After a successful

business career in Atlanta, Steve Nygren bolted the big city and headed

for the serenity of South Fulton County.

Now, with development

on the area's doorstep, Nygren and a group of residents want to make sure

the development is master-planned and does not overrun the area's rural

qualities.

Nygren is president

of the Chattahoochee Hill Country Alliance. Each member of the group ponies

up $2 an acre for each acre he owns in the county to help fund the new

organization.

"It's

a group of concerned land owners who know growth is coming and wants to

make sure it's master-planned," Nygren said.

Nygren started

the successful Peasant restaurant chain in Atlanta and now operates a

bed and breakfast near Palmetto.

The group wants

to make sure that many of the historic roads and vistas are preserved

in South Fulton. Last week, the group had its first organizational meeting

in Rico and Nygren was surprised by the turnout.

"We had

more than 200 folks there. We're going to have to find a bigger location

for our next meeting," he said.

When many folks

think of planned developments on the south side, they automatically focus

on Peachtree City. While Nygren agrees the city is planned, his group

is more focused on maintaining the rural character.

Several of

the members who now live in South Fulton moved from more congested areas

of the Atlanta region, and don't want shopping centers next to their land,

he said.

Instead, the

residents like having cows and horses as their neighbors and want to keep

it that way.

The group is

now in the process of applying for grants to keep South Fulton green.

The next meeting is April 15 at 7 p.m. at a location still to be determined.

Nygren said he will notify the community when a meeting place is set.