New retail rules?

Thu, 02/16/2006 - 5:25pm
By: John Munford

Peachtree City is about to dramatically revamp its “big box” regulations so they can better withstand a legal challenge in court.

Currently, the city bans construction of new stores greater than 32,000 sq. ft. and developments whose stores total more than 150,000 sq. ft. The new ordinance would allow such stores to be developed, if given a “special use permit” by the City Council.

Early indications are that getting such permits may not be easy. According to the ordinance: “... Mere compliance with the generally applicable requirements may not be sufficient and additional measures, occasionally substantial, may be necessary to mitigate the impact of the proposed development. In other situations, no set of conditions would be sufficient to approve an application, even though the same request in another location might be approved.”

In some cases, the city may require a monetary performance guarantee be posted “to ensure continued compliance with all conditions and requirements that may be specified.”

Developers would be required to file a detailed application for special use permits, which would include:

• The traffic impact of the development and proposed improvements to transportation infrastructure.

• A traffic impact analysis, the boundaries of which would be determined by the city engineer and the city’s traffic consultant.

• How open space — and natural vegetation along roads and property boundaries — could be preserved.

• How crime prevention concepts are incorporated into the site and building designs.

• Proposed use and impact on public facilities.

• Mitigation of impacts on neighboring properties, including landscaping and screening.

• Building architecture, signs, landscaping and lighting.

The developer must insure that the development will conform with the city’s comprehensive plan, be compatible with “surrounding land uses and overall character of the community” and protection of the “public interest and general welfare.”

The changes were needed after problems with the city’s “big box” ban cropped up when council was considering the site plan for the Target store at the Kedron Village shopping center, city officials said.

The city’s Planning Commission unanimously signed off on the ordinance at its meeting Monday night.

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livininPTC's picture
Submitted by livininPTC on Fri, 02/17/2006 - 8:31am.

I'm not quite sure after reading this article:

Are these new changes supposed to make it easier for "big box" businesses to come to Peachtree City or more difficult?

If the answer is easier, my question is how much more retail businesses do we need in Peachtree City? That whole Avenue, Best Buy, Walmart, Home Depot area is a pain in the rear traffic wise. Even after the 4 lanes are opened, I don't see it getting much better.

Stop being so greedy and leave the big boxes in Fayetteville and Newnan. The city takes in enough money from local residence taxes! I don't pay $4,000 in annual property taxes so I can fight traffic like I have to at the Pavillion in Fayetteville, or Hwy 54 in Newnan!


John Munford's picture
Submitted by John Munford on Fri, 02/17/2006 - 11:12am.

Hey livinginPTC.

The short answer is that the current ban on BigBoxes won't stand up in court.

Best I can tell, however, this new ordinance would give council fairly broad discretion to say "no" if the proposed store will harm the community in terms of traffic, public safety or a host of other reasons. I can almost swear that it said in there somewhere that the permit can be denied if the developer or his/her attorney looks at city staff funny (hahaha!).

As someone who remembers the Wal-Mart hearing with the City Council, which was packed, I can tell you this. Any City Council that bends to allow a Big Box is subject to extreme harassment, etc, as the citizenry does not like it.

As far as taxes go, you should know that sales tax revenue (i.e. spending at stores, restaurants, etc.) covers quite a big percentage of the city's bills. A caveat, however. The sales tax money isn't broken down by where's it's spent. Sales tax revenues from stores in all the cities, towns and unincorporated county are put in one pot that's split based on percentages, part of which is based on population.

If you don't have a good bit of spending all over the county, sales tax revenues will go down and your property taxes could well go up to cover the difference.


Submitted by PTC32YEARS on Fri, 02/17/2006 - 4:23pm.

Thanks for giving a little more information. There needs to be a balance of retail shops in our area. I hope the City Council can gain better control now.

MHS Class of 92 Rules!!

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