|
|
|
By a 5-1 vote Monday, Feb. 1, the Hinsdale Village Board approved Adventist Hinsdale Hospital’s request to build a helistop atop the hospital’s existing parking deck as part of the hospital’s proposed $75 million expansion project.
“We are gratified with the outcome,” said David Crane, CEO of Adventist Hinsdale Hospital following the vote. “I think it is an acknowledgment of the village and the residents doing the right thing,” Crane said.
Trustee Kimberly Angelo cast the lone vote against the plan, saying he had concerns over the track record of emergency medical helicopter flights.
But the arguments made by hospital staff and experts detailing the need to improve response time for critically ill patients outweighed the negatives, other trustees said.
“I think there were concerns the use of the helistop might be expanded, and its use could become a matter of convenience over life-saving necessity,” said Trustee Doug Geoga. “But the language added by the ZPS Committee to the ordinance allowing us to review its use after two years says we can police it. I believe that if used with discretion, giving it a try seems to be a reasonable step.”
For the past several months the hospital’s plan to add a 105,000-square-foot patient wing to the existing hospital site, at 120 N. Oak St., had been under review, and had received its share of support and criticism.
But on Monday the Village Board — following previous approvals by the Zoning and Public Safety Committee and the Plan Commission — approved a text amendment allowing a special use permit for the helistop, as well as an exterior appearance and site plan review.
Hospital officials say construction could begin as early as April, although the helistop still requires approval by the Federal Aviation Administration and the Aeronautics Division of the Illinois Department of Transportation.
“This was just one step in the process (for the helistop),” Crane said. “The FAA and IDOT are next.”
By a 5-1 vote Monday, Feb. 1, the Hinsdale Village Board approved Adventist Hinsdale Hospital’s request to build a helistop atop the hospital’s existing parking deck as part of the hospital’s proposed $75 million expansion project.
“We are gratified with the outcome,” said David Crane, CEO of Adventist Hinsdale Hospital following the vote. “I think it is an acknowledgment of the village and the residents doing the right thing,” Crane said.
Trustee Kimberly Angelo cast the lone vote against the plan, saying he had concerns over the track record of emergency medical helicopter flights.
But the arguments made by hospital staff and experts detailing the need to improve response time for critically ill patients outweighed the negatives, other trustees said.
“I think there were concerns the use of the helistop might be expanded, and its use could become a matter of convenience over life-saving necessity,” said Trustee Doug Geoga. “But the language added by the ZPS Committee to the ordinance allowing us to review its use after two years says we can police it. I believe that if used with discretion, giving it a try seems to be a reasonable step.”
For the past several months the hospital’s plan to add a 105,000-square-foot patient wing to the existing hospital site, at 120 N. Oak St., had been under review, and had received its share of support and criticism.
But on Monday the Village Board — following previous approvals by the Zoning and Public Safety Committee and the Plan Commission — approved a text amendment allowing a special use permit for the helistop, as well as an exterior appearance and site plan review.
Hospital officials say construction could begin as early as April, although the helistop still requires approval by the Federal Aviation Administration and the Aeronautics Division of the Illinois Department of Transportation.
“This was just one step in the process (for the helistop),” Crane said. “The FAA and IDOT are next.”
