Upscale apartments for seniors opposed strongly by Village Park residents in PTC

By JOHN MUNFORD
jmunford@TheCitizenNews.com

A proposed 144-unit upscale apartment complex for seniors drew the ire of residents from a nearby subdivision at Monday night's Peachtree City Planning Commission meeting.

But Roy Dickson of Prime Communities, which is developing The Parc at Peachtree City, assured residents of the Village Park subdivision that the company would work with them to ease many of their concerns.

The complaints from Village Park residents focused on the traffic the complex would create and the size of the buffer between the subdivision and the complex, which will be located near the intersection of Peachtree Parkway and Crosstown Drive.

Since city staff didn't have much time to review the plans before the meeting, the Planning Commission decided to hear the matter in a workshop format without making a formal decision. The earliest the concept plan could be approved is at the Planning Commission's next meeting, scheduled for Monday, Jan. 8.

City Attorney Rick Lindsey said the property is already zoned for multi-family residential use so it is not subject to the city's moratorium on multi-family housing, said City Planner David Rast.

During construction of the apartments, traffic would likely be a problem for Village Park residents, Dickson said. The company will make sure there is someone to direct traffic during the estimated six to nine months it will take for construction, he said. He noted that moving vans would also be in the area when residents move into their apartments.

After construction, however, the traffic would be reduced along Village Park Drive since there will be a maximum of eight to 10 employees on duty at one time, Dickson said. Residents would enter the property from an entrance road off Crosstown Drive, he said, adding that there is a possibility that the construction crews could use that entrance instead of the Village Park Drive entrance.

Dickson also pledged to repair any damage the construction vehicles might create on Village Park Drive, which the residents contended was privately owned.

"It will be restored to as good condition or better," Dickson said.

Some Village Park residents complained about the possibility of hearing dumpsters emptied during the evening since the delivery area is located near the subdivision on the concept plan. But Dickson assured them that the company wants to coordinate trash pickup and deliveries so as not to disturb residents at The Parc and Village Park.

Another Village Park resident complained that the three-story building would dominate the area. But Dickson said the company toned down the original plans for a four-story building for similar concerns.

Commission Chairman Wes Saunders urged leaders of the neighborhood association to meet with Dickson to air their concerns before the Jan. 8 Planning Commission meeting.

"You've got to find a way to work together cooperatively," Planning Commissioner Rich Schumacher told the Village Park residents.

The concept of "independent living" is new to this area of the country, Dickson said. The Parc at Peachtree City will be targeted to seniors 65 and older, and the complex will have emergency crews available 24 hours a day to respond to medical emergencies, he said.

The complex will include a dining area and other activity rooms but health care will not be provided, Dickson said. Security will be one of the main selling points of the complex, he added.

The complex will be owned and operated by Prime Communities, Dickson said.

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