News | Peachtree City

Developer drops road acquisition request for Kohl's

Thu, 10/18/2007 - 7:51pm
By: John Munford

Seconds before, councilman Harman tells developer his vote is 'no'

In an unexpected move Thursday night, developer Doug McMurrain withdrew his request for the City Council to abandon part of Line Creek Drive and Line Creek Circle to make room for a 89,000 square foot Kohl's Department Store on Ga. Highway 54 West near Planterra Way.

Mayor Harold Logsdon said McMurrain approached him during a break in Thursday's meeting to withdraw the proposal ... just minutes before council would have debated the issue.

Councilman Mike Harman told The Citizen Thursday night that during the break he informed McMurrain he would be voting against the proposal. Harman has long been identified as the decision maker on the proposal, which has been supported by Mayor Harold Logsdon and councilman Steve Boone, with councilmen Stuart Kourajian and Cyndi Plunkett against.

The road's location prevents there being enough room for the Kohl's store due to the city's road setback requirements, city officials have said.

A number of residents in the nearby Cardiff Park and Planterra Ridge subdivisions had strongly supported McMurrain's plan at previous council meetings. That was in large part because McMurrain pledged to provide significant landscaping along Cardiff Park, which is immediately adjacent to what would have been the rear of the Kohl's building.

Residents also cited the aesthetics that McMurrain planned for the shopping center, which he said would look much like the popular The Avenue shopping center.

After McMurrain verbally confirmed he was withdrawing the request, there was a smattering of brief applause from citizens in the audience at Thursday's meeting.

Even if the city had agreed to abandon the road and sell or swap it to McMurrain, the city would also have had to grant a special use permit for the Kohl's to be built at 89,000 square feet because that is well over the size limits for stores in the city's big box ordinance.

Tree Top LLC, the developer of the nearby Shoppes at Village Piazza shopping center, had opposed the city abandoning a large portion of Line Creek Drive because it owns property contiguous to the road.

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On Harman: I agree with bad_ptc
Submitted by John M on Fri, 10/19/2007 - 4:25pm.

I'm with you bad_ptc. For the record, Councilman Harman didn't deny anything. Thus, there is no guarantee he won't approve it after the election.

I think Steve Brown nailed Harman a couple of weeks ago.

"I'm NOT John Munford"

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Dumb and Dumber
Submitted by flip212 on Sun, 10/21/2007 - 10:32am.

Her is just one more example of dumb and dumber…Logsdon & Boone…I wonder what Boone would do if he ever had a brain of his own? These two people are an absolute joke to the offices in which they hold. Was I the only one that saw our Mayor slamming down beers at lunch Friday with the gang from Group 6? Fine example you set Mr. Mayor! I’m sure from there you met up with your puppet man Boone at Y-Knots for a few night caps before driving home.

You two people need to smarten up, read the messages from the folks that voted your sorry butts into office…because we are fed up and sick and tired of your selling us out to the developers every chance you get. And Boone...get a back bone!

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Thanks Council..
Submitted by McDonoughDawg on Fri, 10/19/2007 - 7:55am.

No need to placate a developer wanting to build a big box we don't need.

I'll say this, good move by Harman..you have my support.

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mcBULLY had to Save Face
Submitted by skyspy on Fri, 10/19/2007 - 7:31am.

It sounds like Harman is trying to get off on the right foot. This was a step in the right direction.

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Close enough for me - Harman is the man!
mudcat's picture
Submitted by mudcat on Fri, 10/19/2007 - 5:13am.

That's as good as a no vote in my book and the results are what every thinking person wants. You have my vote and support Mr. Harman. Way to go!


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Rummer mill working overtime
bad_ptc's picture
Submitted by bad_ptc on Fri, 10/19/2007 - 2:27pm.

Mudcat, the latest "rummer" I've herd is that Mr. Harman told Mr. Doug McMurrain that it would be better to wait until after the election.

Once Mr. Harman is in, if that be the case, the request could be revisited and his vote would be assured.

That scenario seems to me to be the most plausible.

Although I have no experience with Mr. Harman his reluctance to publicly take a stand on this issue "BEFORE" last nights meeting seems to lend credence to the above.

I think I'll go with someone that has at least openly stated that they are against the Kohl's development rather than someone that says they "would have been against it".


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Make your vote count!
Submitted by joyann on Mon, 10/22/2007 - 3:03pm.

you said it right bad_ptc....we need to vote for someone who was not afraid to openly take a stand against Kohl's and any other Big Box developers. Doug Sturbaum has taken a stand against such development from the beginning. Read up on the candidates & what they stand for (or refuse to stand for!) These fools in office right now need to be replaced with someone who will look out for the future of PTC.

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Contagious!!!
Submitted by tnag on Mon, 10/22/2007 - 3:19pm.

Tyrone Neighborhood Alliance has a few candidates running this electio ( Eric Dial, Gordon Schenkel, Tracy Young Don Rewhaldt) who are promoting big boxes in Tyrone, they already have two of there buddies on board know ( Gracie Caldwell, Gloria Furr). What will happen if they win control? BIG BOX StORES!!!! But Tyrone citizens want them. So you are not alone...

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tnag I don't know to laugh or call the doctor for you!
suggarfoot's picture
Submitted by suggarfoot on Mon, 10/22/2007 - 3:40pm.

Big boxes in Tyrone! Yeah right! First let me guess who you must be for..hmmm..according to you everyone in Tyrone except Smola wants big boxes! Tyrone is a small little town and even if they all got down on their hands and knees and begged, no big boxes would come here. You see honey, they only go to places were there are lots of people, and guess what? We may have between 4 and 5 thousand max! The idea is to make money, do you understand that? Why don't you just say they are all trying to contract downtown for a nuclear waste dump and get your mud slinging over with?


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Contagious!!!
Submitted by tnag on Mon, 10/22/2007 - 3:19pm.

Tyrone Neighborhood Alliance has a few candidates running this electio ( Eric Dial, Gordon Schenkel, Tracy Young Don Rewhaldt) who are promoting big boxes in Tyrone, they already have two of there buddies on board know ( Gracie Caldwell, Gloria Furr). What will happen if they win control? BIG BOX StORES!!!! But Tyrone citizens want them. So you are not alone...

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Good point, bad_ptc
Robert W. Morgan's picture
Submitted by Robert W. Morgan on Fri, 10/19/2007 - 7:02pm.

I will see Mr. Harman over the weekend and ask the appropriate question. Which is "How will you vote after you are elected?". I can get it on the record.

Good analysis, bad.


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Dead guy, it's Sunday night, Mr. Harman's answer is?
bad_ptc's picture
Submitted by bad_ptc on Sun, 10/21/2007 - 8:23pm.

Any luck in getting an answer "on the record"?


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RobertMorgan, reminds me of joke
Submitted by susieq on Fri, 10/19/2007 - 8:12pm.

Robert,
Your last post reminds me of a joke:

How can you tell when a politician is lying?

When his mouth is open (or when his lips are moving), I can't remember the last line. LOL

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