A Peachtree

City resident has been given an additional 90 days to remove a portion

of a retaining wall that was built in a city-owned greenbelt in his backyard.

Bill Rye had

tried to convince the council it would be more damaging to the greenbelt

to take out the part of the wall in question. The brick wall extends no

higher than three feet tall, he said.

But in February,

council ordered Rye to remove all portions of the wall that encroach into

the city greenbelt more than two feet. Rye said the delay in the project

has been due to the economic slowdown since he hoped to have that work

done by a contractor working on an expansion project for his house so

he could save several thousand dollars.

If the project

is not completed in 30 days, council authorized city staff to perform

the work and restore the greenbelt, then bill Rye for the services.

Rye said he

was sure he could get the project done in the 90-day time frame.

City Planner

David Rast said he has visited the Rye property, and he felt the wall

was erected as "an honest mistake."

Mayor Steve

Brown initially wanted to give Rye just a 30-day reprieve, but councilmen

Murray Weed and Dan Tennant said they favored a more gracious time period.

Rye pointed

out that he originally brought the conflict to the attention of city staff.

The motion

passed 3-0 with councilman Steve Rapson abstaining because he lives in

the same neighborhood. Councilwoman Annie McMenamin wasn't present.

Back

to News Home Page | Back

to the top of the page