Residents of

the Georgian Park condominiums and St. Simons Cove subdivisions attended

Monday night's meeting of the Peachtree City Planning Commission to speak

out against a proposed 24-hour car wash.

The planning

commission agenda featured the Georgian Park car wash as a workshop item,

meaning no action would be taken on the item that evening. Tom Hardy of

OMNI Consulting Services made his presentation, explaining that the car

wash would be on a one acre parcel which is zoned general commercial.

There is greenbelt to the north and east of the proposed site, the Holiday

Inn and a Shell gas station to the west and the Georgian Park condiminiums

and St. Simons Cove subdivisions to the south. When news of the proposed

hours of operation was stated, it was met with boos and murmurs from the

crowd.

Residents approached

the podium and spoke for close to a half an hour about their concerns

of traffic, safety, noise, bright lights, property values and water pollution.

Many residents felt that unsavory characters would congregate at the car

wash at all hours of the night, blaring music and committing crimes. Rick

Mercer, President of the Georgian Park Condominium Association stated

that the car wash would directly effect 52 residences across the street

and that lots of residents are in opposition to the car wash. Frank Kimball,

vice president of the Georgian Park Condominium Association, was very

upset and stated that "he will do everything humanly possible to

stop this project."

The members

of the planning commission heard the citizen's concerns and also told

Hardy what their concerns with the project were, namely the intensity

of lights during the night, noise, protection of the greenbelt and protection

of the water.

Despite the

citizen's concerns, if the developers address the issues brought up by

staff and the planning commission, it is likely to be approved. According

to city planner David Rast, a car wash is an approved type of business

for the general commercial zoning. The conceptual site plan for Georgian

Park car wash is up for discussion at the June 23 meeting. Kimball stated

that he will fill the room with people opposed to the project, if necessary.