Council upholds denial of Peach State Trucking sewer request, company told to wait for expansion

Villa Rica The Villa Rica City Council unanimously denied an appeal by Peach State Trucking on April 14, upholding a staff decision that the company's requested increase in wastewater service cannot be granted because the city lacks treatment capacity.

Interim Deputy City Manager John Bane told the council staff's technical review found the applicant's proposed average daily flow (2,100 gallons per day, with a peaking factor that yields 6,300 gallons per day) exceeded the city's current wastewater treatment capacity. "We do not have the capacity to serve the project," Bane said, explaining the denial was a capacity, not ordinance, decision.

Steven Ellis, an architect representing Peach State, said the company had proceeded in good faith after earlier permits for a larger facility and that the training center they now want to convert was previously a small business operating on septic. "We were not made aware that there was a sewer issue," Ellis told the council. He said his client could not expand an on-site septic due to unsuitable soils and urged officials to consider partnership or infrastructure agreements.

Council members pressed staff on timing for expanded capacity. Staff estimated it could be roughly three years before permits, design and construction would yield new wastewater capacity and said the city intends to notify previously denied applicants when capacity becomes available so projects can be planned to align with system improvements.

After discussion the council voted to deny Peach State Trucking's appeal; the denial was recorded as unanimous. The decision leaves open options such as redesigning the project for a lower wastewater footprint, pursuing on-site alternatives where feasible, or partnering on infrastructure improvements when state and design approvals allow.