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The proposed Tahoe Forest Hospital 34,000 square foot cancer center will front Donner Pass Road and will be located in a space where the hospital business offices and several non-permanent structures are currently located. Voter-approved Measure C will fund all aspects of the $98 million hospital expansion. Courtesy images |
CommentsSpecial Districts Updates
(15 July to 11 August)
By Beth IngallsPublished: July 19, 2010
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Hospital Poised To Go Big
After extending the public comment period until July 6 on the Mitigated Negative Declaration document for Tahoe Forest Hospital District’s $98 million expansion project, the board will consider final approval of the document at their July 27 meeting. If adopted, the district can begin phase one of the project without any further studies or additional mitigation measures for the environmental, traffic, or parking-related impacts that the project might create.
The first phase, which could begin as soon as early August, would include the demolition and relocation of the hospital business offices along Donner Pass Road. Phase 2 includes the expansion of the central utility plant, the addition of a skilled nursing facility, and the project’s centerpiece, the construction of a $29 million, 34,000 square foot cancer center fronting Donner Pass Road. Phase 2 could start in late summer if estimated timetables are adhered to.
In a series of informational meetings conducted in May and June, neighborhood residents voiced concerns over what they considered poor public outreach by hospital staff on the project. Gateway residents Meg Copeland and her son Richard were the most vocal. “I’m a 46-year resident,” Copeland said, “and the hospital is very important to me. There simply has not been adequate outreach on this expansion.” Parking overflow and increased traffic is also a concern to some residents in the Gateway neighborhood.
John Eaton, representing the Mountain Area Preservation Foundation, wanted to see the mitigated negative declaration reviewed by an outside agency. “The organization doing the project is the reviewing the project. It’s a fox in the henhouse situation,” Eaton said.
If the board approves the document July 27, the design of the expansion and other aspects of the project will still be subject to Town review and the public will have an opportunity to comment at various stages. Info: Maia Schneider, mschneider@tfhd.com, (530) 582-6313
Donner Summit Inches Closer to New Wastewater Plant
A joint committee comprised of Donner Summit PUD and Sierra Lakes Water District board members approved a wastewater facilities plan at their July 10 meeting. The action sets in motion a process that will lead to an eventual $20 million upgrade and expansion of the existing treatment plant. The facility, which currently does not meet state mandates because of high levels of ammonia and nitrates discharged into the Yuba River, has until April 2014 to comply.
The new plant, in addition to improving treatment capability, will expand capacity from 200,000 gallons to 750,000 gallons per day. Ratepayers will see an estimated 2.3 to 3.2 percent increase in their bills to help pay for the plant.
There will be an extensive environmental review process and plenty of opportunity for public involvement as the project moves forward. Info: dspud.com
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