To Governor Perdue, Mayor Logsdon, City Council of Peachtree City, GRTA and ARC: We respectfully request that the extensive road system demanded by GRTA and a developer to support McIntosh Village and other Coweta County building be put on indefinite hold; that alternatives like a limited-access ring road be seriously considered; that appropriate studies and forecasting be carried out as soon as possible; and that Peachtree City residents be polled before the present policy direction is taken further, to the unnecessary detriment of all of us.

We are residents of beautiful Peachtree City, Ga., a carefully planned community where our higher taxes have been well-justified by our city’s unique charm, accessible green spaces, fine schools, ubiquitous golf carts, clean environment and pleasant lifestyle.

Peachtree City is world-renowned among scholars of “architectural syntax” for its unique “axial ringiness” and general air of bonhomie.

We have rested secure in the knowledge that Fayette County and Peachtree City have long had in place excellent strategic plans for responding to the inevitable growth and development. Peachtree City has been a crown jewel for Georgia.

But now, out of the blue, we learn that GRTA (Georgia Regional Transportation Authority) has signed off on a deal to allow a huge development in Coweta County.

Moreover, GRTA has determined, without spelling it out, that Peachtree City will bear the cost for the profits of the developer and for Coweta County’s failure to plan.

Moreover, the designs for the proposed road system changes have been issued by the developer, not by planners, engineers and agents of our governmental bodies who must answer to the people. ARC has similarly destructive plans.

It seems that we must live in the old-time Georgia, USSR, rather than in present-day Georgia, USA. “We the people” have not been afforded due process on this critical matter, nor has there been a referendum. We have been deprived of our rights as citizens of Georgia and of the United States.

And here is a partial list of what we will receive in return for what amounts to an “eminent domain” takeover of the function, though not the expense, of our roads:

• A Peachtree City that has been feloniously converted from a community into an access area or on-ramp for handling traffic that arises from Coweta’s out—of-control building.

• Years of road and intersection construction, with the attendant noise, dust and road destruction from heavy vehicular traffic (just as we see now on Ga. Highway 74 while it is being “improved.”

• Clear-cutting of still more green space and our most beautiful trees.

• Monstrously swollen intersections, as described in The Citizen of Dec. 13, 2006 (at peak hours, expert projections show designated intersections jumping from the present 32 to 924 autos; from 11 to 670 autos; from 541 to 1128 autos).

• A never-ending no-win situation in which the rate of road and intersection addition never catches up with traffic congestion.

• The tab for a perpetually expanding fleet of emergency vehicles and support equipment.

• The tab for more police and other emergency workers to handle the inevitable increase in traffic.

• The tab for increased court costs and loss of citizen security because of increased crime.

• The tab for enormously increased, perennially ongoing additional road repairs.

• The health tab for the effects of noxious, toxic fumes from the increased traffic.

• Increased difficulty and danger in getting around, especially for the elderly, the infirm and children.

• A significant decrease in property values and home salability. A home that sits beside a highway doesn’t have much “curb appeal.”

• The entire ambiance of the town, so important to those who chose to live here, irrevocably and negatively altered.

It is now apparent that the city’s power structure, intentionally or not, has for several years swung toward increasing vehicular accessibility in, out and through – not around — Peachtree City.

Look at the possible widening of Crosstown Drive, to which residents are vehemently opposed. True, this would expedite the commute from Fayetteville to Newnan, offering a parallel to Ga. Highway 54 for much of its distance.

But for increased efficiency at shuttling commuters, which is of no benefit at all to the local people, many residents will suffer reduced quality of life and loss of property value.

There are viable, cost-effective alternatives to this projected ravaging of our town, and they need to be considered, debated and modified in the public forum.

Consider going back to the policies and practices in effect at the time not long ago when homebuyers could be assured in all sincerity that Peachtree City had reached residential build-out and just needed to firm up the tax base with a little more light industry.

Not with more big-box stores (after all, we didn’t have any then), but with carefully selected industry.

We are told that city leaders now are working from assumptions that residential taxes have a negative effect on the tax base, industry only a slightly positive effect, and big boxes the most positive effect.

But these assumptions are not the result of any validated study. The city manager indicated at a recent meeting that there are no plans to carry out such a study in the near future, which is when our planners need that information.

Right now, we have plenty of big boxes in town and 12 miles away in each direction (in Newnan and Fayetteville): Target, Home Depot, Wal-Mart. We have a Lowe’s and a Kohl’s in Newnan and Fayetteville, and, it seems, more drug stores than there could possibly be customers.

Why is there any question of building more? We need alternatives to increasing the cross-penetration of our town by ever-widening road systems accompanied by more big boxes. As Judi-Ann Rutherford said at a recent council meeting: “Basically, you just pave Peachtree City.”

One possibility: restore our protective “bubble” via a limited-access ring road surrounding Peachtree City. Coweta commuters would be able to travel more quickly and efficiently between their homes and I-85, a win-win scenario in which our town could again become a destination, rather than a ramp to Somewhere Else.

Gov. Perdue, we need you and the agencies to communicate with citizens. Let them know what’s happening in plenty of time. Encourage discussion in public forums. Hold referendums and ask what the citizens want.

And citizens: the founders of this country guaranteed every one of us a voice. Attend Council and Planning Board meetings, talk with your neighbors, write to the newspapers and take responsibility by signing your name.

Don’t sit back and sigh, “Nothing can be done.” In Georgia, USA, in the year 2007, the people still have a say.

Lois M. Speaker
Louise Stroberg
Bill Holland
Peachtree City, Ga.