Peachtree City proposed paint pallet plan performs poorly among the people

A paint pallet plan is not sitting well with many Peachtree City residents.

Thursday night, the city council was considering a controversial ordinance telling homeowners what colors they can and cannot paint their homes.

In one neighborhood, there is a mint green home residents referred to as the ‘mint to be together home.’ Now, the homeowner is contemplating changing the green exterior color as the Peachtree City considers a new ordinance dictating what colors people can and cannot paint their homes.

“I don’t think it’s fair I cannot have the color I wanted but I’m sure there are many colors I like too,” said Yonsok Dickinson, the homeowner.

At council chambers, no one spoke in favor of the ordinance. Debra Gallup was one is three who spoke against it.

“If there’s only one person making these decisions on what color we get to have I have a problem with that also,” said Gallup.

The proposed ordinance specifies among other things, exterior house colors should be low reflectance, and of a subtle earth tone not bright high intensity, metallic, or fluorescent.

“Would you need to get a permit to repaint your house? Is there somebody who’d come around through all the neighborhoods?” said Ralph Wade, a homeowner.

City leaders said the proposed paint ordinance is about having a level of protection for a person’s largest investment, their home.

City Council Member Phil Prebor said it’s even more important in a city now sixty years old where restrictive covenants put in place years ago to maintain properties have expired.

“What do you do to preserve those restrictions so that your neighbor doesn’t come in case he doesn’t like you and do something to hurt your property value,” said Prebor.

In the end, the council voted to disapprove the ordinance, leaving room to return to it later.

“I don’t feel I was elected by the citizens of this county to tell Mr. Grove or Mr. Wagner or anyone else what color you can paint your house,” said Mayor Pro Tem Terry Ernest.

City leaders said they’ll take more time to study the paint proposal.

It would apply to communities without an active homeowners’ association which likely would have paint restrictions in place.