The vote on Home Depot by

the City Council was the sum of legal expectations in

addition to three of the council members thinking that

big boxes are acceptable in Peachtree City.

Even though I believe that

the votes were already in prior to the council meeting, I

tried to give some legal justification for denial or at

least tabling the appeal. I was ill-prepared and unable

to condense my material into a short format (I majored in

journalism management with a minor in computer science.

Needless to say, constitutional law was not part of my

core curriculum, which was quite apparent.)

The Huddlestons made their

millions and I am happy for them. That is the American

dream. It was unfortunate that they happened to be the

ones with a site plan at the same time that we were

experiencing a governmental traffic meltdown.

I have always agreed with

Bill Huddleston's statement that the city should have

taken the appropriate measures to cure the traffic

problem a decade ago. We are all suffering from past city

planning mistakes. It has been our past city councils,

not the Huddleston family, who failed to place

limitations on big box development in Peachtree City.

Mayor Lenox conceded that

the "village" format in Peachtree City is

washed out. Studies have shown that big box retail causes

severe shifts in traffic that directly conflicts with a

village type plan. The Mayor has regularly made reference

to Peachtree City as a "city" and he believes

that all types of commercial development found in other

cities belongs in Peachtree City. He also pledged that

the city would insure that all affected subdivisions

would be protected by the city.

Of course, it is important

to note that the three members of council who are most in

favor of big boxes are all lame ducks (out of office in

two years) and will not be around to back up their

pledge. In all fairness, the mayor has also promoted

recreational amenities along with other beneficial

projects and he was elected by a majority of the voters.

It would be safe to say

that council members Brooks and Pace also adhere to the

same developmental philosophy. In fact, Councilman Brooks

mentioned that the majority of the people that he spoke

to were in favor of the big boxes in Peachtree City. In

contrast, the people who collected over 1,600 signatures

opposed to Home Depot found the opposite to be true.

Do we want a king-sized

Wal-Mart next? One is on the way. Are we willing to

handle the influx of traffic that will enter our city

from the surrounding areas that are experiencing

phenomenal double digit growth every year? They will

come. Are we willing to regulate how big of a box can go

onto our commercially zoned sites?

It is my sincere hope that

we will have the wherewithal to make the necessary

limitations on this type of development before Peachtree

City becomes just another traffic-laden city without

distinction.

Steve Brown

Peachtree City