Nothing like beating a dead horse, but Capitol Development’s Ga. Highway 54 West project is not dead yet.

It would have been ideal to keep that area as it is, green, via the taxpayers buying it from Mr. McMurrain. But that is not going to happen. It would have been better to negotiate a land swap for the roads instead of “selling” them, to reduce the size of the commercial property and increase the buffer to the nature area, and the adjoining residential areas. But that is not going to happen, either.

Instead, “The Columns at Peachtree City” as presented now consists of four large stores, two of which will require a special use permit (big boxes with 42,000 and 45,000 square feet), and some more “small shops” and a restaurant.

Do you know what I see in this current plan? More vacant commercial space. Is this what is best for PTC? Hardly.

With today’s economy, in lieu of four large stores, wouldn’t it be better to have one large store, together with no small shops, and no restaurant, but instead a nice picnic/park area on the northwest corner, adjacent to Line Creek Nature area? The park would provide a community-oriented buffer and connectivity between the two commercial zones.

What would this “one large store” be? Yes, I find myself gulping as I suggest this — a Kohl’s.

The fact is this property is going to be commercial, and given the constraints the City Council has put us under, what would you rather have? Four large stores to keep occupied and seven or so small shops and a restaurant, or one Kohl’s?

In today’s economy, and with the fact that we have too much vacant commercial space already in our town, I am leaning towards the Kohl’s, and only the Kohl’s, no other commercial on the site.

Now hear me out before you crumple up this paper and play basketball with your trash can. This could be an opportunity for our town to keep the trees that front Hwy. 54 where McMurrain is now proposing “small shops.” We would not be able to see the Kohl’s from Hwy. 54. How novel.

In addition, a park area adjacent to the nature area would be a great asset to this gateway to our town, and it would expand the recreational space that our nature area provides.

Kohl’s, as mundane and unoriginal as it is, is a surer thing for our town in the long run, a lot safer than having a row of large stores in the back and small stores in the front, any of which could go vacant at any time.

Kohl’s has never closed a store, and they are still interested in this property. Additionally, just because Kohl’s itself is unoriginal, it doesn’t mean the project has to be; it can still be beautiful. It can still be PTC.

A lot of people have made the argument (myself included) that we do not need another Kohl’s. I could not agree more. But what we need even less is more vacant commercial space in our town.

Whole Foods, Trader Joe’s, etc., would have been great. But even though we want them, they do not want us — not yet. We do not meet their demographic requirements.

What about something more upscale? That would be great, too, but would it last? Kohl’s at least has an impeccable track record for sticking around.

Council has opened the door to big boxes on this property with the road abandonment. That is done. The question is, knowing that, what would you rather see on this property, Option A — one Kohl’s, one tenant — or Option B — four big stores (two of which are big boxes), small shops, and a restaurant, which amounts to up to 10 tenants?

I vote for Option A. At least we know what we are going to get, we have an opportunity to increase the green space on the property, and this project is done.

Option B (on the table right now) is a roll of the dice, a very risky one, where the only sure thing is the potential for more vacant commercial space right along Hwy. 54, an entry way to our city.

Think about it: this issue is not dead yet, and if you have an opinion, let the Planning Commission and council know it. Nothing is final until they start turning dirt.

Beth Pullias

Peachtree City, Ga.