It won’t happen anytime soon — if at all — but changes are possible for some types of health care facilities in Concord Township. Council members Tuesday night voted 5-1 to authorize advertising of a possible ordinance change that could allow overnight stays at facilities that offer knee and hip replacement. Currently the procedures are on an outpatient basis for such facilities that aren’t hospitals in the township.
The ordinance change request came from Astoria Kennet, a business that wants to open a health center on Route 202 in the township. Attorney Gina Gerber, representing the client, said any overnight stay would be for no longer than 48 hours. She also said the Delaware County Planning Department has already recommended approval.
However, any approval on the township level is a long way off. Council President Dominic Pileggi said the matter on the table Tuesday night was only about authorizing the advertisement for a hearing on the ordinance amendment. And even should Council approve that change after the hearing, Astoria Kennet would still have to go through two more approval processes, conditional use and land development.
“All this does is start the ordinance review process,” he said adding, “This presents a redevelopment opportunity along Route 202.”
Council member Joshua Twersky objected, saying such a change would “open the door” for other healthcare facilities, other than hospitals, to have patients stay overnight as opposed to being treated strictly on an outpatient basis.
Twersky went further in a private message after the meeting:
“Via a zoning text amendment, Astoria Kennet is attempting, among other things, to change the definition of a “Health Center” under section 210-4 of the Concord Township zoning code to allow for the overnight patient stays it desires at its new building, however, the feebly written definition could open allhealth care facilities in the township to such use. We must stop this Frankenstein type approach to zoning that has become all too familiar in Concord Township,” he said.
A hearing date will be announced. During the hearing, members of the public will have a chance to voice their opinions.
Other business
• A conditional use hearing for La Fava restaurant will be held in October. The restaurant wants approval for outdoor seating.
• Concord Township’s Community Day is this coming Saturday, Sept. 7, from 4 p.m. until dusk at the township park on Smithbridge Road. The township park parking lot will be closed. Fireworks are scheduled for dusk.
About Rich Schwartzman
Rich Schwartzman has been reporting on events in the greater Chadds Ford area since September 2001 when he became the founding editor of The Chadds Ford Post. In April 2009 he became managing editor of ChaddsFordLive. He is also an award-winning photographer.
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