Aurora Health Care forges ahead with hospital plans

Approval still needed from Town of Summit board

Waukesha Freeman, February 16, 2007

By JODY L. MAYERS
Freeman Staff

TOWN OF SUMMIT Aurora Health Cares proposed Pabst Farms hospital drew the support of the towns plan commission Thursday night, as the commission voted to recommend to town board members the issuance of a building permit for the $189 million facility.

The matter is expected to go before the full town board March 1.

Officials said the recommendation is subject to more detailed planning in the future, and because the site southeast of Interstate 94 and Highway 67 is in the extraterritorial zone for Oconomowoc, the ordinance requires approval from both the town of Summit board and plan commission.

This meeting is not the final step by any means, Town Planner and Manager Henry Elling said.

Discussions on Thursday included everything from the overall site layout to specific items such as lighting, grading plans, traffic and parking all of which members of the plan commission had asked for further clarification during a Jan. 29 meeting.

In terms of overall layout, everything seems to meet all zoning requirements, Elling said.

Those requirements include setbacks and building heights, Elling said, adding that it appears the plan of operation meets all the requirements as well.

The project first proposed for the town in 2004, but held up by a prolonged legal battle until a settlement in August includes a 593,000-square-foot, 110-bed hospital and 180,000-square-foot medical office building and replacement for the Wilkinson Clinic.

If plans continue to move forward, construction could begin as early as spring for an expected completion date of 2009. The hospital is part of a larger health and wellness development envisioned by Pabst Farms officials.

Some of the items on the agenda that needed further clarification included more detailed architectural information and a more detailed traffic plan, which Elling said will come from the Wisconsin Department of Transportation.

Im pleased that the plan commission had enough information from Aurora to review and make decisions, he said. This commission has a lot of experts on it, which makes a big difference. They did their homework, and that will make it easier for the board members to decide.

Michael Scholl, vice president of Hammes Corporation, the design firm for Aurora, said he looks forward to meeting with board members March 1.

I think it went well, Scholl said.