality | The Citizen

ON A RELATED NOTE: I drove by Pinewood Studios today. Wow. Simply wow. The "first phase" is nearly complete and impressive beyond words. The buildings aren't just big and attractive, but the rural setting is simply gorgeous. Word around Fayette County is that folks in Hollywood BEGGING for the chance to come make movies here. Film industry executives from London (not related to the Pinewood project) have toured the facilities and called them "the finest sound stages in the world." Yes.

[arjay57]

Fayette is doing things smart by getting out in front of development instead of waiting and trying to retrofit everything.

[Newsboy]

Residential / retail village at Pinewood could rival Seaside, FL

‘Seaside on steroids’ next to Pinewood Atlanta Studios? | The Citizen