Several

members of the Peachtree City Council expressed concern

last week about the authority of the Atlanta Regional

Commission and the Georgia Regional Transportation

Authority.

Councilwoman

Carol Fritz said she wondered about ARC's desire to have

high-density development in areas near rail stations, one

of which may be built in or near Peachtree City.

Mayor Bob

Lenox, who also serves as ARC's secretary, said there is

some reason to worry about GRTA's recent notification to

Fayette County that the agency would "activate

jurisdiction" over transportation matters. But he

added that he doesn't think GRTA wants to usurp local

government to make local zoning decisions.

GRTA and

ARC realize Peachtree City is not like downtown Atlanta,

Lenox said, adding that they hold Peachtree City in high

regard.

Councilman

Robert Brooks pointed out that Peachtree City is already

the most dense area of Fayette County.

"You

don't want to make it more dense," Brooks said.

Councilwoman

Annie McMenamin said she wanted to know how to get

council's message to ARC and the other "powers that

be." Brooks suggested that council write a nicely

worded letter to the agencies.

Lenox said

ARC and GRTA are both taking flack from other counties.

"They

are getting lots of `By God, you're not taking over my

town,'" Lenox remarked.

Recently,

the ARC asked Peachtree City - along with other

governments in the region - for a commitment to a

two-year Transportation Improvement Plan. The TIP is a

plan to spend federal funds on transportation in the

Atlanta area.

The ARC

wants to make sure the cities and counties understand

what projects they approved in the 2001-2003 TIP and

acknowledge that they are budgeting funds to pay for the

projects, Lenox said.

The city

council is only responsible for funding the projects in

Peachtree City, not the ones for Fayette County, the

mayor added.

Lenox

responded to the ARC with a letter stating that the city

is budgeting funds to help pay for the city's share to

match the federal funds for transportation projects in

the city.

The city

has two projects that are part of the 2001-2003 TIP. One

will connect the multi-use path system to The Park, an

industrial and office area on the east side of Ga.

Highway 74 south. That calls for $58,000 in a federal

grant combined with $14,000 from the city.

The other

project will provide landscaping along Ga. Highway 54

from Lake Peachtree to Peachtree Parkway. That calls for

$66,000 in federal money and $17,000 in funds from the

city.

City

spokesman Betsy Tyler said both items have already been

approved in the city's budget by council.