Letter to the Editor: Public Safety is No. 1 Priority at Kroger

Several inaccurate statements were made in the July 16, 2013, opinion piece, “Kroger Thumbs its Nose at Brookhaven,” that Kroger would like to address for its customers and Brookhaven residents.

Public safety is a priority in all of Kroger’s projects. This is why, when the Brookhaven-Peachtree Community Alliance (BPCA) gave us its zoning requirements, we worked through each issue, and reached agreement on all issues except for the streetscape – and at the approval and recognition of DeKalb County – decided not to install a 5-foot landscape area/15-foot sidewalk streetscape because the project is a renovation, not a new development.

Furthermore, doing so would not match transitioning sidewalks, and would be unsafe for pedestrians. Instead, pedestrian walkways will be installed off Peachtree Road and Colonial for added safety. To enhance these sidewalks and make them more pedestrian friendly, Kroger added trees and benches along the Peachtree walkway. The DeKalb County Zoning Board of Appeals approved Kroger to proceed with the expansion project.

Kroger also worked with DeKalb County staff members on a proposed landscape plan. The plan – approved by the BOA on July 12, 2012 – required 40 trees to be planted. Kroger’s plans called for 45. This planned number of trees was reduced by 11 after the reviewing arborist stated that no trees could be planted in the Right-of-Way (ROW), due to unsubstantial soil volume.

Kroger also addressed concerns about the proposed landscape island at the store’s Peachtree entrance. This will not pose traffic or public safety threats as it will not change how traffic currently flows – it does, however, add another element, enhancing the new landscaping of the shopping center.

In addition to overall aesthetic improvements, the Brookhaven Kroger will bring additional product offerings for customers. Kroger has worked diligently to bring improvements to the store’s interior, to enhance the look and feel of the exterior, and – above all – to provide a safe and convenient shopping environment.

Kroger would like to express its ongoing gratitude to the BPCA, the BOA, and the DeKalb County Planning and Sustainability Department, all of which have worked with us over the course of the Brookhaven store expansion. Each entity understands that public safety is our No. 1 concern – and we will keep to this commitment throughout the remainder of the expansion and into the future.

We thank our customers and look forward to providing more products, high-quality services and value in a beautifully expanded and remodeled, 84,000-square-foot facility once completed in December, 2013.

Glynn Jenkins
Director of Communications and Public Relations
Kroger Atlanta Division