The Peachtree City Planning

Commission declined to make a final decision on the Lexington Commons

rezoning request at its meeting Monday night.

Since new information from

the developers was received earlier in the day, several commissioners

said they wanted to study the matter more. City staff didn't have enough

time to review the new information and provide a recommendation on the

rezoning petition, which would increase the number of lofts from 160 to

260 and add over 68,000 square feet of "live-work space."

Instead of tabling the matter

entirely, the commission allowed the developers to present their responses

to concerns from city staff and the commission.

But even more concerns about

Lexington Commons were posed by citizens after the developers' presentation,

particularly regarding the potential impact on the school system and the

effect on the nearby church and McIntosh High School.

Planning Commissioner Rich

Schumacher said a letter from Fayette County School Superintendent John

DeCotis indicated it would be difficult for the school system to handle

the projected number of students from Lexington Commons. "That issue

alone hangs me up on the project," he said.

But developer Bob Adams said

there are only three children under the age of 20 living in his developments

currently in Peachtree City, and 79 percent of those residents are retired.

Phyllis Aguayo said the land

had been intended to have a minimum of one-acre lots, and the city had

won a lawsuit back in 1991 that upheld a decision to deny a plan for a

shopping center there. Now, the city has a proposal that wants to increase

the number of apartments and have a significant commercial element, she

added.

"I don't see how we can

win a lawsuit and still be in this situation," Aguayo said.

Pamela Kemp said the Lexington

Commons project is similar to a proposed retail development on Ga. Highway

74 just south of Peachtree City that city officials are trying to convince

Fayette County to deny.

"I have a problem with

us going to the county to ask to respect our land use plan when we don't

respect our land use plan," Kent said.

To address staff's concerns

about the size of the development's largest retail buildings, the "big

boxes," Adams said the developers would guarantee a minimum of 25,000

square feet oriented towards smaller shops. Walgreens has already signed

on to occupy one of those buildings, while they hope to attract a grocery

store to the largest building, which is capped at 50,000 square feet.

The only other two large buildings earmarked for retail are 40,000 square

feet and 25,000 square feet.

Adams said the issues about

traffic improvements to Walt Banks Road and the landscape buffering along

Ga. Highway 54 the two main thoroughfares bordering Lexington Commons

were resolved. The developers will fund the traffic improvements to Walt

Banks Road and an impact fee will fund the construction of a roundabout

at the intersection of Walt Banks and Peachtree Parkway, Adams said. Also,

the landscape buffering issue was resolved since another look at the site

revealed that natural berming wouldn't block the stores from view of traffic

on Hwy. 54.

The developers also addressed

concerns about the exterior design of the buildings and parking for the

lofts, which has been changed from the original plan to have an underground

parking area at two of the loft buildings.

"We'll have 1.8 (parking)

spaces per unit," Adams said. He also provided the commission with

an example of the architectural controls the developers plan to use on

the project.

Adams also explained that the

main loft buildings would be three stories on one side and four stories

on the other. That includes the amenities on the first floor, including

a laundry area and a weight room.

As far as the loft sizes, Adams

said only 5 percent of the lofts would have three bedrooms, while 50 percent

would have two bedrooms and 45 percent would have one bedroom.

Lexington Commons also has

a central park that will be open for use by all city residents. Overflow

parking has also been planned for the area to handle a larger crowd that

might appear at times for events there, Adams said.

In other business, the commission

approved conceptual site plans for the following developments:

Earl's Quality Car Care, which

will be relocated to Dividend Drive.

A fifth office building at

Jefferson Corners, located at Stevens Entry and Eastbrook Bend.

An office and warehouse building

for Redmond and Sons on Hwy. 74 near Kelly Drive.

A medical building housing

several doctors on Westpark Court in the Westpark Walk area.

The commission also approved

landscape plans for The Avenue at Peachtree City on City Circle and the

BellSouth building expansion on Petrol Point.

Jitterbuggers teen club closes

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There will soon be one less

alternative for area teens.

Jitterbuggers, the teen club

in Peachtree City, is closing its doors effective Dec. 1. The club, which

has been open for a year and a half, was unable to raise money to buy

the 30-year-old building in Tivoli Gardens where it has been located.

The club has had 13,000 visitors,

32 part-time employees, national recognition, and support from The United

Way, Coca-Cola, Pizza hut, Chick-Fil-A, National Service Industries and

Pathway Communities. Thirty bands from 10 area high schools have performed

in over 140 concerts at the club, as well as concerts held in conjunction

with the YMCA on Huiet Road.

Owner Richard Thompson recalls

several very special moments that shaped the club over the past 18 months,

such as the teen who stopped by last Christmas Eve and shared the story

of his heart condition. The young man then went on to form his own band

and make a splash in the local talent pool of musicians.

Thompson also recalls a young

man who stayed at the club late one night so that he could be at the teen

center when he turned 18 at the stroke of midnight.

Many people contributed to

the success of the club, including Berniece Wassell of the Commission

on Children and Youth, Jim Basinger of the Peachtree City Government for

having the cart path built to connect the club with the rest of the community,

Kristi Davis of the United Way and the Fulstrum family, which donated

their record collection to enable the young people who visited the club

to hear some of the sounds of the 40, 50, 60, and 70s.

The Jitterbuggers website,

developed by students at Starr's Mill High School, has spread the message

of community based entertainment throughout America with over 23 communities

in 10 states now modeling their on teen centers after Jitterbuggers success.

Jitterbuggers had a membership base of 300 people who made new friends,

new ideas and shared a common goal.

While Jitterbuggers was a place

for local kids to dance, play games and hang out, it was also a place

where they could deal with issues such as teen crime, rights of teens,

alcohol and drug awareness and tobacco prevention.

There was also one night that

a young woman visited the club and confided that she had been assaulted

to report a wrong and was encouraged by people at the club to report the

incident to the police.

Jitterbuggers' name was built

on dance and on Dec. 1, young dancers from the club will perform at a

black tie event at the Georgia World Congress Center to celebrate the

Festival of Trees. On Dec. 2, Jitterbuggers will be the featured act of

the Healthcare Children's Parade with 20 coupes decked out in green ball

gowns and black tuxes. They will start this parade accompanied by the

Salem High School marching band.

"Thanks to the many young

people in our county who helped build onto the dream of a place for young

people to go for quality entertainment in their community," Thompson

said. "The lessons we have learned together in the last year and

a half will last a lifetime." He also expressed thanks to two young

ladies who have helped tirelessly volunteering their time, his daughter

Amanda Thompson and Traci Adcock.

"I challenge our community

and young people to continue to reach for the stars in your endeavors,"

Thompson said. "Never be ashamed of what you believe in and know

your dreams are worth fighting to obtain."