I support the city because I believe those of us who live in Peachtree Corners deserve the right to choose what the future of our community will be. That future should not be decided by politicians we did not elect.
Peachtree Corners is a community of 38,000 people without legal boundaries and without legal standing. We are therefore subject to government by majority vote of the Gwinnett County Commission. Many of their decisions are routine. Others, however, involve zoning and land development matters that can have a profound and lasting impact on a community’s future way of life and desirability as a place to live.
Peachtree Corners voters have the opportunity to elect only one commissioner. The practical result is that decisions about Peachtree Corners will always be made by a majority of commissioners not elected by Peachtree Corners voters.
Regardless of how comfortable we may be with our current county commissioners, we must not bet our future on a status quo that is always subject to change with the next election. Our future is too important. Fortunately, we have the opportunity to become a city.
What does cityhood mean?
Cityhood for Peachtree Corners means limited government at a limited cost. It means legal boundaries and local control of only those things that make a difference to our quality of life — planning and zoning, code enforcement and solid waste pickup. It means these three services and no others without a vote of the people. It means we will decide our future, and it will not be decided for us. It means our elected city leaders will be neighbors who will share that future with us.
It does not mean another layer of government. Gwinnett County will not duplicate any of the three services. It does not mean unlimited government. The city charter is limited to the three services. It does not mean an ability to raise taxes. The city charter is limited to 1 mill for property taxes and requires a vote of the people to change.
I support the city because I believe in my neighbors.
Wayne Knox serves on the executive board of the United Peachtree Corners Civic Association.
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