Even Mildred Harris wanted it, but developer John Callaway was unable to convince the Peachtree City Council to approve rezoning for a large upscale shopping center at Walt Banks Road and Ga. Highway 54.

Known throughout the city for her opposition to commercial development, Harris was one of a large group of supporters for "The Mews" at last week's City Council meeting. With about an equal number of opponents, plus groups concerned with other issues, the council chambers were Standing Room Only for the four-hour meeting.

Throughout a presentation that lasted about 40 minutes, Callaway stressed that his proposal represented council's "last chance" to decide how the "Palm Beach" and "Heard" tracts (about 53 acres) would be developed. The rezoning had been requested for the 19-acre Heard property. The other 33 acres was divided between commercial and office zoning by a lawsuit settlement.

Other conditions on the present zoning of the 15.5 commercial acres include a 100-foot buffer along Hwy. 54, no access onto Hwy. 54, and a limit of 32,000 square feet on a single building on the property. Because of the no-access limitation, Callaway contended that most all commercial uses under present zoning would cause much more congestion on Walt Banks Road and would be "less desirable" than his projected Parisian department store, The Gap and Banana Republic-type retailers.

His principal points, and those of supporters who spoke on behalf of the project, included asking the council to make a choice favoring an upscale "village" development with exclusive stores and sit-down restaurants; offering to dedicate five acres to the city for a cultural center; promising to provide a small tract for a rectory for Holy Trinity Catholic Church; saving larger trees by increasing the rear buffer to 250 feet, or about 13 acres of trees; repeatedly pledging to stick to architectural standards and limited signage along Hwy. 54; excluding fast food stores, discounters and auto repair or supply stores; and expressing his conviction that any smaller or different commercial development would be "a terrible disservice to Peachtree City, and a mockery to all the concerns that have been expressed."

In a surprise appearance, property owner Paul Heard spoke for the proposal, reminding City Council of his years of service to the city and the fact that he had "never approached council" to ask for "anything related to this property" in the more than 20 years he has owned it. He said he supported The Mews plan because he felt that the "limited use commercial" designation would be good for the Hwy. 54 corridor.

"I believe in this project," Heard said, encouraging "strong consideration" for approval of the rezoning.

Opponents attacked The Mews project as too large, in the wrong location, and a precedent-setting threat to the integrity of Peachtree City's Land Use Plan. The city planning commission had recommended that the rezoning be denied but had praised the quality of Callaway's proposed development. Almost every speaker, for or against, also said the plan was "excellent" or "beautiful" or "prestige" or "quality."

Chuck Lehman said that neighboring property owners might prefer office-institutional uses, because "every evening, the activity would cease," but a cultural center or movie theater would create "noise and impact" on the surrounding property. Several others said that high-volume commercial uses would not build at the corner without access to Hwy. 54 because it would not be profitable; Norm Moore called The Mews a "traffic disaster."

Callaway asked during his presentation if Moore would "join him" in a pledge of "no lawsuits, no recriminations" no matter which way the vote went. Moore did not comment until asked again later by Callaway, when he said, "I can't predict every action I will take in the future, but I can predict that council will make the right decision tonight."