1. You stressed traffic and disappearing tree buffers as concerns. What are your solutions to both problems?
Traffic
In terms of traffic we need to look at long term studies and plan for 10-20 years out. I agree with the comprehensive plan in planning for outside traffic to go around the city rather than through the city. Obviously we need to work with our neighbors to effect some change in terms of diverting outside traffic around us.

To ease the traffic flow within the city we need to encourage greater use of the cart paths. One reason I have heard that some folks do not use the paths more is a safety issue. This is an area that I believe we can work with the Police Department to assist. We need to fully staff the department so that the officers that have been set aside in the current budget get hired.

Traffic planning is a very difficult task but I believe that we need to look at the whole of the city and make sure that our resident traffic is flowing properly. I have heard some reports of increased truck traffic on Robinson Road and we have to properly police that. I have not heard that recently so there may be progress on that. We also need to set up benchmarks for traffic flow and work our planning to meet or exceed those benchmarks. For example the drive from a house in Wilshire to the Little Kroger should take no more than 15 minutes(example only - this is not meant as a real time benchmark). If we have times during the day or week when that is not reality then IF that is the benchmark we need to make some strategy to correct the traffic flow. Now I am not naive enough to believe that there will not be times when it will be impossible to meet the benchmark but we can set a percentage or average that would need to be met. So my approach to traffic planning would be to set some routes around the city and realistic time periods that it should take as benchmarks. These benchmarks would then be used to determine bottlenecks as well as acceptable solutions. We would use numbers to determine our goals. I believe we need to set expectations for solutions so that we don't get another 74/54 that was obsolete before it was completed.
Tree Buffers
Examples of the disappearing tree buffers that I am refering to is 74 and in front of the WalMart complex. If you look at our other commercial developments such as Braelinn you will see trees buffering the development. One way that I will work to solve this problem is to ask upfront on any development or road project what the tree save plan is. I believe this to be an integral part of the character of our city. Secondly we must work with code enforcement to monitor the permits issued for cutting down trees. One of the ideas that many people in PTC like is the abundance of trees. I believe that as part this process Council needs to revisit the ordinance and make sure it meets our needs.

2. What is your opinion of the recent Westside annexation? If you were not pleased, what would you have done differently?
The Westside Annexation in my opinion favored the developers overwhelmingly. I believe that we, the citizens, need the McDuff Parkway connected to 74 for a school site to be viable, for emergency services, and for the convenience of those citizens in the West Village. I also believe that prior to the annexation we should sit down and master plan the "West" village as a village with the same features(cart path connections, natural areas, density, recreation facilities, retail center, ect) that the other villages have. I further believe that the Council did not get the best deal.

Mike Harmon has stated that this part should have been in the city all along except the surveyor's ran out of money. Not sure because I have not checked it out. However, I believe acquiring the land is in the best interests of the city as it protects our west border by making Line Creek the natural border of our city. I think however that the development plans fell short of what I envision Peachtree City to be. The Senior Development plan did not show a step down density progression as stated in the Comprehensive Plan nor was there much benefit to the city in terms of recreational facilities for the almost 1000 new seniors that development would bring.

Finally, I think that what I call horse trading on the Council floor needs to stop. The changes to the plan comes after public input and fundamentally changes numerical comparisons and projections done by staff. Consequently while we may get lower density we also get a much higher bill in the long term that if we had known about probably would not approve the development no matter the density. I think it is fine for council to ask for concessions and they should if warranted but that also means that the Council needs to give staff and citizens opportunity to weigh in on the effects of the changes. If the plan is changed significantly(this term is certainly up for debate I realize but I have no better word to use at the moment) than what passed the Planning Commission and a 10% reduction in housing certainly qualifies in this case then it should be refered back to Planning. From a legal standpoint also any annexation has to be revenue nuetral or positive. With the change in numbers the benefit to the city was much lower than the $3 million of the original plan. There was alot of money tossed around and numbers that the public had no opportunity for comment on. This needs to change.

So in summary I would have voted to send the whole matter back to the Planning Commission that evening after getting the developers best offers as there were substantial changes to the plan presented and recommended by staff and the Planning Commission. In summary I do believe it is in the best interests of the city to annex the land but the plan that was presented needs some work before it is a benefit to Peachtree City.

3. How long have you lived in Peachtree City?
I have lived in Peachtree City since July 2006. However, I made numerous trips here on business in the 4 years prior to that. While I have not lived the history of Peachtree City I believe that I understand the core values of our city's founding(along with the modifications made along the way) and see the current manifestation of that vision to be the comprehensive plan. I additionally understand that I will need to seek out citizen input on all decisions which I would do as a 20 year resident as well. Prior to moving here I had lived in Fredericksburg, Va for 35 years. Leaving an area I had grown up and in and consciously moved back to as an adult was not an easy decision nor one I made lightly. We(my wife and I) did our research and concluded that Peachtree City was where we wanted to live. I know we made the right move and I want to help maintain and improve this wonderful place we call home.

Thanks for the opportunity to respond.

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Thomas J. O'Toole, Jr.
Peachtree City Council Post 1 Candidate
http://www.tomotoole.net
Vote November 6
Protecting the Promise of Peachtree City by
- Promoting Responsible Redevelopment
- Proactively Addressing Traffic Concerns
- Increasing s