Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Planning Code Hospitals topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Planning Commission agrees to initiate zoning change to let hospitals add rooftop mechanicals; St. Francis to request exemption
Summary
Commission initiated a Planning Code amendment to allow rooftop mechanical‑equipment height exemptions for hospitals that are legally nonconforming with height limits, at the request of St. Francis Memorial Hospital; an adoption hearing was scheduled for Nov. 13.
The Planning Commission on Oct. 8 voted to initiate a privately sponsored amendment to the Planning Code that would allow hospitals that predate current height limits to add necessary rooftop mechanical equipment.
Planner Kanishka Burns said the proposal would amend Planning Code Section 2.60 to permit rooftop features for hospitals that are non‑complying with height rules, subject to qualifications. The request is sponsored by Saint Francis Memorial Hospital, which seeks the exemption to complete an expansion of its burn and trauma services.
Abby Yant, vice president for mission advocacy and community health at Saint Francis Memorial Hospital, said the hospital operates the city's regional burn center and serves more than 500 patients a year. She said the exemption is intended to allow installation of equipment needed for an expansion of the burn center to maintain capacity.
Commissioners asked that any initiation include a condition encouraging removal of obsolete rooftop equipment and consideration of low‑profile units where feasible. The commission voted unanimously to initiate the ordinance and schedule an adoption hearing for Nov. 13.
Initiation begins the required notice period and does not constitute approval of the ordinance's substantive elements, which will be discussed at the adoption hearing.
