McKenzie-Willamette seeks second postponement of public hearing.

Byline: Tim Christie The Register-Guard

For the second time, McKenzie-Willamette Medical Center has asked for more time before taking its case for a new hospital in north Eugene to the City Council.

A letter from McKenzie-Willamette's planning consultant, Rick Satre, was delivered to City Hall at about 3:30 p.m. Thursday, requesting that a public hearing planned for Oct. 23 be postponed until late November or early December, senior planner Alissa Hansen said.

The letter gave no reason for the request. City officials will work to secure the earliest possible date to accommodate the request, Hansen said.

Jim Bishop, McKenzie-Willamette's vice president for marketing and business development, said, "We've requested a deferral because we need additional time to be prepared before we go to the City Council."

McKenzie-Willamette is proposing to build a 200-bed hospital and 100,000 square feet of medical offices on Delta Highway North on the back nine of RiverRidge Golf Course.

The Springfield hospital is now part of Community Health Systems Inc. of Franklin, Tenn., the largest publicly traded hospital chain in the country.

In August, the Eugene Planning Commission recommended the council reject the project unless it can show how it would manage road improvements, preserve neighborhoods and reduce travel distances.

A public hearing before the City Council was originally planned for Sept. 17, but the hospital requested a postponement in August, saying it needed more time.

Ann Simas of North Delta Neighbors said her group, which opposes the hospital project, will be "ready to go whenever the hearing comes up."

"I have to say I'm not worried we can't counter whatever is said at the hearing," she said.