Can the Proposed Suburban Plaza Walmart Change 15% of Shoppers’ Travel Behaviors?
Decatur Metro | December 8, 2011The gauntlet has been thrown!
In an article in The Champion newspaper this week County Commissioner Jeff Rader says that in order for Walmart to receive the parking variance it has requested to build fewer spaces than is required under the current code, they will need to “have to show how their project will adapt and change people’s travel behaviors.”
OK, so this is obviously isn’t a really much of a gauntlet. It’s a purposely vague statement, as one should expect from a public official expected to weigh the pros and cons of any development for a community. But it sure would be interesting to think about what it would take to change the travel behaviors of Walmart shoppers, wouldn’t it??
So if the Walmart design needs to “adapt and change people’s travel behaviors” the first, most obvious questions are “How many people?”and “change their travel behaviors in what ways?” Read the rest of this entry »