Lakeview Hospital still seeking expansion

The hospital is again trying to get approval from Stillwater city officials to make its campus larger.

By ALLIE SHAH, Star Tribune

Last update: August 16, 2008 - 8:56 PM

For the second time in recent months, Minnesota's second-oldest hospital is trying to get the green light from Stillwater city officials to move forward with a planned expansion.

As the population in the east metro area and western Wisconsin grows and ages, Lakeview Hospital is positioning itself to become a regional health center. The expansion is a key part of that goal.

Earlier this year, hospital officials had been talking with Lake Elmo leaders about a potential move. But the hospital board of directors decided this summer to pursue an expansion plan for the existing campus, located at 927 Churchill St. W.

"Our first preference is to remain on the current site, subject to city approval to enable us to do that," said Curt Geissler, president of Lakeview Hospital.

On Friday, representatives from BWBR Architects, the St. Paul firm hired by the hospital, submitted paperwork to the city that, if approved, would allow Lakeview to go forward.

A public hearing is expected Sept. 8 at the city's planning commission meeting.

The proposed expansion would happen in four phases, with the first construction phase beginning next spring.

That would include a two-story addition for more operating rooms, an oncology center and an endoscopy center.

The plans submitted Friday include changes to address concerns raised at a neighborhood meeting held a few weeks ago.

"We made a couple concessions," said Pete Smith, a partner at BWBR Architects. One, he said, was moving the addition back so that it's farther from the street. Another was to reduce the addition's height. The original long-range plan called for building on top of the addition in subsequent phases, which would create a second, third and fourth floor.

"We put that down to three stories and lopped a whole floor off the proposal," Smith said.

Still at issue is what effect the expansion, which is within a residential neighborhood, would have on traffic.

The hospital has been in that spot since the early 1960s, a time when space wasn't so tight, said Bill Turnblad, the city's community development director.

"It grew up there," he said. "When it started it was small and there weren't many neighbors around there. It's grown over time, but so has the neighborhood. So they're now shoe-horned into a small box. The challenge is, can that small box meet their needs for the next 30 years?"

Hospital officials sought a zoning change last winter that would allow them to expand on the property. That effort stalled amid concerns from both neighbors and city council members. At the time, hospital leaders agreed to withdraw their request for a zoning change and work on some of the issues raised.

Meanwhile, Lake Elmo officials are watching the process. And waiting.

"Lakeview Hospital clearly has an interest in staying in Stillwater, but they need some cooperation in order to do that," said Lake Elmo Mayor Dean Johnston. "And Lake Elmo being very near and very inexpensive relatively speaking is a great bargaining chip.

"We've always recognized that our chances of getting Lakeview Hospital are 50-50 at best. We're just sitting back and letting the process play out. We're merely spectators.

"We have an incredible location," Johnston said. "If they choose to come, we'll probably welcome them with open arms. If they decide to stay, we'll be happy they're in the neighborhood."

Allie Shah • 651-298-1550.