Wednesday, May 23, 2001

"PTC Taxpayers Pay Again; Developer Gets Break."

This should have been the headline on the article concerning road improvements on Peachtree City's west side (The Citizen, 16 May 2001).

In 1999, Ram Development agreed to pay for certain traffic improvements to the Ga. highways 54 and 74 area to alleviate(?) the increase in traffic anticipated from the proposed Home Depot.

Despite much citizen opposition, the Peachtree City Council approved the plan. In 2000, Ram was back before City Council with more road improvements to bring its Wal-Mart project into compliance (also questionable) with the city's traffic ordinance. Again, in the face of much citizen opposition, City Council approved the project.

In each case, the only positive aspect for Peachtree City taxpayers was that the developer was paying for the road improvements.

Now it is 2001 and the city's director of development is proposing the taxpayers of Peachtree City pay for certain road improvements in the Hwy. 54­74 area to alleviate existing congestion. Many of these proposed improvements are the same ones agreed to by Ram Development. Why are the taxpayers now being asked to foot this bill? Where is the developer? Who is to benefit from these city funded improvements?

Yes, the citizens of Peachtree City living on the west side will benefit to some extent. Commuters from Coweta County will also benefit. But, it would seem the biggest beneficiary of this largesse on the part of the city government is Ram Development who stands to save $1 million in required road improvements.

If this is not the case, the city needs to explain the rationale behind this project and who is paying.

The citizens of Peachtree City clearly expressed their opposition to Wal-Mart and Home Depot and for them to now be forced to pay for road improvements so that these new monster stores do not bring total traffic gridlock is unconscionable.

After three years of attending over 75 percent of city council and planning commission meetings, I came to the conclusion that our city government cares little about the concerns of the ordinary citizens of Peachtree City. They pay only lip service to citizen input, then proceed to give the big developers what they wants.

Until there is a major change in city government, I suspect citizens will continue to be ignored, and by the time they realize it, the Peachtree City they have loved so much will be forever changed for the worse. As for me, I have found more productive uses of my time than attending city meetings.

Robert Brown

Peachtree City

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