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| Planner Kevin Edinger |
According to Anderson Campus President Edward Nawrocki, emergency services have been double what was initially projected. This expansion will enable the hospital to treat 60,000 patients per year. He added that the hospital's busy ER is leading the growth of the rest of its campus. "As the ER gets busy, so does everything else," he explained.
Brian Cheatle of Cerminara Architect presented drawings of the expansion, which will match the current brick and stone design.
If Commissioners accept the recommendation of township planners, St. Luke's hopes to complete its expansion by next Spring.
In other business, Township Manager Howard Kutzler told Commissioners they will likely see plans for Madison Farms again at their June meeting. At a 100-acre site on the north side of Freemansburg Avenue, New Jersey developer KRE Group is planning to build a 837-unit housing development, including 570 apartments in a five-story building. In addition to the housing, 140,000 square feet of commercial space and a retail village are proposed, along with an artificial pond and a grocery store and walking trails in a mixed use development.
Township Commissioners were slotted to act on a new zoning overlay district at their May 21 meeting, but the ordinance was removed from the agenda. That ignited a firestorm of protest from about a dozen residents at the meeting. "You don't pull an agenda item ten minutes before we all show up," complained resident Raymond D'Aprile. "If you don't want a reputation, don't do this."
Solicitor Jim Broughal apologized, stating the decision was "my call." He explained there were some issues with the proposed text changes to the zoning ordinance.
Manager Howard Kutzler told planners that the developer needs clarification about building heights and whether basements should be included. He added that KRE is planning a meeting with residents to allay concerns over the proposed development, which has been under consideration since 2004. Originally called Field of Dreams, Kutzler called the current plans "Field of Dreams 2.1".
Madison Farms received preliminary approval in January. But a land use appeal filed by neighbors Raymond and Megan Russin contends that the Township lacks authority to approve these plans without first changing the zoning ordinance or granting a variance.
Attorney Mark Malkames, who represents the Russins, acknowledges that developer Abe Atiyeh is paying his legal tab. A township resident, Atiyeh is concerned about traffic congestion and over-development.
But Kutzler counters that as things stand right now, the entire tract is located in a light industrial and business zone. Instead of a mixed use village, nearby homeowners could be confronted by a Ruby Tuesday or Outback Steakhouse. "The developer is choosing an overlay district to do something nice," Kutzler explained.
"I just don't understand how people don't know about this," wondered planner Kevin Edinger. "We have hundreds of hours into this project." Chairman Lee Snover added she is "extremely frustrated it is not moving along."
"Are they really complaining about a grocery store?" she asked. "That's good for the Township."
3 comments:
Same old, same old. First St Luke's then LVHN or was that first LVHN and then St. Luke's.
Anyway, the cost of healthcare keeps going up, access is more challenged for a greater number of people but image and building a brand is where these two excel.
The amount of money they both pay on their physical plant is appalling and they have the **lls to refer to themselves as tax free institutions. Just check their mulch bills every spring.
This competitive war that has been going on for years is demeaning, full of self serving arrogance and costly to the people of the Lehigh Valley.
They need to get a life and start addressing the real issues affecting healthcare in their markets. Stop with the "my set is bigger than your set" thing.
Someone should seriously check their tax status. They hold a lot of property and that is a lot of unpaid property taxes. ChaChing!
I am glad to see a worthy alternative to Easton Hospital. The last time that I was in need of an ER, I chose St. Lukes and was amazed at the difference of the facility, professional staff, and the sense of "caring" compared to my consistently poor experiences at Easton Hospital.
No wonder they're busy!
Lee Snover in typical Republican committee arrogance doesn't live anywhere near this soon to be Paramus New Jersey brownstone apartment building, filled with transients and traffic.
Six "Ruby Tuesdays" would be preferable to a ready built section 8 ghetto.
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