It may be just

a children's backyard playground, but to the Peachtree City Council it

was part of a significant problem.

Because William

Rye's playground extended into the city owned greenbelt by approximately

eight feet, it more than ruffled a few feathers. The greenbelts, of course,

are part of what makes Peachtree City look so nice, and the City Council

wants to make it clear they should not be disturbed under any circumstances.

So council

has ordered Rye to remove the playground and part of a brick retaining

wall that surrounds it at the rear of his home in the St. Andrews Square

subdivision. Rye will be allowed to leave most of the wall there because

the majority of it only extends two feet into the greenbelt ... and having

it removed could cause more damage to the greenbelt.

If Rye had

his property surveyed before the playground was built, he would have known

about the encroachment, according to Jim Williams, the city's director

of developmental services.

Rye had sought

an easement for the playground and retaining wall, but Williams argued

that encroachment into the greenbelt was too significant for the city

to ignore.

"I believe

it was truly an accident that it got into that area," Williams said.

Rye is unable

to move the playground into his backyard because of other impediments

there, he said. He did not have a survey performed on his property when

he purchased it because he bought it outright.

Rye is also

required to add landscaping to the greenbelt since he used it as an access

point to construct the wall and playground. The landscape plan must be

performed by a professional landscape architect and approved by the city.

The Ryes must

also give the city a letter of indemnity saying they won't sue the city

if one of their children or any guest is injured by the remainder of the

wall that can remain, which is technically on city property.

Rye told council

that he had permission from a city official and presented the permit to

council. But Williams said the only way citizens can get permission to

go into a greenbelt area is through council.

Citizens complained

about the state of the greenbelt, which is what led city officials to

investigate the situation, Williams noted.

The retaining

wall was under four feet, so technically no permit was needed from the

city for construction. But building official Tom Carty pointed out that

it is always helpful to ask assistance from building officials before

building the playground.

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