Proposed private hospital for New Albany clears its first hurdle

"Protect our hospital" stickers adorned more than 100 people who turned out Tuesday during a New Albany Plan Commission meeting.

The commission was to decide whether to grant a special exception that would permit an acute care hospital in the 2800 block of Charlestown Road. Preliminary drawings for the project call for the main entrance to the hospital to be off of Charlestown Road. There is potential for an entrance off of Lafayette Drive, however an option for that has not yet been obtained.

Louisville cardiologist Chris Stavens is leading the project that has been in the works for nearly two years. The private hospital would cost $20 million and would have 42 acute care beds. Stavens has said such competition would be healthy for the community and would draw patients from around Southern Indiana.

Officials with Floyd Memorial Hospital and Health Services have been vocal against the project, stating that the for-profit hospital would leave FMH responsible for indigent patients in the area.

The Floyd County Board of Commissioners has heard from both sides of the argument. But a decision has not been made on a moratorium. The board will hold a public meeting on March 29 at 4:30 p.m. in the commissioner's room to get more input.

The area where the proposed hospital would be built is zoned R-2. Scott Wood, a city planning official, said a hospital would be permitted with a special exception.

Tuesday's New Albany Plan Commission meeting was not a public hearing, said Planning Director John Rosenbarger. That means the commission was not required to hear public input on the matter. Rosenbarger said hospital officials had asked for the item to be tabled until a later meeting. However, the commission opted to approve the request for a special exception 8 to 1, with commission member Jason Emly voting against the proposal.

The commission's approval means the plan was in conformance with the city's Comprehensive Plan and will be sent to the New Albany Board of Zoning Appeals with a favorable recommendation. The BZA will meet on April 5 at 7 p.m. in the third-floor Assembly Room of the City-County Building where a public hearing will be held. It will be the job of the BZA to re-examine the land issues, development standards, access and other zoning issues. If the request was tabled, the matter would not be set to be heard at the April BZA meeting. Instead, it would have been delayed at least a month.