Last week's

approval of a concept plan for a Wal-Mart Superstore on Ga. Highway 54

West drew the ire of many local residents who came to observe the City

Council handle the matter.

But if things

had worked out according to Peachtree City's original master plan, developed

in 1972, that area of town could have been a lot worse off. A massive

regional shopping center and office building complex was planned near

the intersection of Hwys. 54 and 74.

Ironically,

one of the stores planned for that shopping center was "a high-volume

discount store," a phrase that could be used to describe Wal-Mart

stores.

"While

this is not the traditional type of store included in most new town planning,

it is important that the modest income residents have the opportunity

of purchasing low-cost goods in the city," the plan states.

The regional

shopping center was a major part of the master plan, which predicted that

Peachtree City would have many retail shopping opportunities.

"Peachtree

City is expected to be the focal point for trade and services in Fayette

County beginning in the mid-1970s," according to the 1972 master

plan, which was prepared by Arthur D. Little, Inc. "Its regional

center will dominate the county."

The regional

shopping center would encompass 600,000 square feet and a nearby office

building would be 300,000 square feet, the plan predicted. The regional

center was to be built near the intersections of Hwy. 54 and Hwy. 74 by

1992, serving a projected 100,000 people.

The regional

shopping center was expected to draw customers heavily from Coweta County

and south Clayton County, along with Spalding, Fulton and Henry counties

to a lesser extent. Such outside shoppers were supposed to account for

about 40 percent of the money spent at the regional shopping center.

Granted, Peachtree

City has no such massive retail development today.

Then again,

the master plan also predicted Peachtree City would be home to over 80,000

residents instead of the current level near 40,000 people. But at the

time the master plan was developed, Peachtree City's population was just

over 1,000, with at least that many people working in the city's industrial

park.

The regional

shopping center would have had a department store, or two, consisting

of about 350,000 square feet, according to the 1972 master plan. The plan

called for it to be built in phases with the first phase having supermarkets,

gas stations and other small stores. Later, specialty stores to sell shoes

and apparel would be added along with specialty restaurants such as luncheonettes,

bakeries, and a delicatessen, the plan states.

The master

plan called for the largest part of the regional center to be developed

once Hwy. 54 was widened or if a outer loop highway was established around

the metro Atlanta area. Almost 20 years later, neither project has been

accomplished, although DOT officials are prepared to widen the highway

to four lanes once the dispute is settled over alleged violations of the

Clean Air Act that has stifled highway expansion in the metro Atlanta

area.

Alternate locations

both inside and outside Peachtree City were also considered for the regional

shopping center, according to the plan.

Retail development

was such a driving force behind the original master plan that it was predicted

over 5,000 people would be employed at retail and service businesses in

the city.

The master

plan also predicted that "mini centers" throughout the city

would have vending machines stocked with milk, eggs, frozen foods and

other items. Other planned "maxi centers" would have convenience

grocery stores and other related services such as drug stores and beauty