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Plan commission approves permit for new hospital

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JANESVILLE — Residents should see equipment readying the site for Janesville’s newest hospital in just a few weeks.

The Janesville Plan Commission gave the project a green light Monday night, approving a conditional-use permit for the Dean Clinic and St. Mary’s Janesville Hospital. SSM Health Care of Wisconsin and Dean Health System plan to build the clinic and hospital on 50 acres at the southeast corner of Interstate 90/39 and East Racine Street.

Construction is set begin in mid-October and be finished in late 2011.

Commission members voted 5-0-1 with Lori Hanewold abstaining and Frank Perrotto absent.

All four people who spoke during the public hearing voiced support for the project.

“We’re very excited to take this project from paper to reality, to be able to give the residents of Janesville a choice in health care,” said hospital President Kerry Swanson.

Gale Price, manager of building and development services for the city, recommended the commission approve the project.

No committee members expressed major concerns, though much of the conversation centered on traffic improvements around the development. The city, SSM and Dean are working with the state Department of Transportation on improvements and access options to the campus.

Access to Highway 11 is controlled by the DOT.

Main access to the campus is proposed to be across from Midland Road with either a signalized intersection with left-hand turn lanes from east and westbound Highway 11, or a roundabout. Officials are studying other hospitals across the country that have a main access as a roundabout, but no decisions have been made.

The recommendations approved Monday allow three monument-style ground signs greater than ordinance requirements, but the details of those will be reviewed and approved by the city’s plan commission at a later date.