The proposed building moratorium for the Nov. 2 ballot could halt the construction of a cardiovascular and diabetes center at O'Bleness Memorial Hospital, the third phase of their four-phase expansion project.
Richard Castrop, president of the hospital, said the unclear language of the proposed ordinance leaves the hospital unsure if they could obtain a building permit to add the center onto the hospital. The construction would require an additional 5,000 square feet of land to the10,000 square feet already available to build on.
The moratorium, which would prohibit commercial construction on green space in Athens for 18 months, is intended to allow completion time for the Athens city comprehensive plan and the Wellhead Protection Plan, said Chris Knisely, one of three women to petition for the ordinance.
She said that she and members from the Athens Initiative for Smart Growth believe the 18-month moratorium is short enough to guide city growth without impeding it.
The initiative would allow breathing time for both of these plans
Knisely said.
But Jennifer Simon, president of the Economic Development Council at the Athens Area Chamber of Commerce said that in 18 months the city could lose existing businesses and business prospects.
Castrop said the hospital already signed for a million-dollar cardiac catheterization lab, a piece of technology slightly larger than an X-ray lab, for the new center and may have to delay the order or return it if they are unable to build.
Castrop said they intend for the center to provide a central location for all the heart and diabetes services O'Bleness offers.
Simon said she believes there is cause for concern if O'Bleness cannot continue their expansion on schedule.
The main killers of people in Appalachia are cardiovascular disease and diabetes she said. Our hospital is trying to build programs to fight this disease.
She said although she believes the Initiative for Smart Growth had good intentions when proposing the moratorium, she does not believe they thought through
all the issues. For example, the new center would provide new jobs for people in Athens and surrounding areas.
Castrop said he did not think the makers of the ordinance intended to halt the hospital's expansion, but he said it does not contain a provision of appeal.
If I could change a few words here or there I wouldn't have a problem with it
he said.
But, he said, it's the language
not the intentions that the public will vote on in November.
If passed, Knisely said the initiative could be amended. She also suggested the hospital utilize other facilities during the18-month moratorium period.
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