On the spot where the newly converted were baptized for more than 100 years,

commuters may one day be pumping unleaded gasoline at discount prices.

Quik Trip has its eye on the former Line Creek Baptist Church property in

western Peachtree City.

The company hopes to build one of its huge convenience stores and gas stations

along Ga. Highway 54 West on property where the church has stood since shortly

after the Civil War.

Line Creek held services for the final time last Sunday and moved from the

site this week after closing on a deal to sell its seven acres to RAM Development.

RAM, which was responsible for Wal-Mart and Home Depot in Peachtree City,

has plans to redevelop the entire stretch of Hwy. 54 from the CSX Railway

tracks to the Coweta County line.

Purchasing the church property was a key component of the long-range project.

The Quik Trip would be located at the corner of Hwy. 54 and the entrance

to Home Depot and Wal-Mart.

Brian Corbin, representing Quik Trip, said the company intends to build

a quality store with 20 fueling stations which would far and away make it

the largest gas station in the city.

"I don't think anybody in Peachtree City or Fayette County has

a gas station that looks like this now," he said. "This will be

a radically different look for QT."

But the Quik Trip project is far from being a done deal. In a workshop session

Monday night, represenatatives from both RAM appeared before the Peachtree

City Planning Commission to talk about how best to go forward with the plans.

City Planner David Rast prefaced the discussion by pointing out the difficulty

of the task.

"It's going to be a challenging tract," he said. "It's

not a square piece of property and it's going to take some innovation

to make it work."

The plans shown Monday night by RAM didn't meet that requirement, several

members of the Planning Commission indicated.

Ray Green of the commission implored RAM to "think outside the box."

RAM proposed grading the hill where the church sits so that it's level

with Home Depot and Wal-Mart. The church cemetery, which stays on the site,

would be surrounded by high concrete retaining walls, with graves located

high above the surrounding commercial buildings.

Commission member Marty Mullin was aghast at the preliminary plans shown

asphalt parking lots.

"It's a big mistake, a big mistake," Mullin complained, even

after RAM said they'd landscape the high concrete retaining walls to

make them appear less daunting.

"You can plant all the ivy you want, but it's still going to look

ridiculous," Mullin said.

After several minutes of discussion, RAM official agreed to go