In the wake of a lengthy and sometimes heated discussion at last week's City Council meeting, members of the Photocircuits Action Committee and representatives of the company acknowledged considerable progress after their latest meeting Monday night.

Planterra Ridge residents concerned about proposed expansion at the computer board manufacturing company which is near their neighborhood along with city officials and company representatives make up the committee. The group has been meeting to seek compromise on the firm's request for a reduction in the buffer between its facilities and Dividend Drive.

Mark Bunker of Photocircuits told the committee members that the matter of the remaining variance request is essentially in their hands.

City Council Monday tabled the variance request.

Company officials say that by moving the building closer to the street, the plan allows for more of a buffer in the back, nearest the Planterra Ridge subdivision.

Members of the committee said they could not support the request because they had not had sufficient time to consider a new site plan submitted by Photocircuits early last week.

One item on the new site plan is a possible future building, which Photocircuits says it has no plans at this time to construct. The committee has been concerned about what might go in that spot.

Mayor Bob Lenox pointed out Monday night that the variance for the Dividend Drive setback really only affects the existing building, and that the future building could be something else entirely. But he went on to add that the concessions being made by Photocircuits could lead to stipulations being put on the property that would protect nearby residents from a possible change in ownership by limiting what a future owner could develop.

"Somebody else could come in later and do the maximum," said Lenox, referring to the number of parking spaces, the size of the building and assorted limits on the property. "This is an opportunity to freeze the best possible site plan."

Lenox acknowledged that had it not been tabled last Thursday, he would have voted in favor of the variance because he believes the new site plan to be in the best interests of Planterra Ridge residents. He added, "It is the nature of zoning" for government bodies to frequently be forced into unappealing decisions by the lack of a previous body to make the proper decision that could have been preventive.

Photocircuits announced Monday night that it has established a Community Response System, consisting mainly of a voice-mail number (770-632-2020) through which residents can alert the company of an incident or possible emergency at any time, and the appropriate personnel can be contacted immediately.

Callers have the option of simply leaving a message, such as information about an unusual noise or odor detected during the night, or notify the company that there is an emergency, in which case a pager would be activated and response would be immediate.

Another high-tech option previously discussed, an automatic dialer that would contact specific neighborhoods in the event of an accident, is still being investigated. The price tag for that could be in the $30,000 range, but Bunker noted that it seems to be a cost-effective alternative.

Photocircuits is still considering people to possibly be brought in for noise reduction studies. The company is about seven to 10 days away from making a decision, Bunker said.

Further steps are being taken on security at the plant, particularly in the areas containing chlorine. Bunker said that he expects to have more information on that at next week's meeting.

Peachtree City Fire Chief Gerald Reed was present at the meeting, and he addressed the group concerning his department's role and that of Photocircuits in the event of a spill or other type of accident.

If materials are stored in the proper place, with containment pads and other measures, then spills are usually handled in an efficient manner by the company itself, Reed said. Such spills have occurred a few times in the industrial park, he added.

The Fire Department focuses on possible exposure to the public and how to protect the citizens during an incident, according to Reed. When that is accomplished, the cleanup is usually left to the company.

Asked about the level of training among public safety personnel, Reed said that all police and fire employees have basic training in hazarous materials, mostly in identifying the situation and other first-response duties. A countywide HAZMAT team is used for further action.

A source of occasional odors coming from the plant has been identified, Photocircuits representatives said, and they are awaiting state approval for some of the measures necessary to take care of it.

Lenox said he had spoken with a representative of Pathway Communities about a vacant lot next to the building and the committee's concerns about its potential for development. Pathway has indicated no efforts to market the tract, Lenox reported, and the company has even suggested that the tract could be suitable for a "soft use" such as a neighborhood center.

The matter of traffic was briefly discussed, and Bunker pointed out that shift changes are not done simultaneously, as might be assumed, causing a traffic jam. Instead, the new shift comes in 30 minutes before the previous shift leaves, allowing workers more time and space to enter and exit. But, he added, this does require many more parking spaces.