$50+ million project to be PTC’s 1st ever gated community

The Peachtree City Council approved a rezoning for a 310-unit senior residential development off Rockaway Road, down from the original proposal of 376 units. It’s the first approval of a gated community in the city’s history.

The vote was split 3-2 with council members Cyndi Plunkett and Stuart Kourajian against. Both had objected to the inclusion of the condos on the plan.

In addition to lowering the density, developer John Gorecki of Dominion Partners agreed to give the city $75,000 to add restrooms at Meade Field, another $25,000 for improvements in the greenbelt along Rockaway Road for cart paths, and Dominion will build a cart path tunnel under Rockaway Road.

The initial development proposal of 376 units had an estimated value of $59 million at build-out, but revised figures based on the reduced units have not been submitted with the city, said Assistant City Planner Tony Bernard.

Dominion agreed to allow the city to buy at the company’s cost a six-acre tract along Meade Field that is currently slated for 30 condos. The company also eliminated one gate that was proposed for the property, though it is keeping two gates that will serve some of the condos and the entire assisted living building.

The gates will be coded to open only for residents of the project, and will keep the general public out.

The project includes a 72-bed assisted living/memory care building along with 72 condominiums in three-story buildings serviced by elevators. Also on the plan are 16 villa-style homes.

Plunkett said the development will still add to the traffic with active adults, and she still felt the total number of units was “way too many.” Kourajian said he agreed with the need for the development, but he disagreed with density, especially the condo units that will be built with six attached as part of one building.

“These are high-end condos,” said Councilman Steve Boone.

Plunkett added that there are many other senior-oriented subdivisions in Peachtree City.

The limited use commercial zoning approved by council replaces the former zoning category for the land: general industrial. The land was earmarked for single family medium density use on the city’s land use plan.

The development will be age-restricted to persons 55 and over, Gorecki has said. Somerby will add an estimated 564 people to the city.

City staff compiled a financial analysis of the development over a 20-year period and determined it would be revenue-positive for the city by $1.4 million over that period. That analysis, however, was based on the previous density and not the approved density.