Naples Planning Advisory Board approved plans for NCH’s proposed five-story R.M. Schulze Family Cardiovascular and Stroke Critical Care Center to be built at the current site of the Telford Education Center, south of Downtown Baker Hospital, during a Dec. 13 meeting.

Last month, NCH petitioned the board for a rezoning of the property to public service and conditional-use approval, allowing the building to exceed the city’s maximum height allowance of three stories. The board elected to continue the discussion to Dec. 13, citing concerns, including parking, signage and traffic flow.

The first floor of the building will be for administration, training and education space currently housed at the Telford Building. The second floor will have operating rooms and two connections to the main hospital—one for visitors and one for doctors. Slated for the third floor are medical exam rooms and offices, as well as a connector to the planned four-story, 371-space parking garage and outpatient registration.

The first phase of the project involves reconstructing the west surface lot with underground storm trap chambers and relocating utilities. Phase two consists of building the parking lot and will be followed by the construction of the Schulze Center in the final phase.

NCH President and CEO Paul Hiltz estimated the entire project could take up to three years from when the project receives final approval by City Council.

Board member John Cross said there shouldn’t be objections to the hospital, since the ordinance establishing the land as a public service zone was created specifically for NCH to pursue the project. However, he doesn’t think the parking garage is necessary, suggesting it should be built at 30 feet pursuant to what the public service district allows. Board member Jennifer Fiore agreed.

“The hospital is a great idea, but there’s a time and there’s a place. And the time might be now, but I don’t necessarily know that this is the place for such a drastic expansion in size and scope,” Fiore said.

Board member Fredric Phillips emphasized the need for a heart and vascular center downtown, as NCH continues to expand its services in other parts of the county.

City staff plans to add four conditions to be met and brought forward to Council, including a public right-of-way permit and discontinuation of valet parking on the north side of the property. The board determined the for-profit valet service didn’t comply with new public service zoning. Other suggestions made by the planning board include directional signage for visitors and making the main sign on the new building smaller.

The next steps for NCH are two public hearings in front of Council aimed for January before a final decision on whether construction can begin.