It has been an eventful week since the last letters to the editor.

Hats off to the citizens of Peachtree City for acting swiftly and decisively to let Kroger and Goodwill know that what was planned for Peachtree Crossing was unacceptable.

As Elaine Armstrong stated, in the same email I assume we all received, the strength, determination and numbers of contacts convinced Goodwill they would be damaged by the loss of support and donations that would result if the plan proceeded.

Time will tell what Kroger will do. In the original agreement Kroger had promised to keep the Little Kroger open. We have received no response to our email to them concerning recent Kroger actions.

There are lessons to learn here: Fear of developers’ and large corporations’ threats and intimidations can be stood up to and defeated. That their power is in the fear factor of the bluff more than in any reality of them building something that will not be patronized, result in below needed income or in actions that will damage them in the long run.

Threats only have meaning if the developers or corporations can make gains by actually acting on them or if those threatened cave to the threats.

Further, promises made in trade for what they want are no better than the signed documents that contain them.

We need to revise the PTC ordinances to give shopping center owners the rights to refuse a sublease to a tenant and unilaterally release a tenant from a lease upon their vacating a retail space. As well as looking into the creative ways other municipalities have found to deal with these issues plus inventive solutions of our own.

Removing the ability to leverage excessive rights demands in lease negotiations protects not only the center owners but PTC as well.

If the corporation will not lease without those excessive rights, then let them not lease.

We also need to revisit the business types permitted and restrictions in PTC.

We must make PTC a place where developers and corporations understand they are going to have to do a lot of hard work and tie up a lot of time and money to get building approvals.

PTC needs a reputation as a hard place to build, not a developer-friendly town or a place that caves easily under pressure. That their simply saying they intend to build does not mean they will build, but in fact probably will not build.

Make them think before they try. Let they know threats are not received warmly. Ensure they understand impact studies will be required and if negative they will be rejected.

We need a council that will stand firm on these principles and legalities. One that demands to know why what they want should be built. Not one that is on record, as PTC currently is, of wanting to fill every lot of land left in PTC and warning citizens what will end up there if this proposal isn’t accepted.

It is discouraging to sit at a council meeting and hear the goal of building on every available lot stated before developers and for official records of minutes.

Which leads to the issue of sunshine in proposals.

In example, look at the Sany plant announcements. State, county and PTC worked on this in total secrecy. Just declared it done.

All levels of government and development authorities must be brought under legal obligations to present to and allow for citizens’ input on issues that affect citizens’ homes and lives. It is arrogant for them to assume it is ethical for them alone to decide these type of long-term impacts on citizens, even if the proposed development is a no-brainer win situation.

Appointed authorities need to have required sign-offs from elected officials on major work that has significant impact on residents. A checks and balances system is a must.

Next time it could be a plant that stinks, handles hazardous materials or worse. No matter how much money such would bring in, is it wanted by the citizens?

We are at a crossroads. Sadly, we are already moving down a branch road that is not in harmony with the PTC vision we moved here for 20 years ago.

This election, plus the next, is key. It is a time of choice between continued embracing of developers or trying to stop the hemorrhaging of the very meaning of PTC.

It will require work. No doubt about it. But the outcome is worth it.

PTC stood up in the Kroger issue. It needs to keep standing up, which demands a council that will not only stand with it but take the lead, which isn’t happening.

We are no longer the isolated city “down there.” Now we have to learn how to be the island we want to be within the seas around us we don’t want.

It has been done in other areas of the country by staying strong, determined and loyal to the vision. We can do it here as well.

On other issues, I am hearing more and more frustration with the golf cart paths. We have to find ways to stop, or at least dramatically reduce, littering. The paths being a good pace for drug deals and robberies must end.

Yes, this requires more policing, along with other possible solutions. But the status quo cannot continue.

While on the subject of appearance, one of the great appeals of PTC is it being green. Green as in the green buffers, trees and nature areas.

PTC just would not be the same without them. So we must ensure that any future building includes landscaping in harmony with PTC.

Taking care of our green spaces and wildlife is a must.

No. This does not mean I want mass transit, in example. I absolutely do not.

Taking care of the environment, reasonably, is good for us all. Pursuing radical agendas, as in counting “carbon footprints” and such, is not.

Why am I so adamant in my agenda? Because this has been my home for 20 years and I don’t want to lose it. Simple as that.

If you share my concerns and goals, please talk to your neighbors and friends about this election.

Don Haddix

Candidate for Post 1, Peachtree City Council

donhaddix.com

Peachtree City, Ga.

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