Shopping center a public health risk

As a physician with a background and formal training in public health, I am concerned about public safety issues pertaining to the proposed request by the Atlanta-based Forum Development Group to rezone the Nixon Trust property on Walton Way Extension for a shopping center. This proposal will be before the Augusta Commission today.

I have never seen a shopping center of this shape, with the long sides squeezed between an interstate highway and a creek, and no access at the back end. The only access point is at the short front end of the rectangle, which is on a very busy street already overburdened with traffic.

The plan provided by Forum Development Group has 1,536 parking spaces and 300,000 square feet of buildings. Forum's private traffic consultant's report projects an additional 18,000 cars a day, with only one entrance/egress point.

The limited accessibility presents a risk to a timely response by emergency vehicles. Also, in the event of a gas leak or a bomb threat, there is the potential for a tragedy if quick evacuation is not possible.

I have reviewed Forum's traffic report with Richmond County Traffic Engineering, and they too are concerned with the volume of traffic already in this area of our city.

This proposed plan, with its poor access, is a public safety risk.

Dr. William M. Johnson, Augusta