The Highway 54/Walt Banks Road task force is no more.

Two days after the last meeting on Apr. 20, Peachtree City Mayor Bob Lenox sent a letter to each member of the committee indicating his decision to disband the group.

"Following the meeting Tuesday night, I have given further thought to the goals and potential success of the task force in our efforts to develop a creative plan for the corner of Highway 54 and Walt Banks Road," he stated in the letter. "It is obvious that citizens have very strong feelings on both sides of this issue, and I have come to the conclusion that the task force will not be able to reach a consensus that will be acceptable to the affected property owners. Therefore, I feel it would be unproductive to hold any further meetings."

At the conclusion of the Apr. 20 meeting, the mayor had suggested that the group should continue meeting, but it was apparent that it would be starting from scratch due to the uncertainty among most of the members concerning which direction the group should take and what its goals were.

The task force was formed after a proposed development known as the Mews was voted down by the City Council a few months ago. After several meetings, some on the task force felt the group was being steered to reconsider the Mews project rather than finding an alternative use for the site.

In his letter, Lenox indicated that the property should be developed according to its current zoning, but he welcomes continued input from task force members, many of whom have expressed an interest in continuing their involvement in whatever is eventually developed there.