Broadlands Hospital

I asked above but I'll ask again. If the board turns down the zoning change, on what grounds will HCA sue and "probably win"? If the due process for a zoning change is that the board must approve, then that's the way it is. The legal precedent of a judge overturning a county government decision when all the rules (local, state, federal, etc.) were followed and no rules (local, state, federal, etc.) broken is kinda scary.

 

Because it is a land use issue. If you look at land use issues voted on in the past, similiar ones have passed with no questions or concerns.

 

I agree. I think it is extremely unlikely HCA would win in court.

 

Does he offer anything other than his "feelings" so support his opinion that if the hospital is not built in broadlands the emergency room won't be build on Route 50?

Or is this more scare tactics?

 

It is a proffer the HCA has offered as part of the package. So you don't get one you don't get the other. And seeing how INOVA just put in for a new COPN to expand the lansdowne campus not rt 50 campus where they have already been granted the needed special exception. I would say it is more of a fact then a feeling.

Staci

 

Thought this might provide a balance to his email...

URGENT NEWS FROM RT50HOSPITAL NOW!


Important Update

At 5:30pm on Sunday, Feb 1, Supervisor Miller issued a constituent email in which he states: "If the board does not approve BRMC on Tuesday, it is also passing up a guaranteed emergency room on Route 50 at the same time."

Based on the BRMC proffer language, there is NO guarantee of an emergency room. On page 5 of the BRMC Proffer, (A-15 of the Loudoun County Staff Report) it reads:

In an effort to expand healthcare services for residents in the southern portion of the County, the Developer shall use commercially reasonable efforts to establish and open a freestanding emergency department or other healthcare facility on or near the Route 50 corridor (the "Route 50 Facility") no later than twelve (12) months following the date of the issuance of the first occupancy permit for the hospital building to be constructed as part of the Medical Campus pursuant to SPEX 2008-0028. In the event an occupancy permit for the Route 50 Facility has not been issued within the timeframe set forth in this Proffer, then the Applicant shall be required to pay to the County the sum of $250,000.00 to be used for regional transportation improvements along Route 659 between the Dulles Greenway and Route 50. If applicable, such payment shall be made within sixty (60) days of the date on which it becomes due under the terms of this Proffer. Once an occupancy permit for the Route 50 Facility has been issued or, alternatively, the required payment made, the Developer shall have no further obligations under this Proffer.


The option of paying $250,000 seems to make this an unguaranteed commitment. It would be cheaper to pay the lump sum than develop an emergency room & populate it with equipment & staff. Also, there is no mention of a helipad. We don't believe Dulles South should "settle" for a possible emergency facility.



The BRMC application should be denied based on the many problems associated with it as outlined here at our website. The denial is appropriate per the County's Comprehensive Plan. A denial is not the end of the world and will open up the very real possibility that the county will still get a new hospital (with the inherent tax revenue and new jobs) in a much more desirable, underserved, location like Dulles South via one of the following scenarios:


1. HCA will use this form to either request an extension from the State of Virginia on their Broadlands COPN with the risk being that the State won't grant them any more extensions

OR HCA will ask for a "Significant Change Request" (same form) to a Dulles South location on Route 50

OR HCA will withdraw.

2. If HCA loses their COPN, Inova will apply for a COPN for a phased full-service hospital at their site on Route 50, which up until now they could not apply for since HCA held the Broadlands COPN. It probably won't have the same number of beds that Broadlands will have, but will be sized appropriately for our area, and will grow accordingly over time.


We continue to believe that approval of BRMC will delay a full-service hospital for Dulles South for years to come. As always we are not advocating for or against any one healthcare provider.

The bottom line is we want to strongly encourage the Loudoun County Board of Supervisors to uphold the Countywide Health Care Facilities Plan of the Loudoun County Comprehensive Plan.

Tomorrow is your last chance to send an email to the Board at BOS@loudoun.gov and ask them to please deny BRMC and put the next hospital in Loudoun County on Route 50!

Thank you for your continued involvement!!!!
Lisa Freeman & Barbara Munsey

 

Of course it is not guaranteed -- the facility would have to undergo an approval process, and HCA can not possibly guarantee that they would be able to obtain the necessary approvals. (Especially in a business-hostile political environment like Loudoun county.)

I certainly think HCA would prefer to build an emergency facility which will generate revenue as opposed to making any sort of lump sum payment to the county. It's simply a contingency that would allow them to satisfy their proffer if they are unable to obtain the necessary approvals.

 

This is the best that Donna's "Inova only" and Barbara's "it's all about Rte 50" crowd can come up with.
If there is any ambiguity in the language, the Board should tighten it up to eliminate any doubt that this facility will be built.
Donna and Barbara are suddenly worrying because this information is finally reaching the ears of the Rte 50 corridor residents and they are now supporting it.

Let's look at the options...HCA's free standing emergency service department that will be the first step towards expansion into a full service hospital or.......Inova's plans to construct an office building that may become a hospital in as yet to be determined "Phase 2."

What both companies are saying is very consistent....the Rte 50 corridor is not yet ready for a full service hospital. So those residents should ask themselves what they want....an emergency department or an office building.
I think Donna and Barbara are the only two excited about an office building.

 

HCA will do whatever is best for the corporation and shareholders so if the investment in a new emergency facility is in their business plan then that's what they will do. The small fee of $250k will not sway them one way or the other. Its just part of the cost (proffer) of getting this package approved.

Assuming the text pasted in Donna F's post about the wording in the proffer is true, then I find Miller's statement "If the board does not approve BRMC on Tuesday, it is also passing up a guaranteed emergency room on Route 50 at the same time." very disturbing. He's either misleading to the point of lying or misinformed, both of which is bad position for a Supervisor. Again, this is assuming that the true text of proffer states that it is not guaranteed.

 

I actually only have a very simple, non-partisan question.

Will this issue ever be resolved?

 

I hope it will be decided one way or the other tomorrow. Let's just make the decision and get on with life.

No matter how the decision will go, it won't be as bad as some fear nor as good as some hope.

But we will all survive.

 

I haven't really been involved in all of this but this morning I just want to say that I personally think that if BRMC isn't approved its a big loss to the community and surrounding area. And all because people with narrow viewpoints (they live next door, they work for the competition) have been able to control the agenda. Before it even gets decided I want to thank everyone out there who devoted time and effort to being the voice for all of us who support BRMC. And for being a voice of balance for those who have no opinion on the issue.

 

Not all people who oppose the hospital have narrow viewpoints, but I am sure they appreciate the insulting over generalization.

Is it so hard to accept that people may have different opinions about an issue?

 

Ozgood: THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU!!! You said it perfectly! Snaps for Ozgood.

 

T8ergirl's comment was clearly directed to people with narrow viewpoints who have controlled the agenda and was not an "insulting over generalization [sic]" towards anyone opposed to the hospital.

Careful reading/attention to detail...good.
Jumping to wrong conclusions and attacking someone for something they didn't do or say...bad.


And the worst part is you got someone to pile on and agree with your misreading of the quote. (Did you ever play the classic Lemmings video game (http://www.elizium.nu/scripts/lemmings/). I loved that game!)