PTC tables road abandonment for shopping center

Thu, 02/07/2008 - 9:14pm
By: The Citizen

Decision postponed to meeting Wednesday at 7 p.m.

Though no vote was taken either way, the Peachtree City Council appeared tonight to inch its way toward approving the abandonment of two city roads to make physical room for a big box store to be built at the southwest corner of Ga. Highway 54 West and Planterra Way.

Councilwoman Cyndi Plunkett, who is essentially the swing vote on the matter, said she wanted to make sure all the conditions agreed to by Capital City Development verbally at the meeting were instead in writing so they could be enforceable not just for CCD but any potential future owner of the property.

Council voted to table the matter and take it back up at a special called meeting Wednesday night so City Attorney Ted Meeker and CCD attorney Rick Lindsey could hammer out the necessary language for the conditions on the road abandonment.

Among the conditions CCD agreed to were the payment of at least $500,000 to the city in return for most of Line Creek Drive and all of Line Creek Circle. In addition to paying the appraised value for the roads, CCD also agreed if the roads were abandoned that no gas station would be developed on the property.

Without the roads, the 14-acre site would not have enough room to place large retail big box stores due to required city setbacks from the city-owned roads.

Councilman Don Haddix said he thought the roads’ public purpose was to prevent development, but Plunkett said she thought the public purpose for the road was to be able to negotiate a development that would benefit the entire city.

Haddix and councilman Doug Sturbaum have both said they don’t favor granting the road abandonment, and Mayor Harold Logsdon and Councilman Steve Boone have said they favor the abandonment.

Plunkett said she would not vote to approve a special use permit for a big box store around 100,000 square feet, nor did she like the idea of having say six stores of 50,000 square feet each. But she did like the idea of having two smaller stores as offered in another plan that was previously offered by CCD.

The latest plan offered by CCD includes a gas station directly off Hwy. 54 with a total of 99,000 square feet of stores including several restaurants. Council postponed a vote to approve or deny that plan, which was necessitated after the city's planning commission recently denied the plan.

That vote, too, has been moved to Wednesday night.

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Ready to Play's picture
Submitted by Ready to Play on Mon, 02/11/2008 - 2:18am.

Dear Cyndi Plunkett,
Please do not allow yourself to be guided into voting for abandonment of the roads. We, the citizens of PTC, are counting on you to stand up to the mayor and say "Not on my watch." We've had enough of this continous non stop build here build there approach. Just stop the building until we can catch our breaths. What's the hurry? We can address this next year, or the year after. Why does it have to be now? Please, stop the building.


Submitted by new2ptc on Sat, 02/09/2008 - 11:38am.

During the Thursday night Council Meeting Councilman Steve Boone said he has received a large number of emails from “The silent majority,” who are in favor of the Kohl’s proposal.

If it is your opinion that the Kohl’s should be stopped then you better let all the Council members know ASAP. Send you emails.

Robert W. Morgan's picture
Submitted by Robert W. Morgan on Mon, 02/11/2008 - 7:16am.

Count me out - Do not sell/give the roads to this clown. He can't be trusted and why anyone in their right mind thinks PTC needs a Kohls of all things is beyond me. You want to buy their junk go drive to Newnan. They have a goodwill store right near the Kohls where you can get used Kohl's merchandise for less.

It is embarrassing that we have dragged this on for so long. The developer's bluff needs to be called. This is Peachtree City for crying out loud. Approve whatever he wants without special concessions from City Council and bury him in sign and landscape requirements. The last thing we need to do is work with him. Get focused guys and Cindy.


Submitted by skyspy on Fri, 02/08/2008 - 9:44am.

I thought we couldn't sell the roads? Now we are going to sell them for less than half of their value??

Wow, what kind of logic is that? How drunk do we have to be to follow harolds "logic"? Can we stay just below alcohol poisoning levels, and still follow along??

How many more empty stores and bankrupt buisnesses do we need here?

Since when is it the cities responsibility to help out a half-hack fly by night developer?

Lets hope they put in hooters or another sports bar. We might as well all benefit from the fact that the next police chief will be bullied into overlooking DUIs. Or will that priviledge only be for the 2 lead city drunks?

Since it looks like they will be setting a precedent here is my proposal:

If we abandon these city streets for one incompetent developer, I would like the city to abandon the street my home is on. I will buy the homes on either side, and I will petition to have the zoning changed so I can put in the buisness of my choice. The catch is I can't tell you ahead of time what that buisness will be (wink, wink). If you do it for one person, the precedent has been set, I will sue if you treat me differently than mcBULLY!!. I already have a pony-tail lawyer, and he is kind of bored right now......this could be fun.

Submitted by flip212 on Fri, 02/08/2008 - 11:15am.

Hummmmmmm..Special Called Meeting

City Council of Peachtree City

SPECIAL CALLED MEETING

February 13, 2008

7:00 p.m.

The Mayor and City Council of Peachtree City will hold a special called meeting on Wednesday, February 13, 2008, 7:00 p.m., in Council Chambers at City Hall.

10-07-13 Consider Request for Abandonment of Line Creek Circle and a Portion of Line Creek Drive

02-08-02 Consider Appeal of Planning Commission Decision Regarding Denial of Conceptual Site Plan for Line Creek Retail Center

Executive Session

Submitted by Spyglass on Fri, 02/08/2008 - 11:08am.

Can I assume you are in favor of a commercial/retail moratorium? ("How many more empty stores and bankrupt buisnesses do we need here?") I think it would send the wrong message about our city, personally.

And the drink comments seem to be out of left field...can I also assume you are on the wagon? You seem to be bothered by anyone who may have at one time or another had an Adult Libation. Or maybe you run a competitor to the Y-Knot. Smiling

If you had the property, what would you want to do with it? Assuming you bought it to develop commercially.

Submitted by skyspy on Fri, 02/08/2008 - 11:35am.

What kind of message do empty stores send?

What kind of message do buisnesses that go out of buisness after a month or two send?? (san francisco bread co)

My drink comments aren't out of "left field" they are right on target. Just calling a spade a spade. I don't have a problem with adult beverages, I have a problem with people who drink and drive.

mcBULLY doesn't have to tell us his plans, so I will keep my buisness plans under wraps too, I will need to get the property re-zoned commercial and I will need a liquor license.

Submitted by Spyglass on Fri, 02/08/2008 - 11:47am.

I agree, too many empty fronts.. now we need to figure out what to do about it. It appears you nor I have a great answer.

And the liquor license sounds good, but they won't allow dancing nekkid, so my bid to buy went out the window. I thought the business from Brooks and Sharpsburg would be incredible.

Oh yeah, I agree about the drinking and driving.

Submitted by flip212 on Fri, 02/08/2008 - 8:58am.

Don and Doug don't sell us out on this one!!!! I voted for you because I believed you wanted what was in the best interest of the city. Was I fooled when I thought you guys would vote based upon the wishes of the citizens that you represent? We are tired of this development nonsense and the time is now for it to stop.

Cyndi, its time you do the right thing as well. How many times do you have to be bullied by this developer?

Has anyone seen the contract for the "gas station that this idiot talks about? How many more threats does this council have to hear? Hooters, gas stations…what next will he threaten you with…a massage parlor? He needs to be run out of PTC. Let him find another community to destroy...leave us alone!

Come on council members….do the right thing! Stand up for us that elected you to represent US!

Don Haddix's picture
Submitted by Don Haddix on Fri, 02/08/2008 - 10:00am.

Doug and I ran on opposition to Big Boxes and Abandonment.

Last night we fought hard against the development. We are totally opposed to this bargaining effort.

I will be posting more extensive comments on the website you can find in the link in my sig line later this morning.

Don Haddix
PTC Councilman
Post 1
donhaddix.com


yardman5508's picture
Submitted by yardman5508 on Fri, 02/08/2008 - 6:05pm.

concerning this discussion, I want to say that I appreciate your candor and willingness to hold an open discussion in this forum. While we bloggers do not represent ALL the citizens of PTC, we do represent some of the more vocal ones LOL.

The issue is a difficult one, but one that many citizens hold very dear when they determine who to vote for. We should welcome public discussion of the issues...as we should of all issues. And further commercial development of ANY type be predicated on utilizing the existing commercial structures rather the creating new structures {as you noted in one of your posts}. It makes very little sense for the council to approve new development by a contractor who currently has a sizable inventory of such empty structures. Any bullying that might be done should be indefensible for any city to succumb to. Keep the faith.

Democracy is not a spectator sport.


Submitted by Spyglass on Fri, 02/08/2008 - 11:04am.

Assuming the roads are kept by the City..

Is the proposed development something that might possibly be worth looking at, or is totally dismissed in your mind? Frankly, I'm torn on my feelings. What do these streets service now?

Unlike others that have posted here, I like the look of the small stores across the street MUCH better than the Home Depot and Walmart. The small stores encourage walking etc, have places to sit outside and eat and don't present a HUGE parkin lot to Hwy 54. Whatever is done, carts and pedestrian traffic needs to be HIGH on the list for the proposal on the Planterra side of 54.

Off topic question, what is taking so dog gone long to get the bridge/tunnels at Hwy 54 and the RR Tracks operational? It's beyond ridiculous.

Don Haddix's picture
Submitted by Don Haddix on Fri, 02/08/2008 - 12:21pm.

I will answer this one here, but I really cannot get tied up on two sites. With a number of big hot irons in the fire on PTC level and other things I have going I really am busy.

So please, keep an eye on the link in my sig and feel free to join and ask questions there. You are most invited to do so, as are others. Then bring back to here what you need, link to it or whatever.

Any added retail will create more empty spaces in PTC there or elsewhere. McMurrain has space never occupied across the street, more businesses are going out in the Avenue, Fischers crossing is adding 1 mil of commercial and the Shoppes are under construction, just to site a few issues. We have enough current empty retail now for, by data collected, the future needs of PTC for about the next 22 years. We only have x amount of customer base and we have way more retail space than that base can support. The only source for more base is regional, but the cost/loss ration for income, traffic and crime is negative. We are also in a commercial slide that has been going on for years now, nationwide.

Big Boxes will cost the City money. That is a recognized reality nationwide with growing numbers of places taking action to stop them.

I see nothing retail of value to PTC in that site.

Currently the streets control retail growth. Remove the streets and you have a big empty blackboard to develop.

Plan 3 may be little retail, but they will actually have better impact in all aspects than Big Boxes. Little is local, no added regional traffic, in example. But still unwanted retail space at this time.

Golf cart paths are in all our plans. As well as a cart bridge, long approved, down toward Wynnemeade.

As for the CSX bridge. The approvals were in place and then it was built to the wrong approved height. Now there are collisions over environmental and the process had to restart from step 1. New height meant new plan. I HOPE it is resolved soon.

Hope that helps here and please use the forum Doug and I will be using for public input. Any problems with it, since it was just opened to the public, please email me from the contact me there.

Thanks.

Don Haddix
PTC Councilman
Post 1
donhaddix.com


Submitted by StaceyS on Sun, 02/10/2008 - 2:48pm.

Thank you for the responses / information. As a concerned resident of PTC, where does one send an e-mail or e-mails that have a even a remote chance of stopping this whole Big Box issue....ie. don't sell the streets, developer to work around what he purchased and the "laws / by-laws"??

Submitted by Spyglass on Fri, 02/08/2008 - 2:55pm.

That's all I can ask for.

Voice of Fayette Future's picture
Submitted by Voice of Fayett... on Fri, 02/08/2008 - 10:59am.

Thank you, Don....You're the PTC Kind of Guy.


Don Haddix's picture
Submitted by Don Haddix on Fri, 02/08/2008 - 12:22pm.

Doug and I are both trying very hard.

Don Haddix
PTC Councilman
Post 1
donhaddix.com


NUK_1's picture
Submitted by NUK_1 on Fri, 02/08/2008 - 2:01pm.

Do you two agree on everything 100% of the time? I notice you always mention Doug whenever you talk about any issue. Is that where the
"D squared" (d2) nickname came from after the election?


Don Haddix's picture
Submitted by Don Haddix on Fri, 02/08/2008 - 2:41pm.

Not everything, but on ordinance revisions, Big Boxes, retail industrial, institutional and such 100%.

That is because we have done the numbers and research and both arrived at the same conclusions BEFORE we ran for office and ever met each other. And the big reasons why we ran, since we saw where things were going wrong and why.

Might be on the "D square." But so far it has been as a compliment.

As you know we were elected individually but seen as a team because we work well together, bounce things off of each other and so forth, thus ending up with a better end product to bring to the people and Council than if only solo.

I have to give credit where credit is due. Doug is an extremely talented numbers man and I don't feel comfortable taking credit for the areas he did so much to develop. Any more than he doesn't take full credit when I contributed to the areas that are my strengths.

We don't have the egos, as some do, to not let others take the lead where they have more talent. Or the credit.

Hope that was a clear enough answer to a fair to ask question.

Don Haddix
PTC Councilman
Post 1
donhaddix.com


KraftyFla's picture
Submitted by KraftyFla on Fri, 02/08/2008 - 3:05pm.

Mr. Haddix, please ignore the childishness of such posts. This nonsense comes largely from the Fayette Political Graveyard (like Carol). Any reasonable citizen will give you and Mr. Sturbaum a fair chance. Every elected official deserves a fair opportunity. What special interest posters like NUK and Mudcat will do, however, is that if you disagree with them they will demonize you and call you names. Ignore them. After all, you know that what you do makes you accountable and the vast majority of PTC supports you. I like the fact that you research things and think for yourself.


NUK_1's picture
Submitted by NUK_1 on Fri, 02/08/2008 - 4:00pm.

because you're doing a lousy job speaking for me with your assumptions and inaccuracies.

I think most any rational person is going to give the two Doug's a chance.....they just started serving their terms a month ago! Even the crankiest of people aren't going to immediately proclaim them(or others) a failure after a month.

Personally, both Doug's and the rest of the council have my sympathy and sometimes even gratitude for doing extremely thankless jobs in a town where the politics get "personal" in a hurry.


Submitted by sageadvice on Fri, 02/08/2008 - 4:12pm.

.

Submitted by sageadvice on Fri, 02/08/2008 - 4:12pm.

I think ideas are the issue.

How much time do you want?

We gave Bush four years, then we got afraid to change horses in the stream and elected him again, and then we said, maybe next Tuesday things will better--then we said wait one more year then..

How much time you want?

Is PTC for we who live here, or for the developers, banks, and lawyers?

CCB's picture
Submitted by CCB on Thu, 02/07/2008 - 9:33pm.

$500,000 for road beds valued at around $1.5 million? Was there really ever going to be a gas station on that site?

After McMurrain gets through with this deal, the general public is going to slam every developer in town. I'm in the business and I can't really blame people for getting upset over this one.

Harold is making a mistake on this one. I would love to have a shot at developing that particular site.


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