By MONROE ROARK
Staff Writer

Stuart Hoff is still looking for a place to pick up commuters in the southern half of Peachtree City.

He appealed to the City Council last week for authorization to use a portion of the parking lot at the Meade adult softball complex as a pickup and dropoff point for his fledgling commuter bus service, but that request was rejected.

Hoff reported at the council meeting that his company, Phoenix Star Transportation Services, is planning to use Kedron Shopping Village at the northern end of the city, as well as two locations in Fayetteville — First Baptist Church, and in the Fayette Pavilion shopping complex next to the Atlanta Bread Company restaurant.

He told The Citizen Monday that he is already in operation between Kedron and Hartsfield Atlanta International Airport, with the other two stops scheduled to go online Aug. 1. He said he has received verbal confirmation from the church as a pickup and drop-off point, but he has not nailed down approval from the restaurant.

Hoff started the company to take advantage of the fact that so many airport employees live in Fayette County. Surveys were taken by Delta Air Lines and the city of Peachtree City which indicated some interest in the possibility of commuting to work by bus.

Hoff said that new buses were to be placed into service July 6, with a third party actually operating the vehicles.

Discussions among council members and city staff at the meeting revealed a great deal of concern about the use of the Meade parking lot during times it would be crowded with people at games. Its location on Ga. Highway 74 near the Starr's Mill school complex was also a concern.

Mayor Bob Lenox said he would make contact with the Braelinn Village shopping center to see if there was any way that lot could be used. Hoff said he would prefer a shopping center to the ball fields, adding that he felt it would benefit the stores as well, because the bus service would bring more people into the area.