Upscale apartments

for seniors opposed strongly by Village Park residents in PTC

MUNFORD

[email protected]

A proposed

144-unit upscale apartment complex for seniors drew the ire of residents

from a nearby subdivision at Monday night's Peachtree City Planning Commission

meeting.

But Roy Dickson

of Prime Communities, which is developing The Parc at Peachtree City,

assured residents of the Village Park subdivision that the company would

work with them to ease many of their concerns.

The complaints

from Village Park residents focused on the traffic the complex would create

and the size of the buffer between the subdivision and the complex, which

will be located near the intersection of Peachtree Parkway and Crosstown

Drive.

Since city

staff didn't have much time to review the plans before the meeting, the

Planning Commission decided to hear the matter in a workshop format without

making a formal decision. The earliest the concept plan could be approved

is at the Planning Commission's next meeting, scheduled for Monday, Jan.

8.

City Attorney

Rick Lindsey said the property is already zoned for multi-family residential

use so it is not subject to the city's moratorium on multi-family housing,

said City Planner David Rast.

During construction

of the apartments, traffic would likely be a problem for Village Park

residents, Dickson said. The company will make sure there is someone to

direct traffic during the estimated six to nine months it will take for

construction, he said. He noted that moving vans would also be in the

area when residents move into their apartments.

After construction,

however, the traffic would be reduced along Village Park Drive since there

will be a maximum of eight to 10 employees on duty at one time, Dickson

said. Residents would enter the property from an entrance road off Crosstown

Drive, he said, adding that there is a possibility that the construction

crews could use that entrance instead of the Village Park Drive entrance.

Dickson also

pledged to repair any damage the construction vehicles might create on

Village Park Drive, which the residents contended was privately owned.

"It will

be restored to as good condition or better," Dickson said.

Some Village

Park residents complained about the possibility of hearing dumpsters emptied

during the evening since the delivery area is located near the subdivision

on the concept plan. But Dickson assured them that the company wants to

coordinate trash pickup and deliveries so as not to disturb residents

at The Parc and Village Park.

Another Village

Park resident complained that the three-story building would dominate

the area. But Dickson said the company toned down the original plans for

a four-story building for similar concerns.

Commission

Chairman Wes Saunders urged leaders of the neighborhood association to

meet with Dickson to air their concerns before the Jan. 8 Planning Commission

meeting.

"You've

got to find a way to work together cooperatively," Planning Commissioner

Rich Schumacher told the Village Park residents.

The concept

of "independent living" is new to this area of the country,

Dickson said. The Parc at Peachtree City will be targeted to seniors 65

and older, and the complex will have emergency crews available 24 hours

a day to respond to medical emergencies, he said.

The complex

will include a dining area and other activity rooms but health care will

not be provided, Dickson said. Security will be one of the main selling

points of the complex, he added.

The complex

will be owned and operated by Prime Communities, Dickson said.