Medical Complex on Silver Bluff

Todays Aiken Standard carried an important article concerning the University Hospital plan to develop a medical complex on Silver Bluff Road. The project is on the City Council agenda for Monday January 26.There will be considerable debate on this issue but the question of competition for the Aiken Regional Medical Center has no appropriate place in the discussion. The primary question is whether or not the traffic that would be created at total buildout  exceeds the standards set by the Traffic Management Ordinance. To read the complete article go here UPDATE- I have never seen so many comments on an Aiken Standard story. They are all over the map. Check it out!




"Healthy debate: Aiken Regional concerned about University Health complex"

1/23/2009 1:32 AM

By APRIL BAILEY and JENNIFER MILLER Staff writers

Staff writers

Officials with Aiken Regional Medical Centers, as well as several local residents, are up in arms about University Hospital's plans for a medical office complex on Silver Bluff Road.

Among their many concerns is the additional traffic the 72,000 square-foot complex would bring to an area that already has its share of traffic problems. They also say Aiken Regional could lose patients to Augusta which would hurt the local economy.

University officials say they are trying to serve their patients in Aiken and any traffic issues are being addressed. Now 20 percent of the hospital's patients come from Aiken County.

But for nearby residents this is not a good thing, said Kay Biermann Brohl, a board member for Aiken Regional Medical Centers and a former Planning Commissioner. Brohl said she served on the Planning Commission when the site was annexed into the City a few years ago and said the original concept plan was for mixed-use development, with some retail and residential space.

When the Commission approved the plan then, Brohl said it was under the impression that Silver Bluff Road would be widened to five lanes. Those plans have since been changed and turn lanes will instead be added along major intersections on Silver Bluff. However since there is a new concept plan for the property, Brohl says the additional traffic a medical complex would bring should be taken into account."