Wednesday, September 27, 2000

Is it possible, "Here we go again!"

I thought I was going to leave the political arena in Peachtree City, after the excellent decision of the City Council not to annex the West Village because of the negative impact it would have on the school system. It appeared that the council had gotten the message on density!

For those of you who had voted in The Citizen's straw poll and those that would have, had not the council so quickly rejected annexation and density, it may not be over!

A committee, composed of Mayor Bob Lenox, council member Annie McMenamin, City Manager Jim Basinger, and Wes Saunders (chairman of the Planning Commission) has just selected Dennis Payton to succeed Willis Granger on the Planning Commission.

Just to focus on one of the group: Wes Saunders has cast the minority vote on the commission, voting for the Katz 350-home project, and not voting against the Home Depot. On Wal-Mart, his earlier vote seemed to favor the project, but the most recent vote was in support of their own traffic ordinance. The question is, "Why wasn't Willis Granger reappointed?"

An explanation by one of the committee members was, "We just selected the most qualified candidate of those that applied." There was also mention that Willis's attendance was not particularly good. (Yes, he missed three meetings, two while in the hospital, and one while in Europe, but still over an 85-percent participation. He also participated actively on the West Village Task Force).

In the view of many, Willis was a breath of fresh air, and his leadership, thoroughness, and interest in Peachtree City was outstanding. Is it possible he wasn't reappointed because of his opposition to increased density and the big boxes, and because he had the courage to speak out?

In contrast, Dennis Payton's philosophy as stated is "to ensure that the proper mix of residential and commercial growth exists to maintain a sufficient tax base." Sounds like Mayor Lenox's comment on the Home Depot authorization.

Oh yes, the Katz proposal was attractive because it provided for a school site! This will just about satisfy the enrollment for the 600-700 new students with the 350 new homes. Since the Katz property will generate nearly 700 new students from the newly rezoned property, we are now forced into a worsened overcrowded situation as there will be no room for the students from the new apartments or the Cedar Craft subdivision. The City Council may have just begun the school redistricting process for the students in Peachtree City via the Katz vote!

And there's more Mayor Lenox has praised numerous times the plan reached by his committee on the Walt Banks property (Lexington Circle opposite Publix) with the Bob Adams' homes and light commercial.

Guess what, the commercial now appears not to be feasible, and it is being proposed to build more homes that will further devastate the school system. What else can our poor council do other than to grant Mr. Adams his request? Afterall, we can't let the zoning revert back to what it was before the grand plan was announced!

Who is responsible for this fiasco? Who pays for this further increase in density? Get ready for another bond referendum in, say, two years. Obviously, our city council doesn't care. Its not their concern, it's the county school system! By the way, aren't we part of the county?

So, just weeks after the Westside Village annexation is called off, the council:

(1) replaced an anti-density member of the planning commission;

(2) has already approved the 350 Katz new homes;

(3) will now consider 300 more homes on the Banks property (which combined will result in over 1,500 new school children obviously not taken into account in the $65 million bond issue);

(4) and finally, is asking its traffic consultant to "restudy" its negative report on the proposed Wal-Mart big box.

Why can't you, as citizens of Peachtree City, let your voices be heard?

George Kadel

Peachtree City

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