PTC planners OK Callula Hill 3-2

Fri, 06/12/2009 - 3:07pm
By: John Munford

10 of 80 lots in question due to FAA guidelines forbidding construction near Falcon Field

On a split 3-2 vote, the Peachtree City Planning Commission Monday night narrowly approved a recommendation to rezone a 37-acre site in the city’s industrial park for an 80-home subdivision that would have views of Lake McIntosh along with planes buzzing overhead due to the adjacent Falcon Field airport.

The Callula Hill proposal also includes an event center that would host weddings, reunions and the like along with 12 small villas that would be rented out in conjunction with those events.

One large question looms in the background. Planning Commissioner Joe Frazar said that according to Federal Aviation Administration rules, 10 of the residential lots are in an area in which no construction is allowed.

“The FAA says not to build in that zone,” Frazar said. “... That was written to guide development of airports in the southeast. And it’s good guidance. ... Why would we fly in the face of sound guidance?”

Pathway representative Gene Lavine countered that the city’s airport authority has already indicated the subdivision would not adversely affect its operations.

Planning Commissioner Lynda Wojcik asked Lavine if he would remove the 10 lots in question. He refused, saying the information cited by Frasar, coming from an email from former Airport Director Jim Savage, may not be correct.

Frazar ultimately voted in favor of the rezoning, saying that he felt the property lent itself ideally to a residential use. Joining Frazar in favor were Theo Scott and Patrick Staples. Voting against were Lynda Wojcik and Larry Sussberg, who both said the proximity to the airport was a significant issue for them, particularly in light of the noise of planes taking off and landing.

Wojcik also said she felt the plan was contrary to the city’s land use plan. But Staples noted that the city attorney has informed the commission that because of the uniqueness of the property such a rezoning would not set a precedent for other rezonings of land from industrial to commercial and residential uses.

The commission’s vote is a recommendation only. The final say-so rests with the Peachtree City Council.

The tract, which is not connected to any residentially zoned property, abuts the Planterra Ridge golf course and clubhouse along with additional industrial-zoned properties. As such, Pathway Communities has pledged to build a cart path along Dividend Drive from TDK Boulevard up to Kelly Drive where a current cart path crossing exists to traverse Ga. HIghway 74 and link to the rest of the city.

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Submitted by Imker on Wed, 06/17/2009 - 3:11pm.

Its seems the citizens are nearly unanimous in their desire not to approved this rezoning. How can any council member consciously vote for this? Why? Why? Why? So you disappoint one or two campaign contributors. Why would you want to shove this down the rest of our throats? Boone and Plunket need to simply live with the fact they're not going to get reelected nor be elected mayor. That's the problem when folks get into office with higher ambitions. It stinks. I beg one of these two folks to do the right thing and vote No. Please don't do this to our community as some kind of payback either for your former supporters or future goals. Think of our city first.

Submitted by Spyglass on Mon, 06/15/2009 - 10:58am.

is a flat out crazy. We have at least 3 flat out crazies here amongst us.

Spear Road Guy's picture
Submitted by Spear Road Guy on Mon, 06/15/2009 - 10:43am.

This clueless bunch doesn't give a tinker's darn about the city's historic planning. It's at the end of the runway for crying out loud!!!

At least Wojcik and Sussberg had the guts to vote against the mayor's developer handlers.

Vote Republican


Submitted by Bonkers on Mon, 06/15/2009 - 10:58am.

The main thing is that people will buy those homes at the end of a runway! That is all that counts, otherwise Planterra would never have been built!

Spear Road Guy's picture
Submitted by Spear Road Guy on Mon, 06/15/2009 - 11:21am.

I agree with you Bonkers. I'll bet you this is the mayor, Boone and Plunkett's kiss good-bye to us!!!

Hopefully, Haddix is going to put up a good fight on this stupid development.

Vote Republican


1and1isnt3's picture
Submitted by 1and1isnt3 on Sat, 06/13/2009 - 9:00pm.

I'll buy one of the 10 forbidden homes and sue the airport authority, city, county, and the FAA for 'interfering with my quality of life' the very first time a plane flies over my house.
Oh BTW, you can forget about airshows at Falcon Field from now on. No way they can do all that "crazy" flying over a residential area. What will be the economic impact of that?


Submitted by jeep2 on Sun, 06/14/2009 - 2:26pm.

Lest we forget that when the yet to be, hottest new subdivision Planterra was up for discussion and the issues of the industrial park and the airport were brought up. The city allowed those homes to be built and no sooner were they sold and occupied that the homeowners started complaining about the noise from the airport and the odors from the factories; Photocircuits in particular. The complaints tied up ridiculous amounts of time in city council, etc. If you dont want to hear planes; then dont buy a home near the airport. You are right 1and 1; your comment about suing and quality of life will be acted on. I bet at least one or more of the homebuyers will be sure to complain. Lets sit back and see what happens.

Robert W. Morgan's picture
Submitted by Robert W. Morgan on Sun, 06/14/2009 - 4:15am.

The 10 lots and the airshow are the key.

City council can approve the development (dumb as the idea is) and exclude the 10 lots citing a higher authority - the FAA. That repays whatever debt they have to Mitchell and his cronies and effectively keeps the project reasonably safe and the airshow alive.

Fall back position for the real citizens of Peachtree City - assuming the gang of 3 actually approves the entire thing is to get that red head lawyer from Smokerise to sue the city citing the FAA ruling and also bringing the lost revenue from the airshow into the suit showing how irresponsible approving this project really is. If nothing else, it will stall the thing for 2 years. The new city council under Mayor Haddix (and Doug of course) and all 3 new people certainly won't approve something like this.

And BTW, Cyndi's career is over already. Her silence on this makes her another Boone. Bye!


Submitted by Arf on Fri, 06/12/2009 - 6:06pm.

Is there any common sense left anywhere in this area? I'm sure this 3/2 vote is an omen of things to keep on coming...

TinCan's picture
Submitted by TinCan on Fri, 06/12/2009 - 3:37pm.

Well maybe not that unbelievable. There must be a real pile of cash involved in this mess. Think maybe I can rent my house to 25 illegal aliens and buy where a plan is a plan not just wishful thinking. I know, there's still city council, but I'm not holding my breath.


mudcat's picture
Submitted by mudcat on Sat, 06/13/2009 - 4:44am.

I really going out on a limb here and predicting another 3-2 vote at city council on Callula Hills. What a bunch of fools (or corrupt people) we have running this city. No one with half a brain thinks this is a good project. Fortunately, the marketplace will also vote on this with their feet and Levine will be back asking for a reversion to industrial in about a year. My neighbor who was fired from Homesource is planning a sign campaign when they try to open for sales. Signs on the ground warning of the airport and the imminent danger are pretty effective, but I've heard talk of getting one of those planes than tow a banner to circle the property on Saturday and Sunday.

Of course the 3-2 vote could be a happy thing if Cyndy actually grows a pair and votes in favor of the land use plan with the Bobsey twins. What ever happened to her idea of doing just that and then running for mayor?


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