Support for traffic ordinance is support for quality of life

Support

for traffic ordinance is support for quality of life

Recently, our city

politicians passed the Traffic Impact Ordinance in an

attempt to prevent further deterioration of the traffic

situation along and near the [Ga.] Highway 54 corridor.

For those

of you that pass through this area, especially those who

do so during the peak driving periods, you know that you

can expect traffic jams and long waits. Accidents occur

frequently at the Hwy. 54 and [Ga.] Highway 74

intersection, and emergency vehicles must contend with

the gridlock just to get to the accident scenes.

While they

may have waited too long to act, our council members have

finally decided to take a step toward fixing the problem.

The traffic ordinance would force developers to conduct a

traffic study before their development could proceed, and

those developments that could make this nightmarish

situation worse would be put on hold until the problem

could be mitigated. It is not a perfect solution, but a

good first step in preventing our city's main roads from

looking like Hwy. 85 in Riverdale.

Sadly,

Pathway (the former PCDC gang) has decided that their

ability to rake in the largest possible profits for their

properties would be impacted, and thus have filed suit to

overturn the traffic ordinance as unconstitutional. Never

mind the public welfare and safety, never mind what is

best for our community, it's every man for himself and

may the one with the best lawyer win.

Face it,

folks, the PCDC group (I just can't get used to their new

name) is only out for themselves and unless the community

stands up for what is best for us, these guys will push

through whatever developments they want.

Now, to add

insult to injury, our city's politicians have decided to

rename the Flat Creek Nature Center after Jerry Peterson,

the vice president of planning for PCDC/Pathway. During

the ceremonies, our mayor pointed out Mr. Peterson's

"commitment to the goals of Peachtree City's land

use plan." Does this commitment include taking the

city to court to force development on us that will make

our roadways a virtual gridlock? It seems ironic that

while we rename our nature center after one of the

principles of PCDC/Pathway that group is taking us to

court to force further development upon us.

The court

battle should be interesting, if our city attorneys are

prepared for a real fight. The matter will hinge on

constitutional issues and determine whether a city has

the right to protect its citizens' safety and welfare. If

our city loses in court, we all lose. Expect further

development along the overcrowded highway corridors and a

further deterioration of our quality of life in Peachtree

City.

Make your

voice heard. If you are concerned about your city's

future, let our city council members and mayor know that

you want and expect them to fight this battle on our

behalf. We must take a stand against developers, who are

only interested in what is best for them, and not what is

best for the rest of us.

You can

reach the mayor and city council members at their city

hall address (151 Willowbend Road) or you can e-mail the

mayor and two of the council members at their e-mail

addresses: Mayor Lenox at [email protected] , Annie McMenamin at

[email protected] , or Carol Fritz at [email protected] .You are always

welcome to show up at the City Council meetings as well;

the next meeting will be on Thursday, Nov. 18.

Let them

know that you are concerned with traffic and the quality

of life in our community, and that you expect them to do

what is best for our residents.

Steve

Fodor

Peachtree City

<!-------------