Recently several residents that live on Crabapple Lane in Peachtree City and Tyrone received notification from Georgia Power Co. of their proposal to erect 90-foot concrete poles carrying high voltage (115,000 volts) in the front yards of their homes.

Georgia Power also intends to condemn property that is privately owned at the north corner of Crabapple Lane and Ga. Highway 74 to build the supply substation. From this point, underground power lines will be provided to service the Kedron area on the east side of Hwy. 74 for current needs and future growth.

Crabapple Lane is in the northern part of Peachtree City beginning at Hwy. 74 and ending at Old Senoia Road. It is less than one mile long. Since it is solely residential, the speed limit is 30 m.p.h. and heavy through-trucks are prohibited. Some property owners have lived here for over 30 years, while other homeowners are new to area. These neighborhoods include Crabapple Lane, Leisure Trail, Waters Edge and Crabapple Woods, consisting of well over 100 homes.

Many people obviously consider this a wonderful place to live, especially with the strict aesthetic ordinances. Now this same community is being invaded by and trespassed on by Georgia Power Co., which has decided to exercise its power of eminent domain, the power to condemn all the properties they deem necessary to meet their goals. Simply put, Georgia Power wants to use Crabapple Lane to extend their service elsewhere. This area is presently being served by Coweta-Fayette E.M.C.

Every property owner is totally opposed to this action. Some of the people signing this letter purchased their homes as recently as December 1999. Their subdivision, Crabapple Woods, was developed by Pathways (the former P.C.D.C.) and built by Morrison Homes. Some of the residents purchased their properties through The Home Source Realtors, which is a division of Pathways Community and were not made aware of the Georgia Power proposal even after specifically asking if high tension wires were to be located in this area.

Georgia Power states that Pathways has know about this power need in the north end of the city for five years. Pathways Community states that they have only recently heard about the proposal in November 1999 when the residents were informed.

Conflicting information is being conveyed between City Hall representatives and Georgia Power Co. Who do we believe?

Every homeowner stands to lose so much if this project is completed. Due to the fact that this is the only residential area with high voltage transmission lines in Peachtree City, there will be depreciation of property values and unknown long-term health hazards living under and near high voltage transmission lines. This definitely isn't the “good quality of life” they were promised when purchasing a home in a planned community.

Alternate routes that would not adversely impact our residential area have been proposed to Georgia Power Company. The mayor, city manager and our state representative have been given a proposal in an effort to convince Georgia Power to reconsider the present proposal and relocate the planned substation from a residential area to an industrial park where they are planning to tap into existing lines. From this substation underground distribution lines will follow Georgia Power's original proposed route.

This alternative plan would eliminate the need for high voltage transmission lines and 90-foot concrete poles. Other options include moving the site further north on Hwy. 74 and running the lines through vacant property, some of which is already cleared.

Due to time constraints, Georgia Power wants this project completed by June 1, 2000. We want and need to make everyone aware of our desperate need for support from everyone! Who knows which neighborhood will be next?

This topic is on the agenda at the next Peachtree City Council meeting on Feb. 17.

Lee and Rita Cole and more than 40 residents of Crabapple Lane

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