Last week the developer for the Kohl’s proposal withdrew his request for abandonment of city property, which in essence stopped another big box in our city that was neither needed nor wanted. Hopefully, our Planning Commission can get something that we can live with and that meets the standards currently in place.

As I have stated previously, in order for any development to be considered, it must meet the following conditions:

First, is it revenue positive economically? Tax revenues are but one side of this equation. What expense does it give the city in costs to the infrastructure? A full economic impact study should be readily available to the council prior to submission.

Second, does it add to the quality of life to which all of us have grown accustomed? If it further burdens our growing street congestion or creates excessive noise to adjoining neighborhoods, why bother to propose it?

Third, does it meet all of the ordinances that are in place that maintains the uniqueness of our top 10 city? Specifically, are ample buffers in place so that parking lots are not visible [from] adjacent thoroughfares? Are the retail outlets within the proposal designed primarily for residents of Peachtree City and not regional outlets designed to draw traffic from outlying areas?

Along this line, the west side annexation has been approved and we as citizens must insure we get the best possible outcome from each of the developers.

Currently, the density level proposed is higher than I would expect; however, when the addition of extending Macduff Parkway to Kedron is factored along with the other concessions, I believe we have the beginning of a good plan.

Other ideas can still be factored so I urge my fellow citizens to become more involved so more voices are heard and we as a city put our best foot forward.

Peachtree City is still unique just as it was in 1987 when we moved here. We have to keep our standards for development higher than our surrounding communities otherwise we lower ourselves to being just another city.

I ask for your vote on Nov. 6 so that, together, we can assure our standards are met, not the developers’.

Mike King

Candidate for City Council Post 2

mkingforcouncil@comcast.net

Peachtree City, Ga.