Wednesday, August 13, 2003

To Peachtree City Council: This presentation is on behalf of Direct PAC, a political action committee in Peachtree City. As we have tried to emphasize since our formation earlier this year, we are much more interested in "action" than we are in "politics." As is stated on the home page of our website: "Our organization will take positions on the issues we care about. If we agree with what our leaders are doing, we'll say so. If we don't agree, we'll say so, and we'll propose alternative solutions."

With that in mind, we have a solution to the shortfall in the revenue side of the Peachtree City budget. Very simply, sell the property we own, but no longer need and will not be able to use. The property in question is the 5-plus acres on Ga. Highway 54 West in front of Wynnmeade subdivision. Recent commercial sales of land on Hwy. 54 would indicate a value of anywhere from $200,000 to $400,000 per acre, depending upon zoning, site configurations, restrictions and approved uses.

Direct PAC recognizes that the land was purchased last year with the idea of constructing a cart path bridge over Hwy. 54 that would be partially funded from grant money, but that purchase was completed in a different economic environment than the one that exists today.

We also recognize that several related issues would have to be discussed and a plan of action developed before such a sale could be accomplished. Some of those issues are the city's bid process on selling property, the ultimate use projected for the property, the technical aspects of rezoning property before a sale, the impact of commercial or limited commercial use on the neighboring property owners and the reallocation of the grant money to a more viable project than the bridge.

In order to develop a plan of action, we are requesting that City Council take the first step in appointing a land sales task force for this specific parcel of land. The task force would meet and develop a strategy for the sale of this land in a timely, efficient and responsible manner. This task force would be separate from the Westside Village task force, as its responsibilities would be limited to this 5-acre parcel.

We would recommend that the task force consist of the city planner, city manager, one member from planning commission, two citizens from Wynnmeade or Planterra Ridge and two members from Direct PAC, both of whom have experience in land planning and zoning.

At this point, we are asking City Council to appoint the task force, provide them with all pertinent information on the property and to remain open-minded and receptive to the recommendations of the task force which would be presented to City Council in late September or early October.

Rick Schlosser

Direct PAC, Vice-Chair