Hospital predicts smooth expansion

Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, May 11, 2006

By AMY RINARD
arinard@journalsentinel.com

Oconomowoc - A $37 million expansion and renovation of Oconomowoc Memorial Hospital and construction of a new $19 million clinic and office complex will require a number of city approvals and permits, but the hospital's president said Wednesday he expects no controversy.

"Every time we've done renovations before, we've worked with the city and met all the requirements," said John Robertstad, hospital president and CEO. "They always have been supportive, and we've always followed the rules. This is just business as usual from their point of view."

Jason Gallo, city planner and zoning administrator, said hospital officials met Wednesday with city staff members to discuss an application to combine two parcels of land into one parcel in the city's Corporate Center. That is the site of the firm's proposed Musculoskeletal Institute clinic and a three-story medical office building.

ProHealth Care Inc., which owns Oconomowoc Memorial and Waukesha Memorial hospitals, already owns the land and will invest $2 million to $4 million in the clinic project.

No rezoning of the land in the Corporate Center is needed for the clinic project, said Gallo, who noted that "combining lots is very routine." It's done to eliminate the lot line between two parcels and permit construction over one large area, he said.

The application to combine parcels will go before the Plan Commission and no public hearing will be held, Gallo said. The commission also must approve a conditional use permit for the clinic project, and a public hearing will be held on that issue. Then the Common Council must give its approval to the permit.

Next the Architectural Commission must approve the architectural design and signs for the project before building permits can be issued.
A similar city approval process would be required for the planned expansion and renovation of the hospital, Gallo said. A razing permit also would be needed because plans call for four houses the hospital owns on Lincoln Court to be removed to make way for an expanded parking lot.

The new clinic and office building complex will be connected to ProHealth's existing family practice clinic in the Corporate Center and will be visible from I-94.

The site is at the northwest corner of the intersection of I-94 and Highway 67.

The ProHealth clinic site is kitty-corner from a site in nearby Summit where Aurora Health Care had proposed building a new 88-bed hospital, expanded clinic and medical complex at the southeast corner of that sprawling intersection.

Aurora's plan created considerable controversy in western Waukesha County and divided area residents. ProHealth strongly opposed that proposal, arguing that another hospital was not needed in the area and that building one would drive up the cost of health care for everyone in the region.

Aurora officials, who continue to work to build a hospital in Summit despite a rejection of their plan last year by the County Board, say the growing population of western Waukesha County justifies construction of a new hospital and larger clinic.

After ProHealth announced its construction plans Tuesday, Aurora officials said that proved their argument about the need for expanded medical facilities in the area.

Robertstad said he does not anticipate controversy in the city over ProHealth's hospital expansion plan. "The more we enhance this facility the more it makes for an attractive community," he said.

He said he met with Oconomowoc Mayor Maury Sullivan before Tuesday's announcement and believes city officials will be supportive of the building plans.

"From their perspective, they're happy to see the growth and our commitment to the community," Robertstad said.

Sullivan did not return phone calls Tuesday and Wednesday asking for comment.

ProHealth is proposing to enlarge existing patient rooms and build new patient rooms resulting in the addition of up to 11 more rooms than the hospital currently has. The plan also calls for an expansion of the emergency room and an expansion and remodeling of the front lobby, waiting area and patient admitting area.

Construction on the hospital project is expected to begin next spring. The new clinic and office building project is expected to begin this September.