Project description:

The project includes the expansion of the Good Samaritan Hospital campus, including a new patient care tower (240,000 square feet, 190 new beds), two (2) new medical office buildings (200,000 square feet), central support tower (90,000 square feet), expansion of the existing Emergency Department, added building area and infrastructure related to the campus Central Utility Plant, new off-street parking, utility improvements, street improvements, landscaping, storm water infrastructure and other improvements.    

Background: 

Master Plan permits are processed through the Planning Commission and are approved by the City Council. Certain projects, like Good Sam Hospital, due to their large site areas, scale of buildings and structures, high trip generation rates, incremental growth over time, unique characteristics and potential impacts to the community, require a special degree of review and opportunity for public comment through the Master Plan process. It is expected that approval of a Master Plan will guide development within the affected project for a period of 10 years. Good Sam had a previously approved Master Plan in 2003, with an amendment in 2007. The previous Master Plan has expired.

An Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) is a separate, parallel review process of the project’s environmental impacts on the community. That process starts with a review of a SEPA environmental checklist. An EIS is “(…) shall provide impartial discussion of significant environmental impacts and shall inform decision makers and the public of reasonable alternatives, including mitigation measures, that would avoid or minimize adverse impacts or enhance environmental quality (WAC 197-11-400)”. The EIS is an administrative permit process. The City of Puyallup will be acting as the Lead Agency for the EIS and will be soliciting input from the public, other public agencies and Tribal Governments on the scope of the EIS and to review the EIS analysis.