FOUNTAIN VALLEY : Hospital Gets OK for Plan to Develop Site

Plans to add developments on a 55-acre site next to Fountain Valley Regional Hospital and Medical Center cleared a hurdle this week.

The Planning Commission on Wednesday approved a report on the environmental effects of the proposed expansion on the site near the southeast corner of Warner Avenue and Euclid Street.

The report addresses such issues as traffic and noise and the impact on utilities and public safety services, as well as ways to eliminate or reduce these concerns.

The first phase of the expansion includes an $8.5-million, four-story, 75,000-square-foot medical office building. Future plans include a 29,000-square-foot building on Euclid Street, a 456-unit housing project for senior citizens, a 100-bed skilled-nursing facility and a 100-bed facility for the elderly. None of the proposals have received city approval.

“We’ve always had plans to develop the property and bring the services to the community that we felt are warranted and needed for the community,” said Thomas M. Ways, chief executive officer of Fountain Valley Medical Development Co., a partnership that owns the hospital and medical center.

Some residents living near the hospital have expressed concerns that expansion will increase traffic and noise levels in their neighborhoods.

Gus Ayer, president of the Green Valley Homeowners’ Assn., which represents more than 1,000 homeowners, said the environmental report for the medical center expansion “deliberately and erroneously” understates the noise pollution from additional traffic.

Ayer said residents are also concerned that future development of the area will increase noise levels and affect property values and the quality of life in the neighborhoods.

Frank Bryant, a consultant to Fountain Valley Medical Development Co., said the environmental report addresses residents’ concerns, adding that there will be no increase in noise.

“Additional noise is not perceptible; it’s not really an issue,” Bryant said.

To ease concerns about traffic, a signal will be added at Warner Avenue and Mt. Hope Street, according to the report.

In addition, an exit-only driveway on the south side of the property is being studied to counter concerns about the potential for accidents on Euclid Street during peak traffic hours and to reduce left turns onto Euclid from the hospital complex, Bryant said. A study is also being done to consider restricting left-hand turns onto Euclid from the hospital during peak hours, he said.

Bryant also said the 75,000-square-foot medical office building is expected to increase traffic by 2,500 cars a day.

A public hearing on the overall expansion plan and a zone change for a portion of the property is scheduled for the June 23 Planning Commission meeting. The commission will also consider approval for the 75,000-square-foot office building.