What Potsdam Citizens Need to Know About the Proposed Health Care ZoneQuestions and Answers5/5/09 The Village Comprehensive Plan calls for a Health Care Zone. How many options for one were evaluated?Only one option for a health care zone was even discussed, let alone scrutinized, which was the one the hospital preferred in its own backyard. No formal public analysis, whether economic, transportation, tax, or environmental has ever been conducted of that or any other location.What is the environmental impact on the neighborhood and community, not only immediately but over a 10 year period - when the hospital grows and substantial commercial expansion onto Waverly Street is expected?No one knows. No environmental analysis has been provided to the village planning board, county planning board, village board or public. (The "environmental assessment form" submitted is actually just a simple administrative filing form - see EAF Potsdam) Nevertheless a vote is forecast after a village hearing May 18th.Is it too late?No, in fact the haste of this process makes it far too early to make a final decision. The impact of this decision will be felt for many years to come in Potsdam, it is a huge planning decision that has received little real scrutiny and little debate outside the local neighborhood.No actual environmental review has ever been performed. The actual rezoning document has only been before the village board for a few weeks, and there has been no discussion of its merits or weaknesses.And the hospital itself has said most of its planned expansions will only take place over a three to five year period, not right away.Is it possible to do a phased relocation of the hospital to the former Clarkson Campus?Probably. Clarkson President Tony Collins and Hospital CEO David Acker scheduled a confidential meeting in January about the relocation, but without public pressure no information has been released, and no pressure to seriously explore it was forthcoming from public officials. (The planned meeting was divulged to this organizer by Dr. Collins.)SUNY "Teachers College" and Clarkson both migrated to better campuses in the past to everyone's major benefit.Chances are the conservative predilection of an institution like the hospital to preserve its independence prevented the idea from being pursued seriously, despite its many potential benefits such as central village location on major local highways. Is there a good compromise available now?Yes. Permit the hospital to demolish some homes for parking while exploring a future relocation to the better-situated potential Health Care Zone on the old Clarkson University campus.Wouldn't all the parties be looking out for the best interests of the community?This has been a case of the foxes guarding the chicken coop. Canton-Potsdam Hospital is a private institution -- a very commendable one -- whose main focus is healthcare, not the environment or local planning. It has been up to the village agencies to analyze the hospitals plans, preferences and data.But no formal analyses were ever performed on any of the issues surrounding the Health Care Zone - economic, financial, or even environmental, as of two weeks before a probable vote. Several members of the village board expressed automatic support for the zone before the process even began, and planning board members acted unanimously despite a complete absence of independent or formal analysis of the proposal, and overwhelming public testimony in opposition. The plan was approved by the county planning board with no public hearing or prior announcement, and no formal analysis of the environmental or other questions. Despite overwhelming criticism from nearby neighbors, and the resignation of the long-time chairwoman of the village Zoning Board in protest, the decisions so far have been taken with little justification or debate, and no formal analysis. Why can't Canton-Potsdam Hospital just build a parking garage and reuse its current space?No one knows. No economic analysis has been provided about the feasibility of financing and running that option. The idea was dismissed without debate or data by the planning board chairman at an early meeting. Isn't a new hospital cost-prohibitive?The hospital estimates in documents on its website the cost of a new hospital is $75 to $100 million. But that is a gross figure, not taking into account energy and technological efficiencies that result from a modern rebuild.It may sound like a lot of money -- but the hospital is already budgeting at least $30 million for simply renovating and expanding its current buildings, according to figures from the New York State Economic Recovery Cabinet (http://www. recovery.ny. gov/ assets /pdf/ internet_20090325.pdf at page 587). Substantial funding can be tapped from other potential partners in a medical/healthcare/education complex easily imagined for the old Clarkson campus involving Clarkson, SUNY, and regional agencies. In this day and age, $100 million is not a large amount of money for governments and large institutions. The hospital's current campus is a valuable, prime residential property that if reused could provide a significant financial resource, and a further economic boon for Potsdam.What can be done now?The village board must defer a vote on the proposal until proper debate and analysis has taken place. (As it is now a vote may occur May 18th. The hearing starts at 7 PM.)People must start calling village board members and other officials (see the village website http:// www .vi. potsdam .ny .us/ elect.html), write more letters to the editor, and attend village board meetings.PotsdamSmartGrowth.org will hold an information meeting on Saturday, May 16th at 6:15 PM in the Village Community Room. (Check our home-page for updated meeting dates.Additional announcements will be made on the website, PotsdamSmartGrowth.org.=============================Originally prepared 5/5/09by Richard Brummel, OrganizerPotsdam Smart Growth(315) 265-2615rb.1006@yahoo.comPotsdamSmartGrowth.org |