As a neighbor of the Wood County Hospital, I would like to make sure the rest of the hospital’s neighbors
understand the ramifications of the proposed zoning change from S-3 Planned Institutional to I-1. The
main effect is that it removes the requirement for public comment on any proposed hospital expansions.
This means that the neighbors would have no ability to make comment to the planning commission or
council about hospital plans that will influence their quality of life and property values. It looks to
me as if the current hospital administration simply wants to remove its pesky neighbors from the
process.
The problem is that the hospital is the oddity here. It is one institution in the middle of a residential
area, and as such, it should be subject to at least a little extra scrutiny. There are many quality of
life and property value issues that hospital expansion can and does affect.
Lighting, landscaping, screening, setbacks, damage from snow removal and grounds crews, and combined
storm and sanitary sewer overflows from inadequate storm water retention are all issues I’ve dealt with
as a neighbor of the hospital. This is only an incomplete list of my issues. I am certain that many of
the hospitals other neighbors have their own issues.
Taking away the neighbors’ and public’s right to comment on plans that affect our quality of life and
property value is a slap in the face to the hospital’s neighbors. I ask that neighbors of the hospital
and concerned citizens talk to their council members and attend planning and council meetings regarding
this rezoning and make your opinions known. Again, changing the zoning from S-3 Planned Institutional to
I-1 Institutional does not inhibit hospital expansion in any way, it only removes public comment from
the process. Is there something in the current hospital administration’s plans that would cause serious
objections from their neighbors? I wonder.
Gerald Trudeau
Bowling Green