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HomeMy WebLinkAboutItem B: Potential Hospital Siting ECC UGENE ITY OUNCIL AIS GENDA TEM UMMARY Work Session: Potential Hospital Siting Meeting Date: April 14, 2008 Agenda Item Number: B Department: Planning and Development Staff Contact: Susan Muir www.eugene-or.gov Contact Telephone Number: 682-6077 ISSUE STATEMENT This work session is to provide an update to the City Council on discussions surrounding potential hospital sites in Eugene and follow up to the March 12, 2008, City Council work session. Staff will inform the council of the discussions that have recently occurred with McKenzie-Willamette Medical Center and the University of Oregon. BACKGROUND In January 2007, the council readopted one of its 10 goals to facilitate the development of a full-service hospital in Eugene. On April 19, 2006, McKenzie-Willamette Medical Center filed applications for a proposal to locate its hospital at a site at the northwest corner of North Delta Highway and Ayres Road known as the Delta Ridge site. After many meetings in front of the Eugene Planning Commission, and prior to a hearing before the City Council, McKenzie-Willamette Medical Center decided the Delta Ridge site was not the right location for its hospital. Consequently, on January 14, 2008, McKenzie- Willamette Medical Center withdrew its land use applications for the Delta Ridge proposed site and began working on alternative sites in the region. The McKenzie-Willamette Medical Center leadership has many criteria they are using in their decision- making process, some of which include proximity to existing medical facilities, customers and other needed resources, costs, site characteristics, timing, and complexity of the process to make the site ‘shovel ready’ for a hospital. McKenzie-Willamette Medical Center leadership is using these criteria in their decision-making process with the belief that once all of these criteria have been evaluated for each site, their ultimate hospital site will rise to the top for them. The City has discussed many potential sites with the hospital leadership. Timeliness is of significant importance to the hospital and it is critical that their decision-making process move forward quickly. th The council held a work session on March 12 and passed the following motion: Direct the City Manager to return as soon as possible after break with a proposed work plan, with timelines and cost impacts for the Riverfront Site. This work plan would include initiation of any required plan amendments and zone changes, and incentives to support this site; and to continue conversations with McKenzie-Willamette Medical Center on the 4J and Registe-Guard sites. F:\CMO\2008 Council Agendas\M080414\S080414B.doc Riverfront Research Park Site th Since the March 12 work session, the City and University have been working diligently together on what would be required to make the Riverfront Research Park available as a potential hospital site. The th University sent a letter (Attachment A) on April 7 outlining the University’s needs and requirements for the proposed site. In summary, the University has outlined the following needs: Any relocation of existing uses must be in close proximity to the main part of campus. o Disconnection of the remaining acreage after the potential hospital site is carved out is o problematic – which means 60 acres of land would need to be replaced even if the proposed hospital site is only 27 acres. A replacement site would need to be shovel-ready, zoned for public lands, and require no o Conditional Use Permit. Disruption of the 220,000 square feet of currently occupied research, laboratory, classroom and o office space would need to be managed so as not to disrupt the functions of the tenants. Replacement facilities would need to be constructed and operable before the currently occupied space was vacated. The University estimates a transition timeframe for vacating the proposed site would be o approximately five years. It is clear that financial resources as well as land would be required for this transition to be o acceptable to the University. There may be other unknowns that the University is unaware of at this time, other issues remain. o The University estimates, in addition to the land costs, construction costs the City would need to o allocate for the University to replace the existing facilities would be estimated at $55 to $110 million. There are some specific, unsolved difficulties with particular uses on the subject site, such as the o Zebrafish International Resource Center that would likely require other agencies to be involved, potentially federal agencies. th March 12 Questions th Also during the March 12 council discussion several questions were raised. Staff has provided a response to these issues below. 1. A question was raised on the status of Avenues A and B within the Riverfront Research Park, as well as the status of the northern portion of the research park. The Riverfront Research Park is primarily governed by the Riverfront Research Park Master Plan (Attachment C) that was formally approved by the City of Eugene in 1989. This Master Plan includes the provisions under which future development of the Research Park can occur. The Riverfront Research Park encompasses approximately 67 acres, including property north and south of the existing railroad tracks. The approved Master Site Plan addresses future development of the entire park, including that portion north of the railroad tracks. These provisions include the general location of buildings, parking, utilities, open space, streets, bicycle and pedestrian access. In addition, the Master Plan stipulates environmental protection measures, including setbacks from the Willamette River. All of these provisions remain an active part of the approved Master Plan. A copy of the approved Master Plan is attached. Questions were also raised about the status of Avenues A and B which are the primary east-west streets included in the Riverfront Master Plan. A copy of the Transportation System Map (Attachment D) from F:\CMO\2008 Council Agendas\M080414\S080414B.doc the Master Plan is attached for reference and shows the general location of the approved street system. Avenue A would provide access to that portion of the site north of the railroad tracks, connecting with Franklin Blvd near its westerly boundary. Avenue B would provide east – west access for the Research Park south of the railroad tracks, connecting with Franklin Blvd. to the west as well. The City Council also asked about the alignment of Avenue B as it relates to sensitive lands, impact on the Physical Plant and the westerly connection to the surrounding street system (specifically, the city- owned portion of the courthouse property). As the map indicates, the general alignment of Avenue B is located along the south side of the railroad tracks. This alignment will avoid impact to sensitive lands, with the exception of a crossing that would be needed over the Millrace (adjacent to the current culvert that runs under the railroad tracks). Assuming that this street is constructed prior to any transition of the physical plant, it is likely that the location of the street would be adjacent to the railroad tracks to minimize impact to physical plant. Avenue B would extend westerly and connect with Franklin Boulevard approximately east of the Alder Street intersection. For reference, Avenue A, which would extend along the northern portion of the Riverfront Research Park, would connect with Franklin th Boulevard. in the vicinity of 8 Avenue and the City-owned portion of the courthouse property. 2. What are the City’s plans for Striker Field? Striker Field is located immediately east of the 4J/Coburg Road property being considered by the Hospital. This park property is currently considered part of the City’s inventory of future park sites. The property has not been designated as surplus property. While various discussions have occurred over the years as to the future use and design of this park site, no formal plans have been developed or approved. The Parks and Open Space Plan recognizes this site as a “Neighborhood Park” in its current configuration, but also recognizes the potential to expand potential recreational opportunities through partnerships with the school district and their adjoining property. 3. Does the Register-Guard have active plans for their affected property? Yes. The Hearings Official recently granted approval of a tentative PUD and Site Review for a business park on property owned by the Register-Guard, located immediately west of the existing Register-Guard property as well as the property located on the north side of Chad Drive. All of the Register-Guard property located on the north side of Chad Drive is included in the potential hospital site. Eight of the 15 office/industrial buildings approved by the Hearings Official are located on this northern site. The potential hospital site also includes a parcel on the east side of Old Coburg Road which is owned by the Register-Guard, but is not a part of the recently approved business park. Although the Master Plan for this project has been approved, further land use applications are still necessary (including a Final PUD) before development can occur. 4. Please provide any further clarification on the UO’s timeline for transition. The University addressed this in its April 7, 2008, letter (Attachment A) by indicating its estimate for the City to identify and obtain replacement property, as well as plan and build replacement structures, would be five years. City staff believes that there may be room to negotiate with the University to look at phasing options that could potentially allow some construction on the new hospital to occur while some buildings are still occupied. F:\CMO\2008 Council Agendas\M080414\S080414B.doc 5. What are the issues regarding the Certificate of Need for the Springfield and Glenwood sites? The hospital has communicated to us that it has researched this and language exists within the state regulations to allow for an amendment with respect to site. 6. Clarify ownership of each site. Please see attached site maps with ownerships listed for each site (Attachments E, F and G). 7. Provide further details/breakdown of the various uses within the Research Park. Specifically, which uses are UO and research related? Building area in the Research Park totals 222,867 square feet. Research and research related uses occupy approximately 123,351 square feet. University departments and Physical Plant operations occupy approximately 99,516 square feet. 8. What is the level of hospital service that is being proposed? McKenzie-Willamette Medical Center has indicated that the proposed hospital will provide a 24-hour full service Level III trauma center emergency department. This level of service is identical to that identified in the 2005 Memorandum of Understanding between McKenzie Willamette Medical Center and the City of Eugene. RELATED CITY POLICIES This work session topic is related to the City Council goal to facilitate the development of a full service hospital in Eugene. COUNCIL OPTIONS The council has several options including: 1.Direct the City Manager to continue pursuing the Riverfront Research Park as the preferred site for McKenzie Willamette Medical Center. 2.Direct the City Manager to continue conversations with McKenzie Willamette Medical Center regarding the 4J and Register Guard proposed hospital sites. CITY MANAGER’S RECOMMENDATION At the time of the writing of the AIS, negotiations and discussions regarding the Riverfront Research Park as a proposed hospital site are still ongoing. The City Manager will present a recommendation at th the meeting on April 14 contingent upon results from the ongoing discussions. SUGGESTED MOTIONS None at this time. F:\CMO\2008 Council Agendas\M080414\S080414B.doc ATTACHMENTS A. Letter from the University dated April 7, 2008 B. Proposed Compressed Timeline C. Riverfront Research Park Master Site Plan D. Riverfront Research Park Transportation System Map E. Coburg Road/4J Site Map with ownerships F. Register-Guard Site Map with ownerships G. Riverfront Site Map FOR MORE INFORMATION Staff Contact: Susan Muir Telephone: 682-6077 Staff E-Mail: susan.l.muir@ci.eugene.or.us F:\CMO\2008 Council Agendas\M080414\S080414B.doc Ì©±ó­¬»° ݱ²½«®®»²¬ ß°°´·½¿¬·±² λª·»© Planning Commission publichearing, deliberationandrecommendationtoCity Council 3to 4 MONTHS CityCouncilpublichearing,deliberationandaction 2to 4 MONTHS LAND USE ACTIONS REQUIRED: - Metro Plan Diagram Amendment (Phases 1 & 3 properties) - Zone Change (Phases 1 & 3 properties) -Either: - Code Amendment (Phases 1 & 3 properties); or -Conditional UsePermit(Phases 1&3properties) -WillametteGreenwayPermit(Phases 1&3properties) -CouncilActionAmendingExistingConditionalUsePermit TOTALTIME: 5-8months Ô¿²¼ Ë­» ß°°´·½¿¬·±² Ì·³»´·²»