Vision for Peachtree Corners

I received the below letter and thought I'd share.


Vision for Peachtree Corners
By Jim Nelems and Jose R Perez


Peachtree Corners’ future remains bright and vibrant. However, like many other areas of our country, the community finds itself at crossroads facing political challenges imposed by an influential few attempting to create a city much larger than its community, and to increase taxes in a constrained economy. Peachtree Corners is the community within more or less 3 miles from the Forum, so why does the proposed city include Mechanicsville, parts of Doraville with boundaries extending from Buford Hwy to the River and Winters Chapel Rd? Nobody asked them (or us) if they wanted to be in the city before attempting to annex them. UPCCA has mounted a two minute drill offense pushing us into a decision, as if there is no tomorrow. But be very aware that come November 8th, voting YES, establishes a City for perpetuity, and then there is no tomorrow to undo that.

To move forward, the “real” Peachtree Corners (PC) needs a vision not a city. A vision of what the future holds, enabling the possibilities and allowing markets to determine what’s best for us, not government. Then and only then can our destiny become the “shining city on the hill”. Voting yes for an irreversible solution that creates a full-fledged city to address perceived zoning issues is not a rational decision, even if a powerful legislator claims personal comfort with it. At the end of the day on November 8th, each of us must live with that decision, regardless what politician endorses it, because it’s our future, our kids’ future.

By 2030 Metro Atlanta population is expected to reach 8.4 million, roughly the size of London and Chicago today, and PC is strategically positioned to benefit from that economic growth. To envision that future a focus on Metro Atlanta is important, because Gwinnett becomes the most populous county in Georgia and together with Fulton, DeKalb, and Cobb makes up more than 50% of the Metro population.

For a century the fundamentals of work have remained the same. What’s different about the information age of personal computers, mobile phones and Internet is its ability to reshape the social organization of office settings and empower workers with tools to actively participate without being physically there. In 2030 offices may not be rooms and business complexes may have a residential mix directly impacting the tax digest, thus local government funding. So, the real “Work, Live and Play” Paul Duke envisioned when creating PC will exist, but we won’t need a City to manage that. The residents and businesses will be able to collaborate and create to meet the challenges as they see best at the time. Central planning by an elite few will hamper this future. Gwinnett County already has zoning ordinances, and the economies of scale to cover the needs there. Let’s maintain the vibrancy, creativity, and freedom we now have to develop a bright future for PC.

The bottom line is that Peachtree Corners needs a community vision with strategies for business creation and job growth, not parochial government solutions limiting investment, and impeding progress. The Peachtree Corners Ballot Committee seeks market solutions facilitating commerce crossing county lines creating wealth and jobs. Let’s not circle the wagons. Let’s be bold, let’s welcome progress and position our community to benefit.

 Vote NO on November 8th.