OhioHealth wants to move forward with a $20 million expansion of its Westerville Medical Campus,leaving neighboring residents with questions about how the growth could impact theirsurroundings.
OhioHealth said the expansion would bring 100 new jobs to the area and generate $7 million intaxes, but questions about the growth remain, 10TV's Danielle Elias reported on Tuesday.
"I think everyone is worried this facility may affect the property values, which it potentiallycould," said Genoa Township resident Dave Shaver. "I think probably first and foremost itwould be the noise. It would be the additional traffic."
OhioHealth wants to add a new helicopter landing pad, more parking and an additional building tothe medical campus, located near the corner of Polaris Parkway and Africa Road, Elias reported.
"The building itself will be two stories, 48,000 square feet, 54 first floor, to be afree-standing emergency department, " said OhioHealth's ambulatory services chief operating officerBob Gilbert.
Residents who attended Tuesday night's city council reading raised questions about the plans,saying the facility was growing larger than anticipated.
"There were no plans for a stand-alone (emergency room) or helipad back in '05 and '06," Shaversaid. "What's next, a full service hospital?"
Gilbert tried to quell some of the concerns, saying the helipad's use would be minimal.
"Part of the plans call for having, in the emergency department, a mobile intensive care unitthat will be used to transport patients to the hospital when needed," he said.
Shaver admitted that OhioHealth had been a positive influence in the community.
"At this point in time they've been good neighbors to us," he said. "They have contributedto the neighborhood and they have done everything that they said they were going to do."
City council will hear another proposal reading on Jan. 4.
The public will be allowed to weigh-in on the issue at that meeting.
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