Saratoga Hospital has taken the next step toward developing a medical office center on Morgan Street in Saratoga Springs, by submitting a sketch plan application for review by the city Planning Board.
The property is located on land behind Saratoga Hospital, which is at 211 Church St.
The hospital presented preliminary sketches to the Planning Board to get feedback from board members and the community.
The preliminary plans include a medical office center that would allow Saratoga Hospital to bring physicians from offices throughout the city to a single location, where they could more easily collaborate on patient care, officials said.
Equally important, because of the site’s proximity to the hospital, in emergency situations surgeons and other physicians could get to Saratoga Hospital in minutes, according to hospital officials.
“We have long believed that a medical office center is the best use of this last piece of undeveloped land adjacent to our hospital property,” said Angelo Calbone, Saratoga Hospital president and CEO. “We look forward to bringing the benefits of more convenient, coordinated care to our growing community. This is the next step in fulfilling our commitment.”
The sketch plans also address the potential for future development, primarily in preparation for the required state Environmental Quality Review.
“Currently, there are no specific plans for future development,” said attorney Matt Jones, Saratoga Hospital’s land-use counsel. “However, to truly assess and mitigate the potential environmental impact, we need to look at the entire parcel. To do otherwise, would be shortsighted.”
Saratoga Hospital owns the Morgan Street property, which was included in 18 zoning changes made in 2019 to align the city’s zoning map. The realignment cleared the way for medical office use on the property.
A small group of neighbors opposed the rezoning and filed suit against the city. The lawsuit was dismissed in November.