A Look at the City's New Planning Commission

Peachtree Corners new Planning Commission will be sworn in Tuesday night. A training session and organization meeting will take place at the Fowler YMCA beginning at 7:00 p.m.

To help you get to know the Planning Commission, following is a member list with brief background information on each.

But first a basic description of their duties:

The five member board is comprised of Peachtree Corners residents who have volunteered to be on the board for a two year term. The board's duties and responsibilities include reviewing rezoning requests, special use permit requests and amendments to the Zoning Ordinance and making recommendations to the City Council. The PC will also review and decide on proposed Waivers to the City's development regulations. The PC may also undertake special studies and reviews as directed by the City Council.

Alan Kaplan: Dist. 1, Current profession: Business Owner
Peachtree Corners resident for 12 years
Education: Bachelor in Business Administration from Univ. of Georgia
Background: Worked as GBI investigator for 12 years, also worked as Loss Prevention Manger for a large corporation. Currently the CEO/President of A New Beginning Estate Liquidation Co.

Mark Middleton: Dist. 2, Current profession: Attorney
Peachtree Corners resident for 12 years
Education: BBA and JD degrees from Univ. of Georgia
Background: Partner in a small restaurant and real estate company in coastal Georgia and the sole proprietor of Mark M. Middleton, P.C., a law firm that focuses on government and administrative law issues.

Mark Willis: Dist. 2, Current profession: CPA
Peachtree Corners resident for 15 years
Education: Accounting degree from University of Tennessee
Background: A licensed Certified Public Accountant working as Assistant Executive Director for the Georgia School Boards Association for the past 17 years.

Matt Houser: Dist. 3, Current profession: Project Manager, Landscape Architect
Peachtree Corners resident for 16 years
Education: BS, Landscape Architecture
Background: Majority of his career as an employee and/or partner in two small, privately-held architectural and engineering firms. His current employer is Shaw Group, which provides environmental, design, construction and management services. He served on the Gwinnett County Planning Commission 2011-12.

Italia Metts: Dist. 3, Current profession: Project Manager
Peachtree Corners resident for 12 years
Education: B.S. in Telecommunication Management
Background: A former United States Marine, she worked as a V.P. of International Operations, project manger, account manager, field engineer, telecommunications director, family practice supervisor, professional translator, substance abuse evaluator. She worked as an aviation logistics clerk while serving in the Marines.

Alternates named:

Bob Boccabello, Dist. 1, Retired
Robert Byars, Dist. 2, Case Worker
Mike Tuller, Dist, 3, Dunwoody Community Development Director
Paul Simpson, Dist. 3, Civil Engineer

Selection process: Candidates submitted an application, references and responded to a questionnaire. The candidates were selected by a three-member panel that included Lynette Howard, (Gwinnett County Dist. 2 Commissioner and Peachtree Corners resident), John Kachmar, (city consultant) and Michelle Alexander, (Pond & Co.)