During my campaign I have had the opportunity to meet people who are genuinely concerned about the future of Peachtree City. Our city is not just a city, but a way of life that has the greatest asset of all – caring citizens. We are at a crossroads right now as to where PTC wants and needs to be. If we are not careful, our decisions today will do us harm 10 years from now.

In 2005, PTC was the #8 place to retire and to live. Today, we are still #8 to retire, but have fallen to #64 in places to live – Why? We are seeing our uniqueness slowly drift away from us – increased sprawl, tax drain and increased traffic are issues of concern to all citizens. We have to get back to basics and bring our city back in line with its heritage and solidify it for the next 20-30 years.

I am for tying in our comprehensive plan to zoning ordinances and making them law. In the Lowe’s case, Judge English found against PTC because our position was one of “opinion” and “exceptions”. These standards as of today are not enough when legally challenged. Loopholes create these exceptions. We establish the correct legal mix and our laws are created. When we tie the comprehensive plan and the respective ordinances into law, we create a legal footing that gives us a position to defend. This action will not create more lawsuits as one would believe, but would reduce them as the fact that legal positioning is established. The Supreme Court has upheld moratoriums and comprehensive land use plans as evidenced in the Tahoe – Sierra Ruling of 2002. When a company wants to build something on property in PTC, they already know the legal guidelines pursuant the laws of the city.

Too many people are under the impression that we have sufficient laws in place today. We do not as evidenced in the Lowe’s case. Today, all we have is zoning, architectural laws and the “big box” ordinance. We do not have any laws for environmental programs, traffic studies or economic platforms and we do not have one ordinance that demands conformity to the comprehensive plan. That leaves us with the personal opinion of the council that encourages continued lawsuits due to lack of legal position.

To put it mildly, this is the answer as if we continue to try to enforce our “opinions”, we will continue to end up losing court cases. As I have stated from day one – put “teeth” in the ordinances and make them stand on their merits. This program also makes your council become more proactive in approving any development in the city as your council would be the final say in the projects for the city.

People have the right to come in to PTC and ask to do business here. We have to guide them in what the city wants and expects from developers and we can do that by laws, not opinions. Opinions sway, players change and people can get mislead, leading to mistrust and legal action. In our country, people can file lawsuits on many grounds. That is part of our legal system. What we have to do is close the loop and quit losing lawsuits that open more challenges while painting a picture of what the city expects from those who want to establish businesses in our wonderful city.

I have a vision of our city and my vision encompasses my children living here with their children. I have spoken on my agenda of Voice of the Customer Government, Senior Mentorship Program, Increased Cart Path Security Program and seeking State and Federal Funding for our Environment. These programs develop a legacy for PTC which add to our way of life. Let me be your advocate and whether you vote for me or my opponent, please exercise your right to vote by December 4th.

Thanks and Please Vote!
Doug Sturbaum
Candidate – PTC City Council Post 2
www.ptcadvocate.com

Having been immersed in this campaign for the last four months, I have had the priviledge of meeting many new friends who I believe share my vision for Peachtree City. Simply stated, that vision is to maintain the quality of life that I found when I arrived here back in 1987. Peachtree City must remain unique with its golf cart lifestyle, quality schools, and friendly atmosphere that keep all of us here.
I believe we can maintain our status a top ten rated community by demanding that current standards of development be maintained by our City Council. While we must be both civil and friendly toward those who wish to build businesses in our town, we must not allow the city to become enablers for development that deviates from our standards (big boxes) nor should we allow regional centers to further congest our already busy thoroughfares.
Further, I believe my independence from what I consider to be a developer friendly council affords me the ability to voice the opinion of the many citizens with whom I have been priviledged to get to know and to vote accordingly. I have iterated my positions on issues facing our city and I stand by them. We have restrictions in place for development and your council must heed them. Placing moratoriums or creating laws that will be subject to court decisions are not the answer, the answer remains with enforcing what we currently have in effect. It does take hard work and diligence to get what the people of our town want and deserve from developers and it can be done. Both Judy Rutherford and Stuart Kourijian have done just that and I will follow their lead.
The voting has now started and whether you select me or my opponent I urge each citizen of our fair city to exercise his or her right to vote. The decision is now yours and I continue to ask for your vote by Dec 4th.
Mike King Candidate for City Council Post 2
mkingforcouncil@comcast.net