ROCK SPRINGS – After two months of negotiations, Memorial Hospital of Sweetwater County took the first step in getting city parking standards for medical office buildings changed. On Wednesday, Memorial Hospital of Sweetwater County Chief Executive Officer Jerry Klein spoke about the process.

For two months, the hospital has been working with the Rock Springs Planning and Zoning Commission about city ordinances addressing parking spaces and city ordinances. The hospital originally brought it up to the commission in August and it was tabled so everyone could take a deeper look at the issue.

This was originally brought forward to the city as MHSC has been exploring more expansion with an ambulatory surgery center. Current city ordinance requires 1.5 parking spaces per 1,000 square feet for hospitals but jumps to 5 spaces per 1,000 for medical office buildings and other healthcare facilities which would also include the possible new surgery center. There is also a 10 percent reduction for gross floor space which is not used such as hallways and bathrooms.

Plan One Architect Charles Van Over, who has been working with MHSC, told the P&Z Commission with the way the hospital was built there is about 38 percent of the square footage which is not usable. This would lower the required spaces.

Van Over also explained with the possible expansion, the city ordinance would require the hospital to provide 922 parking spaces on the campus.

At the August meeting, Rock Springs Assistant City Planner Brian Heaton did propose to change the medical office requirements to 5 for every 1,000 sq. ft. to 4 for every 1,000 sq. ft. but the commission moved to table it to look at it further. Also at the meeting, the commission requsted the hospital to do a 30-day study to be done on the currently parking lot useage at MHSC.

In September, the commission and hospital met again to continue the negotiations. The hospital presented the findings on the study. The study started at 10 a.m. daily. Klein explained 10 a.m. was chosen because that is the peak time for the hospital.

On weekday’s, the hospital parking area was only 63 percent full. On the busiest day of the study, the parking lot was three-quarters full. During the weekend, the number dropped to 17 percent full.

With the results of the study, Heaton recommended it be dropped from 5 spaces for every 1,000 sq. ft. to 3.6 for every square foot. Also, Heaton said the changes to the ordinance would also include the wording which would allow the commission to lower it another 30 percent if they felt it was justified. Heaton said it would be up to the applicant to prove it would be justified.

In September, the Planning and Zoning Commission did approve a change. It will now go to the Rock Springs CIty Council for more discussion.

On Wednesday, Klein presented the study results to the board and also spoke about the process. He said the negotiations went well and they will continue to work with the city to get these changes made. This will go to council and be an ordinance change which will have to have a public hearing and go through three readings before the council will take action on the change.

Power capacity 

While not related to the parking issue but to the expansion, Klein also spoke about recent talks with Rocky Mountain Power. Klein said they have been working with RMP to look at the possible expansion and power issues revolving around the expansion.

Since they were already discussing power issues, Klein explained they also wanted Rocky Mountain Power to look at the power capacity and capabilities to see if the campus could handle the new surgery center.

Klein said there is some disagreement with the access of power to the campus. He said they have been told it feeds in from College Drive, across Skyline and under the helipad. Klein said Van Over did not fully agree with this.

To get these questions answered, the hospital would have to pay RMP $10,000 to $15,000 for a study to be done. The Buildings and Grounds Committee did approve the study to be done but the MHSC Board would also have to approve it.

“Regardless of what happens in the future with the expansion, We need to know the power capacity on the property,” board member Harry Horn said.

The board did approve for the study to be done.

Plans of the surgery center and the state

In another discussion, Klein also brought up working with the state on the plans for the expansion. He said they submitted the plans for the surgery center to the state in July. The hospital was told the plans had been received but were under the impression the plans failed.

Klein said Plan One called to ask about the progress of the plans and the state informed them they had lost the plans and new ones would have to be submitted. Klein said they submitted new plans last Friday.