Saint John's Off the Hook for Underground Parking

By Ann K. Williams
Lookout Staff

June 30, 2011 – In a victory for Land Use and Circulation Element (LUCE) principles and Saint John's Health Center, the City Council agreed Tuesday night to let the institution lease off-site parking instead of building a $25 million on-site underground parking structure.

Although Saint John's had agreed in 1998 to build subterranean parking as part of its development agreement (DA), city staff worked out an amendment to the DA that will let hospital employees park nearby at the Yahoo! Center and St. Anne's Church.

In exchange, the City will be given greater control over the health center's future plans for expansion, along with $100,000 to help build a nearby Expo Line station, and city staff say the community will receive benefits valued at nearly $1.8 million over the next ten years.

“We have not just a good deal here, but a great deal,” Councilmember Terry O'Day said of the amendment, reflecting the opinions of his colleagues who unanimously approved it.

But not everyone in the council chambers was sold on the deal.

While more than 20 members of the public – including many high-powered Saint John's doctors and administrators – urged the council to approve the amendment, 15 railed against it.

Neighbors complained of the traffic congestion they said valet and off-site parking would cause, while a handful of nurses said that their safety was put at risk by late night and early morning treks to the hospital. Some said that the cost of valet parking was prohibitive.

In the weeks between the Planning Commission's approval of the plan ("Planning Commission Approves Saint John’s DA Amendment," June 17, 2011) and Tuesday's City Council meeting, City staff say they have addressed many of the neighbors' concerns.

The amendment now calls for an Ombudsperson to handle complaints, and Saint John's is obliged to conduct an annual compliance report to be presented to the city at a public hearing.

Patients and visitors will get a break on valet parking for the first 90 minutes, making it less likely that they'll cruise the neighborhood looking for a cheap place to park.

Security escorts will be available at all lots.

The Council added a requirement for signage at the hospital entrance asking patrons not to park on the residential streets surrounding it, and Council directed staff to investigate ways to improve parking in the area.

Also in exchange for the deal, Saint John's will have to conduct a traffic demand management plan (TDM) to reduce the number of automobile trips by employees, and the health center is obligated to pay up to $35,000 for a transportation management study.

“This does reflect the best goals that we have from the LUCE,” said Mayor Richard Bloom. “We've been able to use this opportunity...to advance the city's goals as well and that is the stuff of which good agreements are made.”

Five councilmembers were present at Tuesday's meeting: Bloom, O'Day, Gleam Davis, Pam O'Connor and Bob Holbrook. They all voted for the amendment.