By MONROE ROARK
Staff Writer

If your project generates too much traffic, we won't let you build it.

That's what Peachtree City soon may say to developers who want to build along a congested corridor in the western part of the city.

Facing a traffic problem that seems to be growing geometrically, Peachtree City is considering a couple of options that could drastically affect development along the Ga. Highway 54 corridor near the Coweta County line.

City Council will have a public hearing at its Sept. 16 meeting to allow for discussion of a possible traffic impact ordinance.

This measure, if approved, would require any future development that could potentially have a significant impact on traffic in the area to have a traffic analysis performed, and if an unacceptable impact is predicted, the project could be delayed unless a way can be found to reduce the impact.

The city also is taking no action on new building permits along the corridor in the immediate future, and a building moratorium could be enacted for the area, depending upon the outcome of the public hearing.

Federal regulations are making it difficult to find traffic solutions, as lawsuits relating to air quality requirements have slowed major improvements around metro Atlanta to a virtual stop. Continued development along Hwy. 54 between Peachtree City and Newnan is not making the situation any better.

A spokesman for the Georgia Department of Transportation told the City Council at last week's regular meeting that planned widening of Hwy. 54 on the western end of the city is not likely to be completed before about 2008. This project was on schedule for timely completion, with right-of-way expected to be acquired beginning this summer, until legal action stopped federal funding. Now, right-of-way acquisition is expected to begin in 2003.

The city can make no improvements that would increase capacity on state highways while this issue is being litigated. The addition of auxiliary lanes, turn lanes, traffic signals and similar improvements are permitted.

Council conducted an extensive discussion of this issue during the meeting, with input from city fire and police officials, who cautioned that emergency response is getting more and more difficult in this critical area, especially during peak traffic times.