The clock is ticking on Peachtree

City's 90-day development moratorium.

With new mayor Steve Brown

citing a pressing need to simplify and review development ordinances,

the City Council approved the moratorium 4-1 at a special called meeting

Thursday night.

The meeting brought out several

critics of the proposal, some of whom claimed that freezing development

approvals for 90 days would hurt the city's economy in a time of recession.

And that's one of the reasons

Councilman Dan Tennant said he voted against the moratorium.

"We should be able to

'straighten out' our ordinances without a moratorium," Tennant said.

Several speakers, including

former mayoral candidate Fred Wellman, argued that the moratorium would

adversely affect the location of new businesses. Others criticized the

apparent "rush" to get the moratorium in place after Brown announced

that developers had been appointed to committees studying the issues.

Brown countered that appointing

the committees was necessary with only 90 days to get all the work done.

He also admitted that the city was "changing the rules" but

he added that the rules have changed over the years.

"We're trying to get things

to work even better in Peachtree City," Brown said.

Jim Williams, the city's director

of developmental services, said city planning staff would continue to

work with developers and provide input on their plans throughout the length

of the moratorium. He also said developers could get input from the Planning

Commission in workshops.

"We'll work with them

like we always have," Williams said.

Although the meeting had some

lighthearted moments with laughter, it also featured strong criticism

of Brown.

When Brown mentioned that developers

would be included on four committees which will be studying the matter,

several persons criticized the moratorium as "a done deal."

Each council member argued that was not the case.

The mood briefly turned confrontational

after Brown cited he had the support of several key developers for using

overlay zones on the western leg of Ga. Highway 54 and on the northern

portion of Ga. Highway 74. Asked to reveal which developers he was referring

to, Brown listed Cousins Properties, John Wieland Homes and RAM Development.

But Andrea Jones, an attorney

representing RAM, clarified that RAM was opposed to the moratorium.

"You're listing them on

your side and that's false," said Bob Barnard, a Fayetteville developer.

Jones, who also represented

Pathway Communities at the meeting, said that company stood to lose $2.5

million in contracts due to the moratorium, which she believes is unconstitutional.

Wellman said he thought the

moratorium gives the message that "this government is willing to

stop business in the city."

"What it really is is

a political statement," Wellman said. "If the ordinance needs

to be fixed, fix it."

Mike Hofrichter of the Fayette

County Chamber of Commerce said he felt the city did not have the required

"emergency" situation necessary to legally qualify for the use

of a moratorium.

Councilwoman Annie McMenamin

said she didn't think the moratorium would adversely affect any businesses.

She said she was also impressed that the moratorium was supported by Williams.

"I feel we are not turning

away businesses or shutting down businesses," McMenamin said.

McMenamin said she wants council

to work out issues over the plan to issue temporary certificates of occupancy

to businesses until their landscape plans can be approved.

Councilman Murray Weed, who

suggested some changes to the moratorium's wording, countered that "these

are serious concerns and some of our ordinances haven't been changed in

decades."

Weed added that it was important

for the city to stick to the 90-day period with no extensions. Councilman

Steve Rapson agreed, saying he would be "hard pressed" to go

beyond the 90 days for the moratorium, which includes a provision for

the time period to be extended if necessary.

Joe Wesley, a developer from

Douglas County, said the timing of the moratorium was bad because developers

like to get plans approved over the winter months so construction can

begin as soon as possible when the weather gets better.

Local resident Margie Swart

was one of the few speakers at the meeting who supported the moratorium.

She said the city needs to enforce ordinances that exist instead of trying

to get concessions from developers that are unenforceable.

Wayne Roberts of the Wynnmeade

Homeowners Association said the moratorium was a good idea simply because

of the impact that new development along Ga. Highway 54 West would have

on Wynnmeade residents.

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