The state is expected to announce decision to grant or deny a certificate of need for hospital’s proposal to build a new facility in Lawrence Township.
By: Lea Kahn
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State Commissioner of Health Fred M. Jacobs is expected this week to announce his decision to grant or deny a certificate of need for Capital Health System’s proposal to build a new hospital in Lawrence Township.
Mr. Jacobs will release his decision by the end of the week, said Gretchen Michael, a spokeswoman for the state Department of Health and Senior Services. The deadline for making the announcement is Dec. 1.
The state Health Planning Board endorsed the CHS application for a certificate of need Aug. 3. The endorsement was forwarded to Mr. Jacobs, who has the final say-so on the application.
Dennis Dooley, CHS vice president for planning and development, said Tuesday afternoon he had not heard whether Mr. Jacobs would grant the certificate of need.
"The commissioner has until Friday to let us know," Mr. Dooley said.
CHS representatives have said they want to close their Mercer Campus facility on Bellevue Avenue in Trenton and relocate to a 32-acre site on Princess Road. The state must first issue a certificate of need before the hospital system can proceed with its plan for a new 320-bed hospital, which is expected to cost $291 million.
CHS officials have contended that relocating the Mercer Campus hospital would help ensure the long-term economic viability of their other Trenton hospital, CHS Fuld Campus, by using generated revenues from the new hospital to help sustain the existing one.
The plan to relocate the Mercer Campus hospital to Lawrence has drawn fire from Lawrence and Trenton officials. Lawrence officials have expressed concern about the traffic impact of an around-the-clock hospital operation, the size of the hospital and the fact that zoning would have to be changed to permit it.
The Princess Road site is zoned Industrial-1, which allows offices, light industrial uses, research and engineering offices and laboratories not hospitals. CHS would have to seek a use variance from the Zoning Board of Adjustment, unless township officials change the zoning designation.
If CHS gets the certificate of approval, Mr. Dooley said, he will be on the telephone early next week to set up an appointment to discuss the proposed hospital with Municipal Manager Richard Krawczun and one or two members of Township Council.
"We would ask for an audience with Mr. Krawczun and the council in order to have a conversation about our project on Princess Road," Mr. Dooley said. "Right off the bat, we need to see if holding a certificate of need has a material impact on the opinion (of the project) made by the elected officials."
CHS officials want to know what needs to be done in order to build a hospital on Princess Road or on an alternative site, if necessary, Mr. Dooley said. One alternative site is a 135-acre parcel on Princeton Pike at Lewisville Road.
The Princeton Pike parcel is zoned Research and Development-2, which pemits office parks, research and engineering offices and laboratories, public parks and recreation and governmental uses but not hospitals.
CHS already has considered the parcel, which belongs to Bristol-Myers Squibb Co. The pharmaceutical company has listed the Princeton Pike property for sale.
"The game changes somewhat with a certificate of need in hand," Mr. Dooley said. "CHS has greater legal status to move forward. We want to find out whether there is a way for us to collaborate and have the kind of hospital and the kind of community that will appreciate and welcome a hospital."

