Black color for Kedron Kroger meets resistance

Mon, 08/11/2008 - 8:21pm
By: The Citizen

Company asked to provide options at next planning meeting

When the Kroger Company decided on a new exterior color scheme for its $3.2 million renovation of the Kedron Kroger in Peachtree City, they missed one little detail.

They forgot to ask the city permission to stray from the color schemes that were established for the first phase of the Kedron Village shopping center back in 1995.

The company wants to change features such as the roof, awnings and other accents from the current hemlock green to black to make the center take a more sophisticated look, said Evyonne Johnson, assistant real estate manager for Kroger. Kroger also wants to repaint the roof of its gasoline canopy the same black.

The color issue was debated by the Planning Commission Monday night. Ultimately the commission asked the company to return at its next meeting in two weeks with schematics that showed the black theme and also other options such as a hunter green.

The black wouldn’t be consistent with the other buildings in the center, said City Planner David Rast. He recommended leaving the roof the same hemlock green color but allowing the awnings and other material to be painted black.

Planning Commission Chairman Marty Mullin disagreed, saying the other outparcels in the shopping center weren’t consistent either. He argued that the glass elements in the towers had a black color that would tie in with the roof.

Commissioner Patrick Staples said he wasn’t comfortable with the black color on the roof and tower but said he’d feel better if the outparcels’ roofs were also painted black. Paula Jayne, the property manager for BVT Management, owner of the shopping center, said that might be a possibility.

The error was discovered well after the company’s repainting was underway, and roughly 80 percent of the project is done. But for now, no work can proceed due to a stop work order issued by the city, at least until the color issue can be settled.

Meanwhile the clock is ticking for Kroger, which is hosting a grand re-opening at the store in October.

Mullin asked Staples what color he’d have the Kroger painted if he owned the Kroger. Mullin responded that he preferred the hunter green instead of the black, but no one advocated strongly for any other color.

The vote to continue the matter was 4-1 with Mullin voting against.

“The biggest complaint I’ve heard since being on the commission is that wasn’t the original plan, you’ve changed the plan,” said commissioner John McCann.

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Submitted by Vernon on Wed, 08/13/2008 - 11:49am.

Are you telling me that the Peachtree government and some of the citizens have nothing else to worry about? GET A LIFE PEOPLE!

Mike King's picture
Submitted by Mike King on Wed, 08/13/2008 - 12:01pm.

Since it was agreed upon by all parties when the lease was signed, do you not believe that Kroger should be required to uphold its contractural obligation? Surely you honor yours, just like all of us good Republicans.


Submitted by 30YearResident on Tue, 08/12/2008 - 3:04pm.

There you are, a retail business, offering goods and services to the public for a fair price, paying ridiculous taxes to City, County, State and Federal "do nothings" and then you got a bunch of board, overpaid bureaucrats telling you they don't like the color you paint your building. Don't you guys have something better to do, like cracking down on illegal kitchen help at all the PTC restaurants or landscaping businesses?

Well, at least they're painting their building ! Who cares if it's green, black, maroon, or whatever, as long as it's attractive and well kept.

Unbelievable !!! And some of you want Government to run your health care system ...

Submitted by Spyglass on Tue, 08/12/2008 - 3:07pm.

Just my simple opinion.

Submitted by Bonkers on Tue, 08/12/2008 - 4:44pm.

It is a pretty pretty simple opinion

Especially when they forget about codes once the thing is completed!

I can visit around PTC for 8 hours and write at least 30 code violations in stores and at homes, and I don't even know most of the codes!

Blocked aisles, exit lights out, cars and stuff permanently parked
on grass, there is no end to it.

Submitted by PTCGOIL on Tue, 08/12/2008 - 2:16pm.

While the Crosstown Rd. shopping center continues to deteriorate. No facade updates in over 15 years I've lived here. Now there is the weed infested orange-fenced mess next to K-Mart to add to it. Oh, but the home values at the South end of town don't warrant the hissy fit that the Kedron north end does. How long before a child falls into the retention pond next to K-Mart, since the fence has been down all summer? Hey Code enforcement, anyone home????? I'm sure the Towne Club will have no problem attracting $2500./mo. rents for 1 bedroom with this mess across the street.

Submitted by Bonkers on Tue, 08/12/2008 - 2:29pm.

We have about 80 people in the PD, some of which are code officers, some work at the FD.

They do not bother old homes apparently!

Do little otherwise in that area!

It is something below the dignity of officials, I think---like the trails and bars.

Cyclist's picture
Submitted by Cyclist on Tue, 08/12/2008 - 7:50am.

I seen the new Goodwill store in Fayetteville.
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Submitted by bowser on Tue, 08/12/2008 - 7:28am.

The roof color doesn't bother me but I was startled to walk in the middle door and be smacked in the face by the giant wine section and beer aisle, which have been moved from the rear of the store to center stage just beyond the registers.

I have nothing against a social drink now and again, but I've never seen a grocery store put such emphasis on booze. Do they know something I don't about my neighbors??

Submitted by skyspy on Tue, 08/12/2008 - 6:24am.

Changing the paint color won't change the fact that it is an ugly strip mall. At least most of the space is filled in Kedron. Compared to the strip mall on the west side which is largely empty and about as charming as a dead fish that washed up a week ago.

SLUF's picture
Submitted by SLUF on Mon, 08/11/2008 - 11:05pm.

That is all.
quit whining


Submitted by Homplate201 on Mon, 08/11/2008 - 10:53pm.

Who cares its a paint color it looks fine. Quit complaining and focus on something that matters. Quit being Peachtree City People- Now I understand why other cities make fun of us. Lets all grow up

Submitted by MYTMITE on Mon, 08/11/2008 - 10:16pm.

unless everyone involved was colorblind. How could you not know what the rules were? How could you not know that black is not green? Give me a break. Too many businesses/companies do as they please and then come up with an OOPS. They do not conform to rules, they build too close to sidewalks, their specifications are off, etc. and they are given a pass because it would be too expensive to correct. Again, give me a break. If a regular resident makes such an 'error', unless he has friends in high places, he is made to abide by the rules, usually, with no exceptions. Too many times when it comes to businesses/companies we make exceptions which then become the rule since we then hear "Well, it was allowed before so we have to allow it now." Make everybody abide by the rules and we will have much less of the problems that we find ourselves with these days.

Submitted by Spyglass on Tue, 08/12/2008 - 9:00am.

Kroger already ruined the inside of the store, at least make them do the outside to the existing code.

Submitted by Bonkers on Tue, 08/12/2008 - 7:39am.

I hate rules that do not kill anyone!

They are anti-conservative!

Submitted by PTC Observer on Mon, 08/11/2008 - 9:27pm.

How much time are they going to spend on this? Pick a color and have all the buildings in the center painted the same color based on the 1995 plan. No exception, follow the plan for the center, whatever it was in the beginning. It's not the city's error, it's whoever decided to not check the approved plan. Why do we have approved plans if they aren't followed? Why are they taking up our public servants time with this stuff? For crying out loud!!

Oh, Kroger we're not shopping there because the store doesn't look nice. We're not shopping their because your service stinks. Go take lessons from Publics.

Submitted by 30YearResident on Tue, 08/12/2008 - 3:06pm.

Shouldn't that be up to the shopping center owners and management company?

Let government worry about things that government should be responsible for, like services and crime.... and all those illegals at Harmony Village.

Submitted by Spyglass on Tue, 08/12/2008 - 3:08pm.

You should know why. It's in the codes of Peachtree City. It's really very simple.

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