PTCCA.ORG

Peachtree City Civic Association Position Paper
on the proposed Central Park at Line Creek Project

Position: The Peachtree City Civic Association (PTCCA) is opposed to the “Central Park at Line Creek” and the abandonment and/or sale of Line Creek Circle and any portion of Line Creek Drive. We request that City Council vote in opposition to the abandonment of these roads and the proposed Central Park development as it has been presented to the public for the reasons outlined below.

[1] Sale and/or abandonment of City property at Line Creek Circle and Line Creek Drive enables any developer to propose a big box development for this site.
Retention of the roads would necessitate a site plan of a smaller scale that has a greater potential of being consistent with the intent of the city’s Comprehensive Plan, Ordinance No. 825 Section 10151, and the GA 54 West Overlay Design Guidelines2. We are opposed to the abandonment of the two city-owned roads since the single result of this abandonment is to empower any land owner of this property to propose large-scale, big box development.

[2] Any development on this site must conform to Ordinance 8753
Ordinance 875 defines that a large-scale, big box development can be undesirable and detrimental to our city. Granting a special use permit as an exception within this ordinance requires the developer prove conformance with the comprehensive plan. Additionally, the developer must prove public interest for the project and assure protection of our city’s welfare. Our comprehensive plan discourages any development that will certainly be a regional draw. There is no overwhelming public interest in the proposed project., and the proposed store on this site does not qualify for a special use permit. 4 The welfare of our citizenry has not been shown to be improved by this project over one of a smaller scale. Local, existing, smaller retailers in the area may suffer. Therefore, the big box proposed on this site does not meet the criteria of Ordinance 875 for a special use permit, and it should not be granted.

[3] Legal precedent.
If the Mayor and City Council should choose to enable (by selling the road within this property) and grant special permission (special use permit) for a large-scale, big box development, it will set a legal precedence. The “special privilege” of a special use permit is ultimately subject to the majority opinion of city council as written. Ordinances based on opinion are targets for litigation. By granting this proposal with the ordinance as it is currently written, developers will likely be inclined to propose similar such development in the future, and challenge the city’s opinion in court. This will cost the city valuable time, our taxpayer’s money, and ultimately court appointed judges will decide what is built or not built in our city.

[4] Enforcement of our existing ordinances will ensure an appropriate development no matter who develops this site.
Ordinance No. 825, Section 1015, GA 54 West Overlay District and the GA 54 West Design Guidelines mandate an upscale appearance of any development in the 54 W areas. What is lacking is enforcement of these ordinances. There must be a system in place that holds developers accountable if they do not abide by them.

1 See Attachment A: Ordinance 825, Section 1015
2 See Attachment B: GA 54 W Overlay Design Guidelines 03-02-2006
3 See Attachment C: Ordinance 875
4 PTCCA majority vote October 11, 2007


[5] The proposed plan adversely impacts the visual experience from the roadway, contrary to Ordinance 825, both by the location of the impervious surface and the cell tower.
With the proposed plan, the hills will be stripped away and the site will be evened out to be level with Highway 54. When this is done, the cell tower’s base will be perched upon a 20-foot mmoouunndd adjacent to the parking lot close to the northeast corner of the development. Additionally the parking for this plan is all located between the street and the store front, which is contrary to the existing ordinances.

Summary: The PTCCA opposes the Central Park at Line Creek project as it has been proposed to the public. We also oppose the abandonment and/or sale of the roads within this property to enable a big box development. We encourage council to enforce our existing ordinances to protect the welfare of our city, and to deny any action that would facilitate the development as proposed on this site.
The PTCCA respectfully requests that this position paper be included as part of the official minutes of this City Council meeting.