Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the School Facilities Health Partnerships topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Board hears preliminary plan with Penn Medicine for on-site clinic; zoning, costs flagged as hurdles
Summary
Board members were briefed on talks with Penn Medicine about an on-site clinic. Staff said an "open" model that allows outside providers would likely require a zoning variance, legal support and possible site engineering; the board asked Penn Medicine about financial contributions before spending district funds on permitting.
The Conestoga Valley School District board discussed a potential partnership with Penn Medicine to host an on-site medical clinic, but staff warned that an open-model clinic could trigger zoning and cost complications that would need resolution before moving forward.
"Because of that, it would require a zoning variance," said Mrs. Hunt Seer, the district representative giving the update. She told the board that township officials view an "open" clinicone that would allow other HealthWorks network providers to use the spaceas a change in principal use and that approving it is a high bar.
Mrs. Hunt Seer said pursuing the variance would likely require hiring a land-use attorney and might eventually involve site engineers to prepare plans for the application. She also said the district had not yet contacted the assessorand that a portion of the former district office could potentially become taxable if rezoned.
Board members said they want Penn Medicine to clarify what costs or contribution it would make before the district commits to legal or engineering fees. "I'm done before we are hiring attorneys," one board member said, urging the district to exhaust free information from Penn Medicine and township staff first.
District staff noted an alternative: if an exclusive model were negotiated with the health system (restricted to employees and family), a zoning variance might not be required. The board asked staff to follow up with Penn Medicine on feasibility, financial support and whether an exclusive model was an option; staff said they would return the item to a future agenda after gathering that information.
