Proposed Publix development sparks debate at Warner Robins council

WARNER ROBINS -- A dispute over sewer services could derail a major commercial project on the new section of Ga. 96 in Houston County, according to the developer.

The project would be on the southeast corner of Ga. 96 and Ga. 247, just north of Bonaire, and would be anchored by a Publix grocery store, developer Merg Hoffman told Warner Robins City Council on Tuesday.

Hoffman is the same developer behind the Publix shopping center on Ga. 96 at Lake Joy Road. That development sparked a commercial boom at that intersection, which now has a Lowe's, a movie theater, several restaurants and many other businesses.

Hoffman said he sees similar potential for the Bonaire development.

The snag is that the land Publix wants is not in the Warner Robins city limit, but Publix wants city sewer services. Hoffman said Publix will back out if the city does not agree relatively soon to extend sewer to the property.

The ultimatum prompted a lively discussion in the pre-council meeting. Councilman Tim Thomas was the most vocal that the city should not provide sewer without the property being annexed into the city.

"If we just give away our most valuable asset, then we are just not going to grow," he said. "I think it will be a slap in the face to our taxpayers."

Hoffman and Scott Free, who is the real estate agent for the property, said they are willing for the property to be annexed. However, the property is not currently contiguous to the city limits, meaning the five properties in between it and the city limits would have to be annexed as well.

After the meeting, City Attorney Jim Elliott said the Publix property could be annexed by annexing either portions of Ga. 96 or Ga. 247 to make it contiguous. That, however, would take an act of the Georgia General Assembly because the roads are state highways.

Thomas said if the developer is willing to sign an agreement to go that route, he would be OK with running sewer.

Councilman Mike Davis offered a third alternative, which is to charge an impact fee to make up for the taxes that would be lost from the property not being annexed.

"We would be better off to go ahead and move the project along and have impact fees," Davis said.

Councilman Chuck Shaheen said he might be agreeable to that idea.

The section of Ga. 96 where the property is going is a new part of the road being built north of the current route as part of the widening of Ga. 96.

The council agreed not to vote Tuesday night.

Also at the meeting, the council agreed in principle to allocate $100,000 for the development of Wellston Park. They will vote on it at the next meeting.

To contact writer Wayne Crenshaw, call 256-9725.

This story was originally published February 16, 2016 at 7:48 PM with the headline "Proposed Publix development sparks debate at Warner Robins council ."