Local Government Decisions & Developer Motivation

The developers work solely for their own enrichment, driven by a profit motive. No, Mudcat, I'm not condeming all developers as some truly look at how they can work with and improve the community via their projects.

The government, however, has a different set of priorities. They are responsible for road, water, sewer, public safety and so on. It should be the government's position to protect that infrastructure for the good all the citizens. No, that doesn't mean bar the door and no one else can enter. After all, isn't that why we have zoning and land plans in the first place, to protect the interest of all citizens?

Drastic changes to zoning and the land plans can cause the infrastructure balance to topple over. The current annexation proposal before the city council regard the westside is in stark contrast to the city's land plan. Some of the council members have made the same comment. With the Levitt project, you're looking at 700-800 homes in an area, according to our land plan, that should be zoned estate residential (that's somewhere around 3-5 acre lots). Why even have a land plan?

Greg Dunn was a tyrant if there ever was one, but he was great at protecting the county's interests regarding zoning issues. Lower densities on rezonings ensured adequate infrastructure and school that could handle the student loads.

Building it all bigger for the sake of making it all bigger (or because the developer's profit motive kicks in) is setting us all up for disaster. Yes, the "D-word" (density) does matter.

Currently, Sharpsburg and the Coweta County Commissioners are locked in a battle regarding a nearly 500 acre annextion request. Pathway wants to plaster the area with homes, townhomes and retail. What does that mean for Peachtree City/Fayette County? For certain, it'll mean more traffic.

Imagine if all the undeveloped land in Coweta County develops at the density of the Pathway project. It would bog us completely down. And NO the developer doesn't have the right to build the biggest development possible, the government decides. But who is watching the government?