Months were spent to develop a plan for the commercial development on Ga. Highway 74 South called Wilshire Pavilion, owned by Columbia Properties. Planning commission, city staff, neighbors from nearby communities, the Peachtree City Civic Association — all worked with Columbia Properties to come up with a plan for this commercial property that will be agreeable to all.

A plan was approved in February of this year to include a 60-foot mature tree-save buffer between the development and Hwy. 74.

Less than a year later, after the utility companies and the GDOT came in with their new easement requirements, as it stands now, there will be no buffer whatsoever, never mind the negotiated 60 feet of tree-save. This was recently revealed at a workshop on Sept. 8, 2008.

Now, granted, discussions are planned with the developer as to what to do, but in my opinion, the city has no obligation to do anything except enforce the approved plan and keep the buffer.

If the utility companies and the DOT need more land, then let them take it from the property owner, but NOT from the city’s buffer. If the developer cannot push everything back 60 feet to accommodate our buffer and the utility easements, then they will have to change their plan. Why should the city pay the price for these enlarged easements that are only necessary because of the developer’s project?

We should not.

I do not care what other “solution” is worked out with the developer. If it does not allow us to keep our 60 feet of mature trees, we have been thrown under the bus once again. This is the developer’s problem, not the city’s, and the city needs to embrace that fact.

The buffer agreement was between the city and the developer, not the city and the utility companies. The utility element has nothing to do with what was promised to the city.

City officials want us to be involved, take a vested interest in the future of our town. Many people did just that this past February. What message are they sending when not eight months later our plan is moot?

Don’t let it happen. That buffer is irreplaceable; it is signature PTC. Your citizenry fought to get it; it is your job to fight to keep it.

Beth Pullias

Peachtree City, Ga.

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