The Peachtree City East Shopping Center on Ga. Highway 54, which includes Publix, is one of the commercial properties seeking to annex into Peachtree City. Photo/Stock.
The Fayette County Commission on Aug. 23 voted unanimously to object to the proposed annexation of 30 properties totaling 105.56 acres on Ga. Highway 54 into Peachtree City.
The vote to object was reasonably expected given the “adversarial nature” of the annexation process between a city and county and the time constraints included in the law. Staff and elected officials from both the county and city made those observations.
Among the commercial properties wanting to annex into Peachtree City are Governors Square and Peachtree East Shopping Center. The area includes mostly established commercial property with some property to the rear planned for residential use.
In qualifying the recommendation to object, county staff said the rezoning represents a material burden upon the county due to the proposed change in residential zoning with an increase in the residential density of development and the costs associated with updating Metropolitan North Georgia Watershed Planning District requirements and developing a floodplain management plan.
Also cited in the recommendation was the significant loss of Fire/EMS tax dollars associated with the existing commercial properties. Staff also cited county engineering concerns that the residential development could have substantial impacts on the operational efficiency of the Governors Square intersection with Hwy. 54.
The deadline for delivery of an objection by the commission was Sept. 1.
Prior to the discussion and vote, Peachtree City Manager Jon Rorie laid out a well-reasoned approach to his recommendation that the county object to the annexation so the process could move forward.
County attorney Dennis Davenport said he agreed with almost everything Rorie said, again noting the unfortunate adversarial nature of the annexation process as defined by state law.
So many PTC residents shop at that Publix and patronize the businesses there that it doesn’t make sense NOT to annex and capture that tax revenue.