Warner Robins may have a deal on Bonaire development

PERRY -- A deal is in the works that could unblock a proposed commercial development near Bonaire.

Warner Robins Mayor Randy Toms came to the Houston County Commission meeting Tuesday to talk about the development.

Commission Chairman Tommy Stalnaker said he invited Toms because Stalnaker wanted to clear up "erroneous" comments about the project on social media.

According to Stalnaker, some people had been blaming conflict between the city and county with stalling the project. Both Stalnaker and Toms said that wasn't true.

"There is no conflict between Warner Robins and Houston County," Stalnaker said.

After the meeting, Toms said he expects that at its next meeting, the City Council may vote on a deal that would allow the project to go forward.

"This project needs to get moving," Toms said. "The community of Bonaire is an important part of our area."

The project is a shopping center anchored by a Publix grocery store that would go on the southeast corner of Ga. 247 and the new section of Ga. 96. It has been stalled by a dispute over sewage services.

Publix wants that service from Warner Robins, but the lot is not in the city. The developer told council members he is willing for it to be annexed, but it cannot be annexed at present because it is not contiguous to the city limits.

Some council members opposed running sewage services to the property without it being annexed -- or without some other compensation to the city for the costs.

But Toms said that under the proposed deal, the developer would pay a "service fee" to cover the city's cost of connecting the service.

Toms said he believes there is support on the council for the deal, and it could be approved at the next meeting March 7.

To contact writer Wayne Crenshaw, call 256-9725.

This story was originally published March 1, 2016 at 2:37 PM with the headline "Warner Robins may have a deal on Bonaire development ."