Council approves roundabout design, personnel appointment and multiple ordinances and budgets

Peachtree City Council on Aug. 8 voted on a package of measures spanning personnel, transportation, budgeting and land-use requests.

The council unanimously approved Consent Agenda A to appoint Justin Strickland as Peachtree City city manager. Council then approved multiple agenda items by voice vote, including the Crosstown/Peachtree Parkway roundabout 100% design package, an ordinance amending council meeting times (effective Oct. 1), an amendment to public participation rules (allowing speakers to state name and neighborhood rather than full street address), the FY2025 budgets for the Convention & Visitors Bureau and Keep Peachtree City Beautiful, a state-required plumbing code update for new construction water-efficiency standards, two zoning variances, and an alcohol license for a new restaurant at The Avenue.

Why it matters: the roundabout approval moves a long-discussed traffic solution into final design and budgeting steps; the plumbing and meeting-time ordinances change operational rules that affect how residents engage with and receive city services; and the budgets fund tourism and recycling operations the city relies on annually.

Key outcomes and formal actions (by council vote) - Appointment: Justin Strickland confirmed as city manager (consent agenda A). Outcome: approved by voice vote. - Roundabout: Crosstown & Peachtree Parkway 100% design proposal approved with direction to include final landscaping package before finalization. Funding/account details were referenced in debate; the motion carried by voice vote. - Ordinances: Council meeting time amendment (Ord. 12-23) adopted, effective Oct. 1; public participation amendment (Ord. 12-24) adopted with amendment to require speakers to state name and neighborhood in lieu of full address. - Budgets: FY2025 Convention & Visitors Bureau budget and Keep Peachtree City Beautiful contract/budget approved. - Code: Plumbing code updates to implement Metro North Georgia Water Planning District and other state-referenced water-efficiency requirements adopted for enforcement in new construction. - Variances: 515 Clearwater Cove (rear-setback encroaching deck) ' council approved a limited variance to preserve the existing deck footprint and allow repair/replacement but denied expansion or enclosure beyond the current footprint. 705 Highway 54 W (VyStar parking) ' variance to allow up to 24 spaces approved with double-rate tree replacement for added impervious area and increased buffer requirements. - Business license: Alcohol license for SJ SJ LLC d/b/a 9292 Korean Barbecue at The Avenue approved.

Clarifying details: Council and staff cited two different figures during the roundabout discussion (an earlier referenced $5,252,000 for the overall project and a $51,250 figure used when moving the 100% design forward); staff said $250,000 was budgeted for water-line relocations related to utility work. The motion to approve the roundabout included a council request to return with a landscape package prior to bidding.

Next steps: Final design work and related right-of-way acquisitions and utility relocations proceed for the roundabout; staff will implement adopted ordinances and begin outreach on budgets and code changes; the recreation master plan draft will be presented to council in October following two September town halls for public review.