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Committee forwards Valley Health master plan update amid proffer and traffic concerns
Summary
Valley Health presented a master development plan update for its Amherst Street campus, proposing a Medical Office Building, surgery expansion and future garages. Staff estimated a 6% campus traffic increase at build‑out and that up to 10% of new trips could use Linden Drive; committee members questioned the sufficiency and indexing of a $100,000 proffer, pedestrian access and parking and forwarded the item to Council with no recommendation.
The committee reviewed a master development plan amendment from Valley Health that would add a Medical Office Building (MOB3), an expanded surgery wing and two future garages to the hospital campus at 840 Amherst Street. Staff described the project as a rezoning/update to the master plan and noted the submission includes a revised proffer list dated June 2 that would supersede prior proffers.
Planning staff summarized Valley Health’s traffic estimate for full build‑out: "they'd be looking at a 6% increase in overall traffic, and a 10% of that new traffic could... use the Linden Drive entrance," staff said. That projection prompted questions about access control, pedestrian connections and whether the proffer amount (a $100,000 contribution for future street improvements) is adequate or should be indexed to construction costs.
Valley Health’s representative, Mark Baker, said the health system aims to be “a good community partner” and is open to working with staff on acceptable proffer language and pedestrian improvements but asked for clarity on what the City would consider adequate. Committee members pressed for clearer commitments on the Linden Drive access (restricted access gate, employee access, indexing of the monetary proffer) and asked for more detail about parking, garage height limits, and how the proposed Linden Drive sidewalk and a natural‑surface trail would be implemented.
After extended discussion about timing, proffer sufficiency and the balance between aspirational plan concepts and practical mitigation of impacts, the committee voted to forward the master plan amendment to City Council with no recommendation, so the full Council may address outstanding concerns and proffer negotiations.
