Commission backs special-exception permit for county emergency medical rescue facility, forwards to Board of Supervisors

The Washington County Planning Commission unanimously recommended that the Board of Supervisors approve a special-exception permit allowing construction of an emergency medical rescue squad office and facilities on approximately 5.7 acres adjacent to 13306 Owens Drive in the Blaine Highlands Industrial Park.

Planning staff described a county need for additional emergency medical services coverage in the Glade area and said there is currently no volunteer agency operating from a facility in that zone. Mr. Richardson told commissioners the county owns the parcel in the industrial park and would like to construct a staffed facility there. Kevin Hill, director of general services for the county, was identified as the project manager who will oversee design and construction.

The facility concept presented to the commission calls for a 24-hour, year-round staffed operation ready to respond to medical calls; the applicant estimated the construction schedule would run roughly 400 days from start to finish if the special exception is granted. Neighborhood comment at the hearing was supportive: Vita DeBoard, an adjacent landowner, said she and her husband “think that's a wonderful idea…because the area does need that.”

The commission moved to forward the permit to the Board of Supervisors, which will consider it at its April 8 meeting at 6:30 p.m.