Wow, talk about betraying your constituents! Recently Mayor Haddix said to Wilshire homeowners he would fight hard to get a massive bowling alley put in across from Publix on Ga. Highway 74 South at the Senoia turnoff. His statements were AFTER about 30 homeowners had firmly stated the many reasons it was bad for them and the city.
Did you really listen to your constituents, Mr. Mayor? Or did you allow your love of bowling and dollar signs cloud your reason?
The city and Wilshire Estates (with city-wide support) fought against a giant superstore here several years ago. At that time there were zoning restrictions put on the land that protects our neighborhoods from development that destroys the value of homes, directs traffic into residential streets and undermines the original master plan for Peachtree City.
Get this — the zoning specifically restricts bowling alleys due to their huge negative impact on their neighbors.
What did you tell the bowling alley developers about their businesses being prohibited during the 11 months of talks with them? That the city would just plow aside the highly vocal citizens who fought to ban this kind of business?
Wilshire’s concerns reflect the desire of the whole city for businesses to be built for small neighborhoods. This super-size bowling alley (24 or 30 lanes) shows that it is for the surrounding three counties at least. Square feet: 32,000 with 158 parking spaces. A giant bar with booze sales until 2 a.m.?
Sounds to me like Newnan or Marietta, not Peachtree City.
Since Chick-fil-A went in, traffic and trash has doubled at least. My yard backs up to Holly Grove, so I know. The current Holly Grove crossing is critical for Wilshire. Half our neighborhood crosses Holly Grove to go to our local grocery, and the other half crosses the other way to access our pool.
Wilshire knows the land will develop and supports businesses with lower impact. We also know in a recession, cities get desperate for money. Mr. Mayor, I ask you not to let financial desperation and personal desires overpower your commitment to the Peachtree City’s unique village concept. Don’t rush to build something that could become the symbol of you giving up on our town’s plan.
It is an unrivaled, principled and economically sound plan that pairs commercial and residential development for mutual benefit. Our community was not intended to look and work like other suburban cities across the country, with their concentrated commercial big-box development and associated traffic congestion, destruction of residential neighborhoods and reduced property values. Our community was intended to be different, and better.
Mr. Mayor, we stand against efforts to destroy Peachtree City’s unique character — we were counting on you to help us, not oppose us.
I wonder if other citizens of Peachtree City see this as a betrayal like I do? Putting hard-won language in a legally-binding zoning ordinance and then encouraging a developer to bypass it? I feel like a boxer at the end of the bout when the fighters shake hands and leave the ring. Just as they round the corner out of the crowd’s view, one fighter sucker-punches the other from behind.
Amy Nyman
Peachtree City, Ga.
