My touring bike (a Surly Long Haul Trucker) is heavy, had front and rear racks, wide tires. I love the bike, but I bought an old road bike converted to single-speed. It's a great commuter. It won't haul as much as a touring bike, but it doesn't need to.

If you live somewhere too hilly for a single-speed you can always go internal gear hub or 1x7/8/9 for a simpler drivetrain. You don't need a 19 gear-inch low gear on a commuter.