Legal Action May Stall Marshfield Clinic's Hospital Plans
Thursday, October 8th, 2015 -- 8:14 AM
(Jonathan Anderson, News Herald Media) -Marshfield Clinic's plans to provide hospital services next year in the city of Marshfield could be stalled after legal action by a likely competitor.On Wednesday, Ministry Health Care filed a lawsuit challenging the city of Marshfield's process for approving renovation work required to convert part of Marshfield Clinic into a hospital. Ministry operates Saint Joseph's Hospital, currently the only hospital in Marshfield, which is adjacent to Marshfield Clinic's medical campus.
Underlying the lawsuit is Marshfield Clinic's intention to open its own hospital facility in its east wing by the middle of 2016, the first stage of a larger project to build a new $175 million hospital by 2018. At issue in the case is whether the renovation work requires basic building permits or more intensive scrutiny from the city called conditional review.
The city issued building permits in July, and Ministry appealed that decision to the city's Zoning Board of Appeals. The board in early September upheld the city's decision to issue only building permits, finding that Marshfield Clinic intends to use the remodeled areas the same way it does now.
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