Plans for an outdoor activity area at Latrobe Hospital won’t be approved until Independence Health System shares more information with the city’s planning commission about how it will be used.
Representatives from Independence Health’s Johnstown-based engineering consultant, H.F. Lenz Co., told the planning commission last week the 2,500-square-foot fenced-in activity area would be developed on a grassy area between the hospital and Second Avenue and would be associated with an adult behavioral health unit.
Some commission members said they’re concerned about safety and the potential impact on the neighborhood.
“What does it mean for the community?” asked commission member Jarod Trunzo. “There is a dense residential neighborhood.”
H.F. Lenz’s Carson Coleman said the activity area would be surrounded by a 16-foot-tall anti-climb opaque fence with an entrance from the hospital and another from Second Avenue. The street entrance would be accessed through a vestibule with two secured gates.
Patients would not be able to enter the area without supervision, Coleman said.
She said the area will include a half basketball court, a small walking track and a seating area with some shade.
The commission tabled the land development plan, indicating they want to hear directly from leaders at Independence Health.
“I would rather hear from Independence Health,” said Kathleen Kelley, who chairs the commission. She said information the commission received was “very ambiguous. We did not have all the facts.”
“All we can do moving forward is welcome a professional, transparent discussion,” said Trunzo. “Whoever the decision-makers are probably should communicate with the community.”
Independence Health has not revealed many specifics about its plans for behavioral health services at Latrobe Hospital.
Brian Fritz, president of Westmoreland, Latrobe and Frick hospitals, recently told TribLive that an expansion of Latrobe Hospital’s adolescent behavioral health unit is slated for completion in June and will increase the number of inpatient beds from 11 to 23.
Latrobe city officials in October approved Independence Health’s plan to renovate a 10,000-square-foot area of the hospital’s fourth floor for behavioral health services.
Independence, which resulted from the merger of the former Excela Health and Butler Health systems, provided no details when TribLive asked this week about that renovation and two other interior projects that have received plan approval from the city: relocation of medical and surgery services on the sixth floor and x-ray room upgrades.
In response, Kelley Skoloda, chief marketing and communications officer, issued a statement indicating Independence Health “is committed to providing expert care, close to home, while ensuring the safety of our patients, staff and community. We constantly assess community health needs and how we can evolve to better meet them.
“A clear need in the community is modern and appropriate care settings for behavioral health. Beyond this need, we are looking for the best use of our hospital facilities in Westmoreland County and are considering significant investment in Latrobe Hospital to meet this community need.
”Care could be provided in a newly renovated, compassionate, secure and evidence-based structured environment, for patients including adults as well as adolescents. As they develop, plans will be shared and approvals sought with appropriate leadership and authorities at required intervals. We are committed to ongoing dialogue and will provide updates as they become available.”
The proposed outdoor activity area would include two rain gardens to help manage stormwater, Coleman said.
City engineer Gibson-Thomas recommended that as much water runoff as possible be directed into the rain gardens. Reviewing the project plans, it noted storm drains have been positioned to convey runoff into the site’s existing storm sewer system, which is downstream from the rain gardens.