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Novant Health seeks easements to support freestanding emergency department near Robert Smalls school; board asks for traffic analysis
Summary
Novant Health told the committee it plans a freestanding 11,600 sq ft emergency department and 5,500 sq ft primary care office near Robert Smalls Leadership Academy and requested utility and drainage easements and a rear access road. Board members asked for traffic‑pattern options, school pickup/drop‑off mitigation and подробные engineering details before advancing an approval.
Representatives from Novant Health (Joel Taylor, market president) and the project team (Connor Blaney, civil engineer) told the Operations Committee they have purchased roughly 14.5 acres near Robert Smalls Leadership Academy and plan a freestanding emergency department with associated primary-care services.
The team described submitted plans, a traffic study and a drainage narrative; they said BJWSA recommended dual water connections for system pressure and SCDOT has agreed in principle to a rear access configuration tying to WK Austin Drive. Novant pledged to add a five‑foot sidewalk along the proposed rear access to improve pedestrian safety for students and nearby apartment residents.
Committee members repeatedly sought more detail about traffic impacts during school pickup and bus operations, asking the district transportation director or school traffic planner to vet mitigation measures. Concerns included the potential for increased left‑turning traffic onto WK Austin, conflict with school bus loading/unloading and whether the rear access could be a cut‑through for adjacent development. Novant said the freestanding emergency department is staffed 24/7 by board‑certified physicians and estimated daily vehicle volume in the low tens (roughly 30–40 cars a day) beyond occasional ambulance trips.
Board members and staff asked Novant to return with alternative traffic‑pattern proposals for pickup/drop‑off times, consideration of traffic‑calming measures near the school (speed deterrents), and a plan for coordination with the district’s med‑tech and career‑training programs to explore student opportunities. The committee did not vote on easement approval and requested further technical input from the district transportation planner and county staff before any formal action.
