Wednesday, August 15, 2001
|
Wednesday, August 15, 2001 |
|
PTC advisory committee: keep eye out for redevelopment in West Village area By JOHN
MUNFORD
A master plan from an advisory committee studying the future of Peachtree City's West Village is mindful of the commercial development planned for the area. But the plan also considers several possible redevelopment scenarios which could take place in the area, specifically on several commercially zoned tracts of land south of Ga. Highway 54 west. Several parcels of land in the area could be combined into larger parcels, noted City Planner David Rast. The advisory committee will meet tonight at 6:30 at City Hall to discuss the draft of the plan, which will eventually be submitted to the Atlanta Regional Commission. The ARC will consider the projects for grant funding from a pool of $350 million set aside for alternative transportation projects. The plan encompasses a number of improvements to the city's cart path system along with plans for access roads north and south of Hwy. 54. The majority of the cart path improvements would be funded by the city while the access roads would be built by developers. "The city has been talking about a lot of these things for some time and trying to come up with money for them," Rast said. "And they're all doable ... the potential is there to have a really neat area." The plan, which will eventually be considered by the City Council for approval, is recommended to become a part of the city's planning documents such as the comprehensive plan and the land use plan. That way, when redevelopment starts to occur in the next five or 10 years, there will be no doubt about the city's intentions for the area, Rast noted. While the city's "big box" ordinance will regulate what can be developed on large commercial tracts, it will be beneficial for the city to work with landowners in that area, Rast noted. In some instances, it might be appropriate to seek a limited use commercial rezoning, he added. "We will have to go out and meet with the property owners and show them what we have come up with to see if they like it," Rast said. While most of the redevelopment scenarios in the plan are south of Hwy. 54, one is north of the highway across from Huddleston Road the current site of Line Creek Baptist Church. The church property, which is 17 acres, is zoned general commercial, Rast said. The committee's plan notes that it could be subdivided into several different parcels with the rear portion of the site developed as retail or office space. The church cemetery should be enhanced in the site plan for the area, the plan states. The church has been approached by a commercial developer about purchasing the property, Rast noted. The remaining redevelopment scenarios involve land south of Hwy. 54, some of which is already occupied by commercial businesses. One such parcel is south of the intersection of Hwy. 54 and Huddleston Road, comprising a golf cart facility, an auto parts store and a storage building business. Another redevelopment opportunity exists at the current Line Creek office park which could include the office building, car wash and warehouse building along with undeveloped property nearby, the plan notes. Undeveloped land west of the Days Inn on Hwy. 54 could also be combined to create a large parcel for a commercial or retail development, according to the plan. The site might be more suitable for an office development or assisted living facility, the plan states. The areas slated for redevelopment south of Hwy. 54 would be linked by an access road, according to the plan. That road would connect to the entrance to the Planterra Ridge subdivision which would be relocated further south and created as part of a roundabout to prevent traffic from using the area as a cut-through, Rast said. Another roundabout is being considered further south of that area to further calm traffic in the area, Rast noted. "That should address the concerns of homeowners about perceived traffic cutting through the subdivision," Rast said. Although the ideas haven't officially been proposed to the subdivision's board of directors, several advisory committee members have spoken to residents in the area about the concept, Rast noted.
|
||