Coweta | News | Peachtree City

Coweta leaders optimistic about development

Thu, 08/31/2006 - 2:57pm
By: John Thompson

Former Coweta County Commissioner Vernon “Mutt” Hunter has always been a proponent of having good things happen for the eastern side of Coweta County.

After seeing Tom Reese’s vision for the McIntosh community, Hunter believes the project would be a big win for his favorite area of the county.

“I’m impressed by what he’s proposing. The way he’s doing it would be a big asset for our community,” Hunter said.

Hunter said the density does not trouble him because it will be on sewer and he likes all the greenspace and parks he sees in the plans. He’s also pleased that the county could receive a $6 million wastewater treatment facility at no charge.

“He’s also donating land for a county-owned park inside the community,” Hunter added.

He likes the historic-flavor of the development and that Reese is working with county officials and going above some of the minimum standards.

“It’s about time the eastern side gets something like this, instead of everything happening in Newnan,” he added.

County Administrator Theron Gay is also pleased at what he’s seen, and said the concept fits in nicely with the county’s new emphasis on village style developments. In the villages concept, higher density development is clustered in certain areas of the county in a mixed-use approach, while other areas of the county still retain larger lot sizes and remain mostly rural.

Reese brought his proposal before the Georgia Regional Transportation Authority Tuesday for its first review. The proposal is not expected to come before the Coweta County Commission until the beginning of the year for rezoning.

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has this "developer, ever stepped out his front door?"
Submitted by reddawg07 on Fri, 09/01/2006 - 9:39am.

Hello???? Where did this guy come from, "there is no other development like this on the southside" where the heck is he from, there is a great, smart and absolutly beautiful development on the southside called SERENBE!!!! Now dont tell me there is nothing like that on the southside, go out your front door and drive around a little in your car...you will see you are a little late in your "great development idea".

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Too much credit for the developer
Submitted by Jones on Fri, 09/01/2006 - 11:00am.

Reddawg07, you are giving this developer's plan way too much credit by putting in the same class a Serenbe.

If the news media actually went out and took some photos of Reese's other developments, everyone would cringe.

I can remember when the Pavilion was touted as a "world class" shopping destination in the planning stages.

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I know...I know...
Submitted by reddawg07 on Fri, 09/01/2006 - 2:36pm.

Jones, I know Serenbe is not anywhere near the same class, but it still makes me crazy how these developers say one thing and show one thing on paper...and then all these developments are the same things, a huge mess! Serenbe is the ONLY development that is the same on paper as it is in reality. It is time that developers take note at "smart" development, thats what people truely want.

You dont have to go and mow down all the trees and level the land to make money. At Serenbe they can't bulid the houses fast enough! People want more than just a Target or Walmart next door to them, they want community. Its ok to leave the trees and it is ok to promote people walking, that might be why America is so FAT- they drive everywhere!

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Serenbe
muddle's picture
Submitted by muddle on Fri, 09/01/2006 - 3:02pm.

I've intended to post on Serenbe. Today is the first reference to it that I've seen here.

I suspect that this is an idea whose time has come. Serenbe is a place for people who long for a sense of (1) community and (2)security, and who also wish to be a part of (3) an ecologically sustainable community. You can get (1) if you move back to a choice in-town area (Virginia Highlands?). But (2) and (3) will likely be sacrificed.

I visited a few weeks ago and thought it was way cool. And way expensive!

They have begun a small "downtown" that is reflective of an earlier time, and are attempting to attract interesting and viable businesses.

My daughter is moving to the Asheville area (partly in search of a "sense of community") and, in the process, they have discovered Fletcher, NC. Fletcher was founded in 1989, so it is just a whelp of a community. But they are working on a project called "Heart of Fletcher," that, if I am interpreting it correctly, is like Serenbe: a "Mayberry" style downtown surrounded by a sidewalk community, and an emphasis on communal activities and projects.

Beats the heck out of my subdivision, that's for sure!


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"_utt" sniffer
DragNet's picture
Submitted by DragNet on Thu, 08/31/2006 - 8:35pm.

Is East Coweta the center of the universe? Why Mr. hunter says nothing about the congestion this will create for PTC and Fayette? Does he ever travel to Atlanta?

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Making you think twice......


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Mr. Reese is a real prince
Submitted by blabbermouth on Thu, 08/31/2006 - 4:20pm.

for wanting to donate a $6 million wastewater treatment facility and land for a park. When Butt Hunter was commissioner, he could have cared less what the eastern side of Coweta was like. I guess it's true, money talks, b.s. walks.

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