PTC, Senoia appeal GRTA decision on Twin Lakes subdivision

Agency wants Rockaway Road realigned; approval necessary for state highway funding

By JOHN MUNFORD
jmunford@TheCitizenNews.com

Peachtree City and Senoia have filed appeals with the Georgia Regional Transportation Authority regarding the agency’s list of required road improvement projects necessary to accommodate the under construction Heritage Pointe at Twin Lakes subdivision in Senoia.

The GRTA decision includes a host of traffic improvements considered necessary to accommodate the additional vehicles associated with the 663-home subdivision. Those projects are located in Peachtree City and Senoia, and both cities are arguing they should not be held accountable for projects that are not in their jurisdiction.

The GRTA approval is necessary to spend state and/or federal funds to provide transportation improvements for the area relating to the state highway system, ranging from the intersection of Ga. highways 54 and 74 in Peachtree City to the intersection of Ga. Highway 16 and Broad Street in Senoia.

The most significant required condition on the project is the realignment of Rockaway Road with the existing traffic light at Hwy. 74 and Holly Grove Road in Peachtree City. Included in that would be new eastbound and westbound turn lanes on Hwy. 74 to serve the new Rockaway Road, and a northbound turn lane on Rockaway to allow access to Hwy. 74.

GRTA also is requiring a westbound turn lane on Ga. Highway 85 that will access Hwy. 74.

Additionally, GRTA is requiring the extension of TDK Boulevard to McIntosh Trail in Coweta County, an active project that has been stalled several times because of its proximity to Falcon Field Airport and the location of a proposed drinking water reservoir called Lake McIntosh.

GRTA has agreed to remove the TDK requirement if the city is unable to acquire privately-owned land needed for the TDK extension since the city can’t use eminent domain to acquire the property because it is not located in the right-of-way for the planned road.

Other GRTA requirements for the subdivision include:

• Providing an internal street network connecting Rockaway Road with Stallings Road.

• Providing flashers, lights and gates for the at-grade railroad crossing in the area.

• Installing sidewalks on at least one side of all internal streets in the subdivision.

• Installing a sidewalk adjacent to exterior public streets.

• Installing a trail system throughout the open space area with connections to sidewalks.

The Heritage Pointe at Twin Lakes subdivision, at 663 homes on nearly 750 acres, is large enough that it triggers review by GRTA and a host of other state agencies because it is considered a “development of regional impact.” The subdivision is located on Rockaway Road, which already has significant drive-time traffic issues at its intersection with Hwy. 74, which doesn’t have a traffic light.

Rockaway Road is a main artery for Senoia residents commuting to Atlanta who must get to Hwy. 74 to ultimately reach Interstate 85.

In an appeal letter to GRTA, Peachtree City Attorney Ted Meeker noted “... there is no legal basis or authority for GRTA to impose the aforementioned conditions upon a local government (Peachtree City) which has no control over the development of issue (Twin Lakes), or in which the development is going to occur (City of Senoia). ... Such action by GRTA not only exceeds the statutory authority granted to such agency by the Georgia General Assembly, but also runs afoul of the Georgia constitution.”

Andrew J. Whalen III, Senoia’s city attorney, wrote that the city wants GRTA’s decision to be modified “to reflect the fact that is it constitutionally prohibited from performing the recommended transportation improvements that lie outside its city limits and for which it does not have an intergovernmental contract with the host jurisdiction.”

The cities’ appeals will be considered by the GRTA Land Development Committee at its Aug. 10 meeting.


		Friday, July 29, 2005