CHS hospital impact studies discussed

Consultants address traffic and economic factors

By John Tredrea, Staff Writer
   A proposed Capital Health Systems (CHS) hospital on a tract off I-95 and Scotch Road in Hopewell Township would bring less traffic than if the land were used for offices, CHS officials said last week.
   CHS, which hosted the meeting, presented traffic and fiscal impact studies of the proposed hospital at the Hopewell Valley Central High School auditorium Sept. 19. The event was held at the auditorium in anticipation of a large turnout. Less than 20 people attended.
   Richard Orth, a traffic engineer hired by CHS, said the hospital would generate “significantly less traffic” than an office park on the same land. The hospital is proposed for 165 acres — near I-95 and Scotch Road — owned by Merrill Lynch. A hospital is a permitted use.
   CHS says about 4,000 people could work on the 165 acres if it were used for offices. Fewer than 1,600 would work at the hospital, CHS says.
   Among the governmental approvals CHS needs to build its proposed 237-bed hospital and three companion office buildings is township Planning Board approval to amend the General Development Plan (GDP) for the land. The board is scheduled to consider that item tonight at a 7:30 p.m. meeting in the Municipal Building.
   Merrill Lynch obtained GDP approval for the land several years ago. CHS is the contract purchaser of the property slated for the hospital. Under the contract, CHS does not have to buy the land until it gets all approvals needed to build the hospital. If CHS obtains the GDP amendment, it then may seek Planning Board site plan approval to build the hospital itself. That site plan approval is needed to obtain construction permits.
   CHS cannot advance to the Planning Board until a site plan application has been declared complete by the board’s Application Review Committee (ARC).
   ARC won’t begin its own hearings on the site plan application until CHS has received approval to amend the GDP. Township officials estimate that ARC could begin its hearings on the site plan in about a month.
   CHS says its fiscal impact study, done by economist Richard Reading, indicates the hospital would be a plus for the area economy. The hospital would be tax exempt, under state law, but the office buildings would pay taxes. Mr. Reading estimates the buildings would generate nearly $1.8 million in school, county and municipal net tax revenues each year. Building the hospital would require 1,328 construction workers, he added.