BY JONAS BEALS
The new Stafford Hospital Center will open ahead of schedule in February, but one of its access roads won't be open until spring.
That news was cause for some concern on the county Planning Commission--and may lead to some extra cost for the hospital.
When MediCorp received a rezoning and a conditional-use permit to build the facility, the occupancy permit was contingent upon having two entrances to alleviate traffic volume at the Stafford Courthouse intersection--one on U.S. 1, and the other on Courthouse Road. Access to Courthouse Road will not be completed by the time the hospital is ready to open.
Planning commissioners voted 6-1 earlier this month to recommend amending the proffers and permit, thereby allowing the hospital to receive an occupancy permit prior to opening the second entrance. The Board of Supervisors will take up the matter at their Jan. 6 meeting.
Archer Di Peppe voted against the change.
"Politically, it's extremely hard to say no to a hospital, and I really do think that it's a good thing they got it done a couple of months early," he said.
However, he said he also felt it was prudent to hold the hospital to the original agreement. In Di Peppe's opinion, MediCorp did not sufficiently explain the reason for the road delay.
Hospital officials were not available for comment, but they told the commission that the road should be finished sometime in April.
The Planning Commission was more lenient, until it came to financial matters. While they were willing to amend the permit, they recommended that MediCorp pay the costs involved.
For reasons that were not thoroughly explained during the meeting, Stafford County had applied for the proffer amendment, not MediCorp. On occasion, the county will act as applicant to alleviate the financial burden on a property owner.
In this case, MediCorp stood to save approximately $20,000.
Planning Commissioner Cecelia Kirkman pointed out that MediCorp is a successful, healthy business, and said she asked company officials if they would be willing to pay the amount.
"They said they have no problem with paying the fee," she said. "They said they would be happy to do it."
If things continue apace and the supervisors approve the proffer amendment, the new hospital will indeed open ahead of schedule--but MediCorp may have to pay for it.
"Just because you have a lot of money and power doesn't mean you get special treatment," Di Peppe said. "Otherwise, you're putting the burden on the taxpayer."
Jonas Beals: 540/368-5036
Email: jbeals@freelancestar.com