Letters to the Editor

PTC Council plays ‘Let’s Make a Deal’

Tue, 05/08/2007 - 3:42pm
By: Letters to the ...

I have just spent the last five hours at the Peachtree City Council’s version of “Let’s Make a Deal.”

The council voted 3 to 2 in favor of annexation of the West Village. Many citizens spoke in opposition of annexation because the approved plan does not meet the density and standards that currently exist in Peachtree City. There were also several environmental concerns raised.

Next we heard from citizens in favor of annexation, most of whom are trapped in the West Village with only one way in and out.

They have been coached, coddled and encouraged by John Wieland’s team of experts for months and were there in force to lobby for the road that the developers will build for “free.”

Yippee! How many things in life are truly free? Ask your friends in Gwinnett and Cobb counties what Wieland has done for their communities.

Our neighbors in Centennial will finally have another way out, but at what cost?

I would agree that the extension of MacDuff Parkway makes sense, but why does it have to be bought with the promise of increased density for the developer? Am I the only one that sees this road is not free?

In the end it came down to the developers making multiple trips to consult with their team and each time coming up with a little more cash and removing a few more homes, 12 to be exact, to seal the deal.

I can only liken it to buying a car and the humiliation you feel each time the salesperson makes a trip to his manager when you threaten to walk.

When it seemed the council was struggling with the numbers, the developers were able to sweeten the deal just a little more.

Council members Rutherford and Kourajian made gallant efforts to hold the developers to our current standards, but in the end the reduction of the development by 12 home sites was enough to sway the mayor and Council member Plunkett.

I left with the feeling that their minds were made up long before they entered that room and I had truly witnessed Monte Hall and Carol Merrill standing in front of door number 3.

Trina Davis

Peachtree City, Ga.

login to post comments

Comment viewing options

Select your preferred way to display the comments and click "Save settings" to activate your changes.
Exactly right, Trina
Robert W. Morgan's picture
Submitted by Robert W. Morgan on Tue, 05/08/2007 - 7:21pm.

Their minds were made up before they got there - just like in every other governmental body. That is what staff is for, to give the voting body all the facts ahead of time. The obvious emotional component of individual citizens complaining that something is happening in their back yard or that their ox has been gored (a colorful term for a special interest group being opposed or ignored) is totally irrelevant. The best politicians will make it appear that they are listening and are actually concerned (which is totally wrong) but in reality their vote is a done deal weeks before the actual event. Why else do you think all the factual material has to be turned in 30 or sometimes 60 days ahead of time?

In fact the reduction of density - the 12 units, which was actually more like 30 if you paid attention to the actual plans submitted ahead of time, was also orchestrated. This was mainly to get Cindy's vote.

It is all a big game Trina and those that think otherwise are fooling themselves.


login to post comments
Morgan: congratulations
Submitted by dollaradayandfound on Tue, 05/08/2007 - 7:41pm.

You are absolutely correct about minds made up before a hearing where a vote is to be taken. The only thing you left out is on occasion someone will bring up a big surprise out of the blue that has obvious serious overtones. What is done by Mayor and council in that case is to reschedule the vote to allow sufficient time to find a way around the problem.
Just about the only individuals who are listened to, or even talked to, about what the vote is going to be, and what it will take to get the vote, are a representative of the developer, probably a lawyer, and a paper of understanding.
Those changes made to density and other last minute changes, which are made by second tier developer's representatives, have no power to make changes that the developer hasn't approved long ago. Also I might add, they are assured that such a change made in public, later at the meeting, will be acceptable.
This same game is played in all politics, except this isn't really politics but the unfair advantage that developers hold over the average citizen.
We do allow our representatives to decide these things (council) but the open meetings are for "venting" and accomplish little to nothing except possibly assuaging the public.
We eat it up every time however.

login to post comments

Comment viewing options

Select your preferred way to display the comments and click "Save settings" to activate your changes.