To the editor:

I was appalled at the Planning Commission’s public hearing process for the Obici Place rezoning review. Surely the sole purpose of a public hearing should be to assure that citizen concerns are considered before any vote is taken.

The proposed road design for North Main Street falls well below the recommendations of the VDOT Road Design Manual. Lane widths, space for U-turns, distance between lights, median design, volume of traffic and pedestrian crossing design are all being compromised. The VDOT Manual states this project is likely to increase accident rates by more than 70 percent.

These specific facts were raised by citizens in the public hearing. Yet no justification for compromising public safety was offered by any public official. In the rebuttal by the developer, these issues were totally ignored, not even warranting a single comment.

Who is representing the public in this process? Why didn’t the commission require city staff to justify design proposals that fall below state guidelines, particularly in areas of public safety?

The responsibility now falls on the City Council to end this charade. Citizens deserve proper public hearings. Full disclosure on road safety is paramount before any decision is made.

Geoff Payne

Suffolk