Before Thursday’s Lyon County Commission meeting, Stormont-Vail Health said any move to change zoning code language could potentially “restrict and harm our Emporia providers.”
Commissioners are set to vote on zoning code text changes replacing all references to hospitals with “Licensed Medical Facilities,” as well as adding definitions for different facilities and adding text for site plans, services and applicability to the area. The Lyon County Planning and Appeals Board voted unanimously to recommend the changes last week.
In an email to KVOE News, Stormont Vice President of Marketing & Communications Anita Fry says it’s not the time to “be invoking restrictive zoning ordinances” after Stormont bought property at Roads 180 and G this past spring and successfully asked Emporia city commissioners to annex the property last month. Fry says the $44 million facility being proposed will offer a state-of-the-art clinic for Stormont staff while providing jobs and economic development at a time when the local economy is resetting after the closure announcements of Holiday Resort and Tyson earlier this month, adding the care it provides could attract new businesses to the area.
The email did not give a status update on the project, including whether Stormont plans to seek city zoning as a way to move its plan forward.
KVOE and KVOE.com will continue to have updates on this situation.
