After a discussion meeting last week about a proposed fifth village for Peachtree City, Mayor Bob

Lenox says his primary concern is that the potential annexation area become a model for "managed growth."

He and several council members stressed that no annexation would take place without a really

detailed and comprehensive plan, including zoning, in the area generally bounded by the city limits on the

south and east, Tyrone on the north and Line Creek on the west.

Their remarks reflected the insistence of about 20 residents who spoke at the meeting, almost all

of whom called for any new development or annexation to reflect Peachtree City's original efforts at

planning growth so it happens a little at a time, and managing it to see that appropriate land uses come into

newly-developed areas.

Citizens who spoke were concerned about trees, housing density, industrial and commercial uses,

traffic congestion, railroad crossings, emergency services, protection of Line Creek, and other issues. Those

who spoke their concerns did so without regard to whether those concerns fall within the purview of the

city council. Another recurring concern was whether the new property would be "Peachtree City as it is,

or Peachtree City as it was," as expressed by Walt Mashburn.

Mayor Bob Lenox said the city has "no interest in annexing this or any other area unless it is

pre-planned and zoned down to the last piece of grass."

Total acreage of the proposed "McIntosh Village" is about 1166, with 246 acres of that already in

the city, including Planterra Ridge subdivision and the proposed Cedarcroft cluster homes and apartment

complex developments.

Jim Williams, director of developmental services for the city, said that discussions have been going

on with property owners for several years, Williams said, "and some are prepared to make decisions"

about how to develop their tracts. He said the dialogue with the owners and developers has been an effort to

try to assure that there is a workable, compatible plan for fitting into Peachtree City in the event

annexation takes place. There are certain basics that the city would like to see on the properties, he said.

One basic is that "we feel we should not allow or encourage any development on septic tanks, but

look to a sewerage solution for new developments.

Another basic thought from city planners is the process of "step-down zoning," which would see

the southern end of the now-undeveloped property be used for higher-density development, and

commercial and industrial uses be located near present similar uses or along the railway on the east side of the

area. Williams said there is an absolute necessity to protect the wetlands areas along Line Creek, with the

creek buffered by at least 100 feet and sometimes by as much as 900 feet, depending on the size of the

marshy areas.

The city will continue to work for the four-laning of Ga. Highway 54 also, both Williams and

Lenox said. A "Line Creek Parkway" connector road has already been approved for construction between

the Wynnmeade subdivision and the new cluster/apartment development, to relieve some of the

east-west traffic now using Hwy. 54 to reach Ga. Highway 74, he added.

Williams said that Wynnmeade has been an "orphan" to Peachtree City for a long time, and the

present plans for the Cedarcroft development "don't provide a good link" between the city and Wynnmeade.

After his remarks, Williams said "we can always elect not to annex, and take our chances."

Lenox said the property cannot remain as it is forever. Some kind of development will come, he said,

and "some government entity will control it -- Peachtree City, or Fayette County, or the city of Tyrone."

Some residents questioned whether any development should be done at all until traffic conditions in

the area are improved by four-laning Hwy. 54 and locating at least one grade-separation crossing over

the railroad. The city's plan calls for a bridge over the tracks at Kedron Drive, but there is no definite plan

that includes where funds would come from for the bridge.

Lenox said the effort of Fayette governments toward a "Managed Growth Manifesto" is not aimed at

"no growth," but making sure there whatever new developments occur can be serviced and fit into

present communities.

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