Wieland wants 344 homes on 88 acres in PTC

Mon, 09/08/2008 - 10:52am
By: John Munford

Tonight Peachtree City planners will get their first pitch from John Wieland Homes to develop an 88-acre site with 344 homes, including 58 condominiums and 161 single family attached homes.

The plan also includes 125 single family detached homes.

The matter will be discussed at tonight's Planning Commission meeting, which starts at 7 p.m. at City Hall.

In its rezoning application to the city, Wieland indicated it was prepared to submit an alternative plan without the condominiums. That’s in deference to previous comments from city council members who have remarked that the council is unlikely to approve any new condominium projects.

The tract is located on the west side of Ga. Highway 74 directly across from the southern leg of Kedron Drive.

Currently the land is zoned for students to attend Kedron Elementary School, Flat Rock Middle School and Sandy Creek High School. The development will be phased in over a 10-year period, Wieland noted, suggesting that the attached housing will add “fewer than one student per home based on the applicant’s experience in similar neighborhoods.”

Wieland is offering to include three multi-purpose sports fields on the site which would be dedicated to the city. The company is also suggesting it would pay the city $200,000 towards improving the fields if the rezoning is approved.

The land is currently zoned for industrial use but the city’s land use plan calls for it to be developed for office uses. It is directly abutted to the east by the CSX railroad track.

A citizen-led task force recommended the parcel to not be developed as general industrial, and in addition to signing off on the residential development also recommended the presence of condominiums.

The neighborhood covenants will limit homes to having no more than 10 percent of the neighborhood leased as rental property, according to Wieland’s application.

Wieland also is proposing a 100 foot buffer along Ga. Highway 74.

Under the city’s new development fees, Wieland will have to pay $22,286 just to have the annexation considered. Although the planning commission will make a recommendation on the issue, the final decision on the matter is up to the City Council.

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Submitted by skyspy on Tue, 09/09/2008 - 7:14am.

It looks like harold will get his wish after all. We look like riverdale more everyday. Now all we need are the drive by shootings and harold's dream will be complete.

I don't think cluster homes by train tracks will sell well here. They go like hotcakes in Cabbagetown and the Kirkwood area but.....

Submitted by Spyglass on Tue, 09/09/2008 - 9:49am.

are one reason these blogs will NEVER be taken seriously. Claiming this is Harold's wish, and below saying all Harold needs to get something approved is a few cold BEERS.

We agree, they won't sell, and it's too dense, but acting like this is Harold's dream is beyond stupid. Why not just address the proposal with facts, instead of constantly slinging mud.

If this is the proposal that Wieland wants to stick with, I'm against changing the zoning, PERIOD. Just leave it industrial.

Submitted by skyspy on Tue, 09/09/2008 - 10:14am.

Not slinging mud. Since harold was elected the appearance of the city has gone south. Dramatically in my opinion. I don't think it is by accident. For a change I'm not the one who brought up his weakness for adult beverages.

Let's face it the opinions of the citizens here have fallen on deaf ears period. Whether you write the city council directly or a letter to the editor, the citizens here do not matter to this council. The only exceptions are Don and Doug, they actually have our best interest at heart.

I can't imagine why they hired that company to do the phone survey. They have never indicated that the citizens opinions matter why waste the money?.

Does anyone seriously think cluster homes by a railroad will sell for 1 million? Seriously?

Submitted by Spyglass on Tue, 09/09/2008 - 12:21pm.

on the City's appearance for one. Exactly what has this Commission approved that makes you say that? In my opinion, the worst thing EVER approved by a PTC Council was the WALLY WORLD, 2nd to possibly the homes in the Glenloch area near the pool, but that was YEARS ago.

Who in the world thinks 1 Million is serious? I for one don't see the demand period. But I will grant the property owner the right to propose something, as ridiculous as his proposal is.

And to answer your question about the Council and response, I heard from them recently when I inquired about the "bridge to no-where". Maybe they know who you are, and just how ridiculous you sound on these blogs with your continual mud slinging.

Richard Hobbs's picture
Submitted by Richard Hobbs on Tue, 09/09/2008 - 8:19am.

344 new homes means 344 new families have moved into Peachtree City/Fayette.

According to the Georgia Census of 2000, the average household contains approximately 3.14 people, this includes all families. The median average for child rearing aged families increases dramatically, wherein the average for "families" is much higher. Approaching 2 children per household under the age of 18.

http://www.movers.com/moving-guides/us-state-profiles/stateinfo-full.aspx?st=georgia#censusReports
http://www.census.gov/population/socdemo/hh-fam/tabST-F1-1990.csv

According to the Board of Education's own brochures, it costs on average $7300.00 per student per year to educate these children.
http://www.fcboe.org/finance/docs/05-06financialsummary.pdf

So lets just pick a low number and say that everyone of those 344 homes, will have only one child in our schools.

Now how much in real value must each home cost, before the millage rate actually pays for that child in our schools?

Currently, the millage rate for the Board of Education is between 19 and 20 mills. That means for every $2500 in actual value of your home, you will pay about $20 bucks per year to the BOE. (20 mills represents 20 dollars per $1000 of assessed value. All homes are assessed at 40% of their value, ergo, $1000 in assessed valued equals $2500 in real value.)

So, if each home is valued at $1,000,000.00, then the Board of Education will get about $8000 per household.

---------------------------
Now these are just raw numbers correlating the value of single family homes with their responsibility to the tax base vs. their burden upon it. Mindful that this does not include the revenue derived by businesses real or personal property taxes, which would obviously lessen the needed additional resourses. To be fair, it doesn't consider the households with no children that pay BOE millage rates, but that rate is often reduced for senior citizens. But the numbers are real.

There are many other contributing factors, such as the additional cars that are parked at each home every night. 2 more cars for each home means that much more traffic. Each home produces sewage and uses more of our water resources.

For every action there is a reaction. We shouldn't ignore the overall and long ranging affects of these homes on our quality of life, without serious consideration of the repercussions.


Submitted by tc on Mon, 09/08/2008 - 10:44pm.

We seem to have lost sight of a very important point: the West Village was only annexed under a very flimsy technicality and only because the entire north end was supposed to be senior housing which would have no impact on the local schools. At an average of 2 students per home, we can expect 688 students to impact our school district in precisely the worst area in the county for accomodating middle and high school students. The second important question: where would the recreation fields go? Undoubtedly over the "peach pit," an environmental hazard that has only been evaluated by the deveoper's consultant. If our city council accepts this, we need to initiate a recall. This is absurd.

Submitted by realist on Mon, 09/08/2008 - 11:01pm.

Wasn't there some lawsuit to stop the West Village annexation? Whatever happened to that?

Don Haddix's picture
Submitted by Don Haddix on Mon, 09/08/2008 - 6:11pm.

To cover at least some of the issues and questions please click here.

As far as to where it connects to 74, McDuff will be completed with a bridge crossing 74 to Kedron Drive North.

As always, if you have more questions please post a reply in the appropriate existing or new thread on the forum in the link in my sig line.

Hope that helps and thanks for being concerned about PTC.

Don Haddix
PTC Councilman
Post 1
donhaddix.com


Cyclist's picture
Submitted by Cyclist on Mon, 09/08/2008 - 7:02pm.

I'm beginning to think that those who are championing these new developments are playing us current homeowners like a bunch of chumps with the respect to the current stage 4 drought conditions.

We all know the things that we have to do in order to stretch our water resources. If we elect to disregard the current rules we run afoul of them and then the risk of paying a fine and or having our water shut-off.

So my question. Are we, the current homeowners in the county, being played as chumps? Is there really a water shortage?
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Caution - The Surgeon General has determined that constant blogging is an addiction that can cause a sedentary life style.


Don Haddix's picture
Submitted by Don Haddix on Mon, 09/08/2008 - 8:40pm.

That answer is complex in that the state has first say, the county second and PTC third on usage, etc.

But, with that said maybe the site found here will help in tracking water conditions. That should help in comparing development to resources, etc.

To be honest, in conversations and classes with some state experts on the issue the pattern is water resources decline faster that just by the increased usage by increasing the amount of non permeable surfaces laid. Which means not allowing water to soak into the ground to be retained allows it enter streams faster and be carried away before it can do us any good. And that we are not in good shape, especially around Atlanta, water wise, with it getting worse fast.

Having been raised in Mid West farm country I can tell you the water table is, in some ways, more important than rain fall. Rain all you want but if it does not get into the ground you are in trouble both irrigation and potable water wise.

Unfortunately we have too many in government that are totally focused on building and growing the population. They do not seem to understand there is growth in numbers versus growth in quality, both of which can fuel an economy, but in very different ways.

Not sure if that will help or not.

Don Haddix
PTC Councilman
Post 1
donhaddix.com


suggarfoot's picture
Submitted by suggarfoot on Tue, 09/09/2008 - 6:58am.

for honest answers.


Cyclist's picture
Submitted by Cyclist on Mon, 09/08/2008 - 2:20pm.

this stuff to support this additional growth.
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Caution - The Surgeon General has determined that constant blogging is an addiction that can cause a sedentary life style.


Submitted by MYTMITE on Mon, 09/08/2008 - 1:37pm.

do your utmost to see that this is not approved. Johm Weiland does not care what happens to Peaachtree City. He plays up being a philanthropist but that money comes from wrecking neighborhoods as he is doing with Peachtree if this is approved. Mr. Weiland does not have to live with the mess he creates. Where are all these people coming from to fill these 344 homes? Is he going for Section 8? Look at Southampton and other places he has built and look at all the for sale signs. Southampton was loaded with for sale signs (resales by owners) while many additional homes were not even completed. We don't need Mr. Weiland or his homes. City Council if you care anything about Peachtree City vote this down!

Submitted by g8trgrl on Mon, 09/08/2008 - 1:23pm.

What happened to the land Weiland donated to PTC for a new elementary school when he got to build Centennial? Oh yeah - it was not suited to build on. The BOE counted on that land to build a school & it turned out to be granite rock! PTC Council better get some of these promises of multi-purpose blah blah blah in writing. How about you make him build a whole new school for all of these 344 homes? If the Council votes this in - PTC knows the Council does not care what their taxpayers think.

Submitted by Spyglass on Mon, 09/08/2008 - 12:51pm.

Frankly, as a PTC resident, I don't see the demand. I can understand possibly changing the zoning to residential/office possibly, but this proposed density if out of hand.

Submitted by mgarlow on Mon, 09/08/2008 - 12:36pm.

Let's see now. You have 388 homes squeezed in. On one side, you have a CSX railroad with all the noise and occasional suspect hazardous material running all day and nigh. Down the middle you will have the expanded McDuff Parkway with all the diverted traffic that wants to avoid the 54/74 intersection. Then, on the north side (and not mentioned above), you have the active quarry with explosives going off to mine the pit. At what point does Peachtree City determine that his is not the lifestyle that it wants to project? Or, is this a buyer-beware situation so that the developer can dump this off? Also, what is "suggesting that it would pay" to develop he fields mean? Anything short of a written guarantee with money in escrow is just a hollow phrase of non-binding jabber talk.

To the City Council, I say allow Wieland to present its case, and then just walk away from this fraud.

KraftyFla's picture
Submitted by KraftyFla on Thu, 09/11/2008 - 7:45am.

This is a typical developer dump-off. Wieland will flood Fayette schools, burden services and finance it all with affirmative action mortgages from brokerage houses teetering on the edge of bankruptcy already.

Too many City Councils and County Commissions make a bad decision that is magnified years later. At the time they will make up all kinds of excuses and pat each other on the back for being "courageous". Commissioners Sprayberry and others did. PTC Councilmember Carol Fritz, after charading as a populist, folded like a pup tent and cast the deciding vote for the 54/74 debacle that Fayette County still suffers under.

MGarlow you are right--- keep up the pressure. It does not look like this council (or at least 3 of them) can say no. It makes you concerned after the Sany trip--- why types of gratuities are Logsdon and McMullen taking in other instances that we DON'T know about?


rzz's picture
Submitted by rzz on Mon, 09/08/2008 - 12:10pm.

Across the railroad tracks? Sounds like a noisy and dangerous place to live to me.


Submitted by UrKidding on Mon, 09/08/2008 - 11:52am.

Don't we have enough accidents due to over development in PTC. Has the city councel or planing commission tried to turn on or off of 74 at Kedron Drive? To add 300 plus homes to this intersection and don't forget they would have to cross the railroad tracks less than 50ft from 74. And will this be the access for "multi-purpose sports fields". When is the access considered.......oh yeah once the development is done and someone has lost their life.

JAFO 72's picture
Submitted by JAFO 72 on Mon, 09/08/2008 - 12:12pm.

If you have read the proposal for the sight, it includes provisions for an at grade crossing and a bridge to the east side. the developement would also open up McDuff Parkway to HWY74, and alleviate traffic to the new shopping eyesore on the westside.

The at grade crossing and bridge are still up in the air as to who and how much Wieland will contribute for said construction. It would have been a joint venture between John Wieland and Levitt Bros. Howeve' Levitt went under due to the city council dragging their feet.

“You get the government you deserve.”


Submitted by UrKidding on Mon, 09/08/2008 - 3:25pm.

I have not read the proposal so thanks for the information but does this mean the current access at 74 would be closed? There would be no direct access to 74 from this development?

JAFO 72's picture
Submitted by JAFO 72 on Mon, 09/08/2008 - 4:00pm.

I believe the entrance to HWY74 would be just to the south of Kedron at the RxR crossing. That was in the original proposal circa a year and a half ago.

“Every time you vote Democrat God kills a kitten.”


Evil Elvis's picture
Submitted by Evil Elvis on Mon, 09/08/2008 - 11:20am.

I've heard it's ice water.

Pound salt, Johnny.


ptctaxpayer's picture
Submitted by ptctaxpayer on Mon, 09/08/2008 - 12:51pm.

Courtesy of Sany, Wieland now knows the way to Harold's heart. It ain't the $3,000 grand in air fare it is the endless supply of cold ones. Cheap beer is ok, too.


mudcat's picture
Submitted by mudcat on Mon, 09/08/2008 - 6:43pm.

Your comments speak for themselves.


abeautifulday4us's picture
Submitted by abeautifulday4us on Tue, 09/09/2008 - 10:32am.

Carol, dear, you need not express your support for this latest development. Remember, it was your loving embrace for the 54/74 development mess that lead to your being voted out of office. So, please, you don't need to move, just quiet down. Thank you.


Submitted by Dondol on Mon, 09/08/2008 - 1:13pm.

Why do you think that I refer to our Mayor as Otis Campbell (re: Andy Griffith show)

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