Multi-family sought for 89-acre Wieland site

Fri, 06/20/2008 - 3:32pm
By: John Munford

Council says no, for now, but college could change things

The Peachtree City Council put off a decision Thursday night on whether to allow a developer to explore the possibility of building townhomes and condominiums on an 89-acre tract off the western side of Ga. Highway 74 at south Kedron Drive.

The property, owned by John Wieland Homes, is adjacent to the Centennial subdivision which Wieland previously developed.

The vote was 4-1 to table the matter, with Councilman Steve Boone voting against. There was some sentiment on council to address the issue at a special called meeting in the future.

The property is currently zoned for industrial use and has been studied by a citizen-led task force. But another task force recently has been formed to study the matter.

The decision merely allows Wieland to have discussions with city staff on the potential for locating a multi-family component there. Currently such is forbidden without special permission from the City Council to lift the multi-family moratorium.

Councilman Don Haddix said with some property coming from the site for a potential college, he could see the reason for some multi-family zoning to support the college.

"WIthout a good reason to lift it, which we don't have, I can't go with it yet," Haddix said.

Councilwoman Cyndi Plunkett said she worried not lifting the moratorium might hurt the city's ability to recruit Atlanta Christian College, which has announced that Peachtree City is near the top of its relocation list.

Dan Fields, vice president of John Wieland Homes, said the majority of the task force members, but not all of them, agreed that the parcel was incompatible to be developed for industrial use as currently zoned.

The plan shows a group of townhomes to the southern border and another four condominium buildings in the center and a "campus" to the north for perhaps a college or an office complex, Fields said.

The townhomes, Fields said, would "most likely be targeted toward empty nesters."

Resident Phyllis Aguayo said she opposed building multifamily units on the site. She noted the site wasn't even zoned for residential use.

"The traffic and the impact on the schools ... is something we'll all be paying for in the future," Aguayo said.

Mayor Harold Logsdon said lifting the moratorium "does not approve anything," but he conceded that he and the rest of council would probably vote down a plan that contained any condominiums unless a college is coming to Peachtree City.

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Submitted by flip212 on Wed, 07/02/2008 - 7:54am.

All the fuss, discussion and wasted hours debating the Segway issue on golf cart paths and within a year, the store has closed shop.

Feel like eating a Jersey Mikes sandwich? Forget about it in PTC…GONE within a year!

But hey, lets cut down trees, plow fields and shut down hotels and car washes across the street from both of these stores…so we can build more retail shops!

Mr. Mayor, Ms. Cyndi and Mr. Boone (dogel), do you Three Stooges have any clue on how you are ruining this City? Or, better yet, do you REALY care? I read recently that Don Haddix did a study on how many empty establishments there are in town….he can now add two more… anyone wish to take bets on how long the retail shops being built will remain at 100% occupancy? I bet they never once reach it!

Keep up the spectacular job Council Members….we can’t wait until election time….save yourselves the embarrassment now…don’t waste your time on running for reelection!

Submitted by sageadvice on Wed, 07/02/2008 - 1:55pm.

Of the 100% who start a retail store 50% are gone in the first six months (in the USA--not here), of the 50% left 25% make it for a full year. Of the 25% left 10% actually make it two years.

But here is the new method of developing strip retail business:
Find an anchor, give them a long term contract at one half price, and build several more junkers! The anchor will pay most of the long term debt and one-half of the others will pay the rest of the overhead.
It used to be that appreciation of value would allow further borrowing against the asset for years. That has melted lately.

Some empties does not bother the investors as long as the value at least holds even.

As to a town looking junky from all this----who cares--- if they let us build them.

Submitted by MYTMITE on Wed, 07/02/2008 - 4:19pm.

These developers come in, make demands and threats, get what they want regardless of what the community wants, line their pockets and move on. They do not care about our neighborhoods, after all, the majority do not live in the area or even the state. We do not know yet what kinds of stores are going in, we are entirely in the dark. The developers make promises, get their concessions and all of a sudden the things they promised are no longer there. They are constantly changing things and never for the better How do they get away with this? Because we have several people on our City Council who do not give a tinker's damn where our community is concerned. One is a buffoon and the other two act as his lackeys. Can't wait til we get them out of office and get a few more like Haddix and Sturbaum in office--hope it isn't too late by then.

JAFO 72's picture
Submitted by JAFO 72 on Wed, 07/02/2008 - 2:15pm.

Much of this dates back to the day of Lenox and Brown. Harold, with eyes at half mast, just gives them a thumbs up as he raises his moonshine jar.

It's not just the retail stores. It's one more tire shop 500 yards away from another. And, they said a Hooters would be a bad idea? The problem is...we don't even know what the west end of PTC is "supposed" to look like. Maybe the developer (con) can post an artist's rendition on the Citizen as to what this "retail" place is going to resemble. I'm still waiting for a decent traffic plan for this area. Oh yeah, and a bridge.

I generally believe that the only purpose for consultants is to spend more money to prolong the problems. But, maybe PTC is in need of one.

Maybe I'll run for mayor. It will give me a good excuse to drink.

"A mans potential can be measured by his ability to cook french fries."


Submitted by Spyglass on Wed, 07/02/2008 - 8:36am.

The property you seem to be referring to (across the street) has been zoned commercial long before this current administration took over. What would you have recommended they do that would be legal and not lead to a lawsuit? The recent vote was to increase the center from 150,000 square feet to 175,000 feet. Do you feel the extra 25k feet is going to be the ruination of PTC? Did you analyze the extra buffers/landscaping etc that was added for this 25K square feet?

We all knew the Segway was doomed, and sandwich shops come and go.

I'm curious as to your answers.

Submitted by skyspy on Wed, 07/02/2008 - 8:58am.

It is true the ugly strip mall stores that are more than half empty were built before harold took office.

harold and company gave a variance to one buisness to overlook our big box ordinance which leaves it wide open now for every buisness to apply for the same if they want to. What harold could have done to control the mess is not sell the city streets below market value and not approve the variance.

Instead harold and company approved an ugly big box that will be used for drug buys for the cops, thats about it. The cops already had walley to use, did they really need a new place for drug buys?? Couldn't they just use the cart paths for their drug buys like the kids do??

At this point PTC has so many empty stores and restaurants I doubt that it is still considered to be a good place to locate to for any buisness. Most corporate offices will come here take one look around and come to the conclusion that money is not being spent here. One look at the ugly dated older shopping areas would be enough to turn off most people. The Avenue is the only thing that looks halfway decent.

I think the point is what harold and company could do is require any buisness that wants to move here to move into one of our many empty buildings before cutting down more trees.

Submitted by Spyglass on Wed, 07/02/2008 - 9:05am.

So basically, not selling the streets would have kept it at 150,000 square feet, and you would have been fine with that? You do know, that it could have been that big, yes? More streets to keep up for the City, and 25K less square feet. You really think that would have made a big difference? Throw in less buffers/landscaping and we have the perfect development in your mind.

The Big Box was allowed YEARS ago when the Braelin Kroger and K-Mart were approved. If it had been left to me, I wouldn't have approved any of them, but once ONE is allowed, it's basically out of control (ordinance or not). That being said, at least none of the recently approved stores come anywhere near as large as the two Krogers/Walmart/K-Mart/Home Depot.

One more thing, we agree on the Avenue, it looks good. I get tired of every new Developer saying his development will look "just like the Avenue". So far, they haven't come close, by any of them.

Submitted by skyspy on Wed, 07/02/2008 - 9:21am.

Yes, I think selling the city streets was a mistake. They weren't heavily traveled, so not much cost in upkeep. I don't think this new store will generate much in the way of tax revenue.

Ugly riverdale/old national hwy. look just doesn't sell.

Have a good day.

Submitted by Spyglass on Wed, 07/02/2008 - 9:26am.

I think we agree on more than we disagree.

And I'll add one more thing, these blogs are crazy lately with all the folks being too chicken to answer a few questions. Smiling

yellowjax1212's picture
Submitted by yellowjax1212 on Sat, 06/21/2008 - 7:16pm.

This is a good decision. it lets Wieland know we are not going to blanket approve for more condos and multi-family units but it does keep the door open if the deal for the college can be finalized.
A change in zoning is going to have to happen. This area will never be industrial any way.
Tabling the decision also shows the decision makers from the college that we are not going to do anything to close the door on that deal before the newly created task force can do their work.
Everyone should go to the PTC web site look at the section about the move of ACC. A lot of things are explained and there are maps and diagrams of the proposed site. If this happens, some condos in the area would make this community development truly unique.
The folks on this task force represent the entire county and they are working real hard to make this happen. Waht was once a long shot is now a real possibility.
The impact of a small college to a community is remarkable (you will find some of those financial impact studies on the site as well).


Submitted by MYTMITE on Fri, 06/20/2008 - 10:32pm.

This property was designated industrial for a reason. Has that criteria changed? Or are we once again being asked to capitulate to Mr. Weiland's wishes?

If this area has already been studied by a citizen task force why is it necessary to have another study by another task force? Will new task forces be established until one gives the desired answer?

Are there any figures to indicate, if the college decides to locate here, how many students will be drawn from areas close enough to commute? Will the college draw enough out-of-town/state students to fill these buildings? Will they be rentals or for sale? I worked at colleges and universites my whole adult life, and not that many students bought homes, they lived in dorms both single and married or they were renters. Even married students, as a rule, do not invest in real estate while attending college.

If special permission is given and then we do not get the college, what will happen to this area? Mr. Weiland has not had that much success filling the homes/townhouses he already has built in many areas.

Please give a lot of thought before getting us into yet another situation that will bring more congestion, and while filling Mr. Weiland's already full pockets, will do nothing to enhance our community.

Submitted by Spyglass on Sun, 06/22/2008 - 9:02am.

That the property was zoned industrial. I don't see it being viable as Industrial myself.

I'm not in favor of anything multi-family unless it's College related.

Submitted by skyspy on Fri, 06/20/2008 - 10:49pm.

There are simply tons, and tons of people who want to live stacked up in condos next to railroad tracks. They get to listen to the neighbors flush their toilets and the trains at the same time.

Why would we want to ruin that kind of "fun"? Just because WEAZEL hasn't sold all of his cluster homes yet?

PS: You just insured that this project, and it will be the "projects" will get approved by objecting to it. This council loves to approve of everything the citizen taxpayers don't want.

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