Wednesday, March 3, 2004

PTC Target: Traffic safety must rule

Peachtree City officials, I am writing to express my views to each of you regarding Council’s March 4 meeting to discuss Faison’s appeal of the Planning Commission action denying Faison approval of their conceptual site plan for the Kedron shopping center expansion.

I feel we have enough choices for commercial shopping already in Peachtree City, from the small mom and pops to national chains and the “big box” warehouses.

Combined, Peachtree City is a retail magnet for the area and draws consumers from as far south as Columbus on the weekend.

The proposed Kedron development, the largest of its kind in Peachtree City, will pull even more consumers from the multi-county area, possibly even diverting some from the Ga. highways 54-74 area into a much more confined space: the narrow two-lane of Georgian Park.

It concerns me greatly that Georgian Park is the proposed main entrance and exit for a development of this magnitude. A regional project deserves an entrance from a regional highway, Hwy. 74.

As I know you are all aware, Georgian Park is the only point of entry and exit for residential and multi-family developments in the area. With increased traffic on Peachtree Parkway and Hwy. 74, an already dangerous situation will get worse.

Peachtree City Chief of Police James Murray, agrees, stating the entrance-exit on Georgian Park “should be denied for safety reasons.”

The Georgia Department of Transportation recently stated they will consider additional curb cuts on Hwy. 74 if parties can reach an agreement on the development between themselves.

I urge you to seize the opportunity to lead and bring everyone together to make Hwy. 74 the main entrance-exit for the proposed development.

With a revised entrance and exit, and thoughtful balance of commercial and retail establishments, I would consider supporting the development and the expanded tax base it would bring to our city.

Thank you for your vote on March 4 to uphold the decision of the Planning Commission by rejecting Faison’s conceptual site plan.

Sean McMillan

Peachtree City, Ga.