Mon Mar 22 2010
by Emily Canning-Dean
Reporter
Twinsburg -- The Cleveland Clinic says it had already submitted further changes to a site plan for its proposed $71 million outpatient surgery and medical office building on Route 91, even before the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency sent it a second letter requesting such changes.
Ohio EPA Director Chris Korleski sent the hospital system a letter Oct. 31 expressing concerns regarding the project's potential impact on wetlands and streams on the 86-acre property. The Cleveland Clinic had submitted revised plans in September, in response to the agency's first request for plan revisions.
"We acknowledge that the clinic's most recent plans further reduce direct construction impacts on wetlands and streams, and we are pleased with the progress we have made on that issue," Korleski stated in the letter. "However, the flow of ground water to the streams and wetlands on the property, and the acknowledged uncertainty as to whether the proposed construction significantly impairs ground water quality and flow, continues to be the Ohio EPA's top concern."
Korleski offered some suggestions in the letter to help reduce environmental impact on the site, such as building a parking garage as opposed to a large surface parking lot. He also suggested that the actual construction site be moved to another location of the property where there would be less of a disruption to groundwater flow.
Heather Phillips, spokesperson for the Cleveland Clinic, said the clinic had already made some revisions to its plans and submitted them Oct. 31 before receiving the EPA's letter.
"We made some minor adjustments, such as revising the location of the building and moving a portion of the parking lot to avoid the wetland in question," Phillips said. "We are very committed to the sustainable aspects of this project and we are confident this will fully fill their expectations."
Phillips said the clinic is waiting to hear back from the EPA.
Larry Finch, director of community planning and development, said he expects the planning commission will once again review revised plans from the clinic within the next few weeks. He said the commission must again recommend the site plan to Council if it is revised.
If the OEPA approves the revised plans, they must be submitted to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers for final approval. Cleveland Clinic officials said construction of the four-story, 170,000-square-foot facility expected to employ up to 300 people would begin shortly after that with projected completion by 2010.
E-mail: ecanning@recordpub.com
Phone: 330-688-0088 ext. 3172
Comments
By Posting to this site, you agree to our Terms of Service Be polite.
Inappropriate posts may be removed.
Twinsburgbulletin.com doesn't necessarily condone the comments here, nor does it review every post.
Login above or Register to comment.
0 Total Comments Home | Back
Copyright Record Publishing Co, LLC. 1995-2010. All Rights Reserved.
Content may not be republished without the expressed written consent of the publisher.
Content may not be republished without the expressed written consent of the publisher.
Dix Communications