Staff writer
Plans for a new hospital in Hillsboro took a step forward Thursday when Hillsboro Planning Commission recommended rezoning land in Hillsboro Business Park for the project.
The city petitioned the commission on behalf of HMC/CAH Consolidated, Inc. of Kansas City for the zone change.
The company announced its intent June 18 to purchase Hillsboro Community Medical Center and build a new $10 million 15-bed facility.
The planned hospital will be at the intersection of U.S.-56 and Industrial Road, northeast of Hillsboro.
The land is zoned for heavy industrial use. The planning commission recommended rezoning it to highway commercial.
There were no public comments or written correspondence for or against the zone change.
The recommendation will go before Hillsboro City Council in mid-April, City Administrator Larry Paine said. A 14-day protest period is required before the council can take action.
In other business:
- The final plat of the hospital project was approved. Engineer Bob Previtera of Reiss & Goodness Engineers of Wichita said the project includes four lots. One lot will be the site of the hospital. A medical office building, ambulance services, and a retention pond are planned for the other lots.
- Commission member Craig Roble was recommended to fill a vacant seat on the Hillsboro Board of Zoning Appeals.