3) Please explain "significant

improvements to the Highway 54 streetscape." Just what does that

mean?

4) On point 5, halting of further

development within Hwy. 54 corridor. That one I understand. No construction

vehicle or for that matter, any other vehicle will be able to move for

most of the working day in that area, so no further construction, of course.

Okay, now on the second half

of your letter. I understand the legalities of codes and property rights

as well as the laws of Georgia. I too do not want the city to violate

them. I do not think any resident and taxpayer, business or private, wants

that either because it is we who will pay for any errors. I agree.

But you speak of property code

and penalties caused by illegal actions to prevent legal business development.

Please consider the really expensive litigations. Wrongful death. Safety

violations resulting in death or permanent injury. The inability of EMS

reasonable response due to gridlock caused by poor planning and lack of

city control to regulate traffic safely within it's boundaries.

No, Mr. Mayor, now we are talking

serious money. You made some estimates of potential costs to the city

for code and building rights violations. Want to estimate the first wrongful

death settlement?

We, both you and I, are responsible

to make sure all reasonable efforts are made for the safety of all individuals

who enter the city. This is why we have police and fire departments. I

am very familiar with the human spirit and determination to lay blame.

With all of the legal and vocal as well as well documented discussion

over this situation, a civil suit would be snap. I am sure you are well

aware of the legal concept of prior knowledge.

Finally, I agree with you that

three "carefully situated, well-planned and well-executed big box

stores will not be the end of civilization in Peachtree City as we know

it." However, that is precisely the point many of us have been trying

to make. We do not feel these are well-planned and are not going to be

well-executed.

Frankly, I own stock in both

of the companies in this issue. I am not against them nor even

their construction in the city. I am, however, very much against any community

changes which threaten or potentially threaten my or your, or any other

person's, life and pursuit of a reasonable lifestyle.

Mr. Mayor, I still feel that

only someone who has never been on Hwy. 54 at 3 to 7 p.m. on a weekday

could even say that these additions to our community will have "no

significant impact" on our traffic. You can place as many lights

as you wish and as many turnouts as you wish. Hwy. 54 is still, and will

for the most part, remain a two-lane country road for some time to come.

Until the railroad bridge is widened to four lanes, or another exit to

Hwy. 74 is made from this new development, everything else is immaterial

and will be ineffective. I do not need a study to come to this conclusion.

Sorry if I am "haranguing"

you, but indeed you are personally responsible as are the other council

bench members, and indeed, so are all city taxpayers. We are responsible

for the safety of both life and property within our community. I am currently

investigating personally the legality of having any business of the size

of these which we are getting with only one entrance and exit. The regulations

concerning fire protection are very specific in such circumstances.

Also, EMS units must have reasonable

access to all public areas. I am sure you are aware of this. If our planning,

or lack of it, can be blamed for a death or injury, it will be. And the

costs both morally and financially could ruin our community forever. That

is how serious I feel this issue is. It's not about "big boxes,"

it's about safety, human life and property.

Part of our taxes go to pay

for fire and police protection. By the way, I think those guys do a wonderful

job. But I do not envy them for what is to come. They know full well what

is going to happen. Though politically they cannot officially voice their

opinion on this issue, their experience provides them with a picture of

the city and the future. They know full well when they cannot respond

to a 911 call in a reasonable time, it is they who will be blamed. They

know when there is an accident on Hwy. 54 they get to clean it up.

Ask them, Mr. Mayor, what their

opinion is. Out of a concern for job security, they will most likely decline

any comment. But, that should be clear enough of an answer.

Please refocus your efforts.

Stop defending actions which are already done. Do something to prevent

the potential accidents, deaths, property loss due to fires, and Peachtree

City's responsibility to plan to prevent such events. We are morally responsible

and will be held legally so in court.

Mr. Mayor, please understand,

most of the citizens are not against you. This is not, or should not,

be personal. We are against poor planning and what appears to be a total

refusal to recognize potential and already real traffic problems. We are

against irresponsible builders who a year from now will be repeating the

process elsewhere for dollars and care not about Peachtree City!

We care about our children's

safety. We care about reasonable access to medical facilities. We care

about property protection. Yes, even Wal-Mart and Home Depot. The issue

here is that the Council may well have acted legally, but irresponsibly.

The Peachtree City "big

box" issue is over. Let's direct efforts to try to save lives and

property when they move in.

(P.S. The very sign announcing

the Home Depot is illegal by city ordinances. Why is it still there?)

Rick L. Gauthier

Peachtree City

[email protected]