On Tuesday the Newnan City Council approved several infrastructure and community initiatives during its regular meeting. They included agreements to advance improvements to Lower Fayetteville Road, new trail design work for the LINC system, and the demolition of a Jackson Street building to make way for a new church.
The council unanimously approved the demolition of the structure at 385 Jackson Street, where Newnan City Church plans to construct a new facility. During the public hearing, a nearby resident expressed concerns about potential changes to neighborhood greenery. Church representatives assured that existing trees at the rear of the property will remain. Demolition is expected to begin later this summer, following the completion of required asbestos removal and permitting. The council also approved an engineering services master agreement and an initial design task order for the long-planned Lower Fayetteville Road improvement project. The project, supported by $9 million in federal funding and approximately $1.8 million in local matching funds, aims to address traffic congestion and safety concerns along the corridor. Construction is projected to be phased. Council members discussed the timeline and raised questions about potential inflationary impacts on future construction costs.
Additionally, the city awarded a design contract for Section 13 of the LINC multi-use trail system to a team led by the Path Foundation and Kaizen Collaborative. The new section will run near the Newnan Utilities property and Carl Miller Park. The project is targeted for completion in summer 2026, aligning with the school system’s calendar. The council also voted to pursue a Georgia Outdoor Stewardship Grant, which could provide up to $3 million in funding for trail and arboretum development. Members agreed to hire an experienced grant writer to strengthen the city’s application for the highly competitive program, with an application deadline of October 17.
Other actions included the approval of an updated noise ordinance, which limits construction hours to between 8:00 A.M. and 8:00 P. M.; extensions of contracts for disaster recovery and debris monitoring services; and the adoption of a new fee schedule for burial services in city cemeteries. The council also received an update on the upcoming draft ordinance to regulate short-term rentals, which is expected to be presented later this summer. The council approved several street closure requests for upcoming public events, including First Baptist Church’s Vacation Bible School in June, the Carnegie Library’s “Books & Bites” celebration in August, and the annual Labor Day Festival in September. A filming request from Storyteller Studios to use Wadsworth Auditorium and the Presbyterian section of Oak Hill Cemetery was also approved. The location shift was made at the city’s request to avoid interfering with cemetery visitors. The council’s next scheduled public meeting is in June.
