Forest Hill Road

    "Environmental Assessment" is Flawed:  

Macon, Ga

    Bibb County's - "Roads Improvement Program"  

The original-official EA for Forest Hill Road contained Serious Flaws as outlined below:
See also our updated concerns (here)

The scope of the alternatives considered is clearly inadequate.

The Environmental Assessment for Forest Hill Road presented to the public on 6/11/01 is a fatally flawed document. If there are only two alternatives, than "NO BUILD" is preferable to the overbuilt alternative in the plan. There are many other alternatives that would meet the purpose and need as set out in the EA; however, DOT did not pursue any of them. Walter Kulash and internationally acclaimed designer drew a plan several years ago with the purpose and need and all of the physical data in mind. This plan was acceptable to the neighborhood. This design was not addressed as an alternative in the EA. If he did the design once, surely he or others could do it again. Solving the few intersection problems would solve all of the problems on the road.

Community Preferred Alternatives

The community would prefer to see Forest Hill Road remain two lanes, with the addition of turn lanes at the five intersections that need them. Left/Right/ and Thru lanes should be added at the intersection with Vineville Ave. The lane widths in the EA alternative are clearly over wide and should be narrowed to a maximum of 11 feet. This is completely consistent with the Purpose and Need Statement

Neither the TIP nor the 2025 Land Use and Transportation Plan was passed by the Citizen¹s Advisory Committee.

Because of over-built projects such as this one, incomplete information, and a failure to incorporate the values of the community, the CAC has not passed either the TIP or the 2025 Land Use plan for MATS. The fact that there is overwhelming citizen rejection of these plans has been ignored by officials. This is not how the process is intended to work. DOT should not run roughshod over communities and dictate how their neighborhoods should look. Federal Law intends that the desires of citizens are included in road plans, yet here we see a stellar example of a DOT that is out of control and out of touch. Objections to this project are a part of the record in every one of the public meetings held about the 2025 Land Use and Transportation Plan

The Road Improvement Program did not review the Project

This project is a part of the RIP, yet it was not reviewed in the Technical Advisory Committee. The TAC has reviewed other projects that have DOT involvement, and alternatives were presented prior to the issuance of a draft EA. This procedure was not followed on Forest Hill Road.

There was no "Project Design Team" on this project

The TAC of the RIP that includes a voting member from GaDOT, voted to employ a project design team on all controversial projects in the RIP. Forest Hill Road has always been a part of the RIP (and a contested part at that). This is clearly a project that should have this kind of interaction with the stakeholders in the community. In violation of this agreement, no project design team was empanelled for Forest Hill Road. No EA should be approved until this process has been completed. Any alternatives promulgated by this team should be added to a future draft EA and resubmitted for public comment.

The plan was misrepresented to the Citizen¹s Advisory Committee to the MATS.

At the CAC meeting prior to the public meeting, the only page given to members to consider was the 3-lane section of this project. Why wasn¹t the entire project on the agenda? The CAC is given certain responsibilities by the Federal Highway Administration, and they are unable to carry them out if the are given incomplete information. This is part of a pattern of problems that citizens see in this community with the MATS program.

The Plan does not accurately reflect population changes

The population in Bibb County has been stable with negligible growth for the last 10 years. Future projections do not see this changing. There will be no increase in traffic volumes due to population increases. The area is already built almost to capacity, and there is very little traffic that can come from new development. These measurable and observable facts are not considered in the EA.

The EA does not address all geographic data

There is a creek missing on the project plan. This is very significant as it represents a clear environmental threat, and a threat to the property owner. No plan should be approved unless it ACCURATETLY reflects all known physical and demographic information. Are there other creeks missing too? What else is missing? This omission casts doubt on the ability of the consultants to do an adequate job on an EA.

Segmentation

Although this project may not fall under the narrow LEGAL definition of segmentation, it is an example of segmentation nonetheless. This project is part of a larger plan known as the "Northwest Parkway". It should not be considered as a separate piece of the pie. The entire Northwest Parkway should be considered under one document with one purpose and need. Each segment is used to induce traffic to be considered as a problem in the next segment. This is an unethical way to do business. Improvements to I-75 and Riverside Drive should also be considered as mitigating projects in this plan.

Community Cohesion and Interaction

The placement of an over-wide road with rapidly moving traffic with split this long established neighborhood into two separate parts. Neighbors will not be able to cross the street to visit each other. The excessive noise levels will prohibit the enjoyment of any kind out outdoor activities. The churches along the road will suffer from these noise levels as well as the residences. Many of the residents of Forest Hill Road and the surrounding neighborhoods that will show an increase in traffic due to this project have lived in their houses for decades. This project will change the ways in which they are able to relate to each other. It will also serve to isolate the elderly residents who will be unable to use this kind of a mini-highway outside of their front door. There is simply no need to change the function of this road through a neighborhood. The induced changes to the land use will also be damaging not only to the residences on Forest Hill Road, but also to the adjoining properties.

Sound

The projected sound levels in the EA are in excess of federal limits. This is completely unacceptable. The noise levels for the residences just behind those lining the road were not given, but it is not unreasonable to assume that they will show a dramatic increase as well. There is no possible mitigation for this unacceptable sound level.

Dust, Odor, and Pollution

There will be a dramatic increase in all of these problems if the road is built as proposed. Macon expects to be designated as Non-attainment this summer. This project can only exacerbate this condition, particularly in the immediate project area. There will also be a greatly increased problem with non-point source pollution from the roadway, and its large impervious surface.

Aesthetics

At the present time, Forest Hill Road is a neighborhood road with a mature tree canopy the lines, and in some places over hangs the road. The over-wide swath this road will cut through the neighborhood will forever alter this beautiful scene. The road will also take a huge part of most front yards along the road making their dwellings much less attractive and saleable. Large retaining walls in front of several homes will be a serious detraction. There is no possible aesthetic value to the project. It can only do serious harm.

Incompatible with Community Goals

Our community has identified our neighborhoods as one of our most important assets. These values are clearly evident in public comments in all kinds of varied public meetings. This project is clearly in violation of our community goal to protect our neighborhoods. There is an alternative that would be compatible with these goals; it did not appear in this EA.

This project will induce incompatible land use changes

Widening this road will induce a change in the land use pattern from residential to commercial. This will be most evident along the 4-lane section. This change will be incompatible with current zoning. Every road of this type in Macon shows a shift from residential to commercial. Real estate agents and even our County Commission Chairman indicated that this shift would occur. It is in violation of our zoning plans, and it is in violation of the desires of the neighborhood.

The Project will decrease property values

The projected noise, decrease in aesthetics, and land use change to commercial will all have the effect of decreasing property values. The change in lot size, and proximity to the road will also serve to make the properties along Forest Hill Road less valuable. These same detractions will also spill over onto the adjacent residences and will serve to lower their property values as well. It will no longer be a safe place to live with children.

Transit

This road is not included in a comprehensive transit plan. In light of our non-attainment status this project should not be approved unless consideration is given to a transit plan. This is also of critical importance as our population ages. We must start to address this deficiency in our planning process now.

Emergency Response

The proposed cul-de-sacs will seriously impair the access of emergency vehicles to these streets.

Historic Properties will be impacted

There are several historic properties that will be seriously impacted by the proposed project. This statement is compatible with the findings of SHIPO. There are alternatives that would not damage these resources, but they were not presented as alternative in the EA.

- CAUTION Macon -

Forest Hill Road