Memorandum

To: Athens Regional Medical Center
From: Citizens for Healthy Neighborhoods
Date: August 4, 1999
Re: Do's and Don'ts

In response to an August 2nd request from Carl Nichols, CHN presents below those definite "Do's and Don'ts" which would determine the success or failure of the planning process. We appreciate this opportunity to become more focused on the basic tenets CHN has set from the beginning. However, despite the identification of valid and reasonable alternatives, there has been no significant change in any part of the 5-year plan.

1. Move Medical Building #1 to the location of Medical Building #2.

  1. Current location sets a precedent of incompatible scale, intrusion into the residential neighborhood and public access from King Avenue.
  2. Five-year plan should avoid expanding ARMC access and impact on the King Avenue side.
  3. Internalize additional traffic with public access directed to and from Prince Avenue.
  4. Location allows use of vacant spaces in parking deck and delays parking deck planned for frontage on King Avenue until options are explored.

2. Avoid increasing presence and impact on King Avenue.

  1. Keep King Avenue two-lane and residential beyond the commercial node at Prince Avenue.
  2. No parking deck should be built on King Avenue.
  3. No curb cut should be put on King Avenue below the current curb cut for Physician's Imaging Center.

3. Develop a new 20 year plan that incorporates both ARMC and CHN mission statements and goals.

  1. Definition of northern growth boundaries on Prince Avenue should be limited to current office-institutional and local business zoning.
  2. Honor the criteria reflected in initial Proposals Plans #1 and #5 which provide the same level of medical services and do not take residential properties, but do take an urban approach to density.
  3. Return the seven residential properties to the housing market: 195 Pine Needle (not needed for any plan), 256 King Avenue, 285 and 295 Talmadge Avenue, 305 and 335 King Avenue and the Meeler
    property upon which ARMC currently has a deposit to purchase.
  4. No property acquisition on Oglethorpe Avenue.
  5. No closing of Georgia Avenue.

4. Traffic Controls must be integrated into each stage of growth to protect residences.

  1. The plan must address the traffic impact of each stage in such a way as to direct parking, maintenance, supply, employee, patient and service traffic away from residential streets proactively versus postponing till the next phase.
  2. Implement traffic calming mechanisms on all impacted residential streets.
  3. Design road improvements to internalize ARMC traffic with major access and egress onto Prince Avenue.
  4. Connections should be internal only, except for bike lanes and pedestrian entrance.
  5. Avoid any new road cuts on and parking lot or deck access from residential
    streets, i.e. King, Georgia and Nacoochee avenues.

5. Clearly define boundaries of growth and establish visible evidence of commitment with permanent buffers.

  1. Hard boundaries such as the attractive brick wall built on DuBose Avenue to assure neighbors that the Medical Offices facing Prince Avenue would not intrude upon the neighborhood are a good example of boundaries which do not erode, are effective and clearly understood.
  2. Define ARMC campus to provide the confidence and stability required for continued investment by homeowners and families.
  3. Boundaries should be designed to increase security and buffer the neighborhood, while clearly directing and facilitating pedestrian and bike flow through.
  4. Buffer all areas adjacent to residential neighborhoods.