Friday, March 8, 2002
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Friday, March 8, 2002 |
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Brown: maintaining quality growth is important to Peachtree City By JOHN
MUNFORD
Peachtree City's challenge for the future is to maintain its quality growth and to enhance its standards instead of letting them lapse by the wayside, according to new Mayor Steve Brown. In the annual State of the City Address to the Rotary Club recently, Brown said solid planning and design translates to a better quality of life, a better tax base and increased jobs in Peachtree City. "Improved tree ordinances and overlay zones help us eliminate look-alike fast food emporiums, soulless subdivisions and cluttered commercial strips," Brown said. In the past, staving off such development was easier since there were few developers in the city, Brown said. He lauded Pathway Communities for doing "an exceptional job of producing some quality projects due in large part to Mr. Jerry Peterson." But now, with the city's demographics, regional developers want their piece of Peachtree City, Brown noted. "Most national franchises want to build by their standards only and this will not work in Peachtree City," Brown said. "Many of these national chains are taking brand recognition almost to the point of superstition." Brown also warned Rotarians to plan for factional politics at the City Council level. "This is a first for Peachtree City with a mayor and several council members being elected on a swell of true grassroots support," Brown said. "The upcoming debates will be vigorous. I enjoy energetic debate." Despite false rumors started about his intentions, Brown said he doesn't "hate" anyone. "I have learned that when you hate you are the loser," he said. Brown also encouraged citizens to become involved in government, volunteer in the community and pray for local elected officials. He also urged residents to applaud city officials and employees for doing a good job.
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