By MONROE ROARK
Staff Writer

Peachtree City is ready to step up the pace in the design phase of the northwest corner of Ga. Highway 54 and Walt Banks Road, and that apparently includes shelling out some money to get some things done.

During its July 1 meeting, the City Council was scheduled to address a proposal to approve no more than $7,000 in city funds for costs incurred in having a design firm put together a more detailed plan for how residential, commercial and office uses could be combined on the corner.

At a meeting last week with all parties involved in development of the site, Mayor Bob Lenox said that plans should proceed so that there is as little delay as possible due to the July 4 holiday weekend.

“After all the money and time spent on this in the past, this isn't much,” he said.

Lenox added that developing a central plan was of utmost importance, and it would be very difficult for any single party to convince anyone else of what they wanted to develop there without one.

The possibility of office-institutional land being replaced with residential property on part of the tract continues to be a sticking point with land owner Bill Lassiter, according to Doug Dillard, his attorney.

Dillard said that when he told Lassiter, who was not present at the meeting, of this development that had been discussed at a previous meeting, Lassiter instructed him not to go to any more meetings, but Dillard convinced him to stay involved in the process.

If there is a residential alternative, it must have enough density to be of compatible value with office zoning, Dillard reported. “Why would [Lassiter] want to do something less than what he can do now?” he added, referring to the fact that Lassiter can begin commercial development on the site the way it is zoned now, with some restrictions.

Dillard said that Lassiter plans to refile with the city for another shot at development very soon, and he will probably just include the commercial portion of his tract — about 13 acres.

The request would include a reduction in the buffer on Hwy. 54 from 100 feet to 60 feet, which is what the city's ordinance requires, and ask for right-in/right-out access to Hwy. 54.

As for the plans to develop a master plan for the entire 73-acre site, Dillard said he would encourage Lassiter to participate and would be surprised if he does not do so.

Two firms were mentioned as candidates for the design work — one in Dallas and another in Hilton Head. City development director Jim Williams pointed out that a great deal of study has already been done on this property over the years, so a lot of technical information is readily available.

No local firms were found that are interested in the design job, Williams said, noting that none are very experienced in this type of work.

The initial design process could take about three weeks, and whichever firm is selected would begin by meeting locally with the parties involved in the development.