A proposal to remove a zoning restriction for a bowling alley in south Peachtree City has led to criticism of Peachtree City Mayor Don Haddix, who has been shepherding the project for several months.
Some critics are accusing Haddix of luring the bowling center to a site where it would violate the city’s current zoning laws instead of trying a more suitable site elsewhere.
Haddix said the City Council can vote to change the zoning if it wishes.
“There is no such thing as a permanent zoning, unless it’s set up in a very legalistic manner that locks it in where nobody can touch it,” Haddix said Monday afternoon. “No zoning is untouchable.”
The current proposal would put the Oasis Bowling Center at Ga. Highway 74 South and Rockaway Road, near the AutoZone store. The matter is expected to be discussed by the city’s Planning Commission June 14 meeting after being postponed from the May meeting.
The restriction that forbade a bowling alley, among other uses for the site, was adopted along with a host of other use restrictions when the property was rezoned from industrial to commercial in September 2007.
Lifting the restriction for a bowling alley will require a majority vote of the City Council.
As to public safety concerns, the police department has researched the police response to Oasis Bowling Center’s other locations in the metro area and found no record of problems, Haddix said. The company uses off-duty police officers for security, the mayor added.
Haddix has also heard complaints about the bowling center having a bar. With the city’s alcohol sales regulations, more than half of the bar’s sales will have to be in food, making alcohol the third-highest source of revenue behind bowling and food, Haddix said.
Haddix said the proposed brick and stone architecture for the building will be a welcome addition to the area. Also, the proposed signage for the site will be minimal, he added.
The request to change the zoning restrictions will first be reviewed by the Planning Commission before it is taken up for a vote by the City Council. The commission was originally slated to hear the request May 9, but it was postponed to the June 14 meeting.
