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Q: What is the North Campus project?
A: The North Campus project is an integral part of Lancaster General Health’s long-term plan to meet the healthcare needs of the rapidly growing population in Northeastern Lancaster County over the next 30 to 50 years. Our plan, which is still evolving, aims to improve patient access to our healthcare services.
Q: Where will the North Campus project be located?
A: If approved by local authorities, the project will be built on 68 acres near the intersection of Routes 222 and 322 on commercially zoned property LG Health has owned since 2003. The property is located within Lancaster County’s Urban Growth Area.
Q: Why does LG Health want to build a new medical facility in West Earl Township?
A: Our Mission is to advance the health and well-being of the communities we serve. Currently, one in four of our patients come from the northeastern part of Lancaster County, where the population is expected to grow by nearly 10,000 over the next five years. Additionally, Lancaster General Hospital is operating at full capacity, so the challenge for us is to either increase our capacity in downtown Lancaster, or bring services to northeast communities. We believe bringing services to the West Earl area will better serve the long-term healthcare needs of the entire community.
Q: What will residents of West Earl Township gain from this new facility?
A: In addition to easier access to our services, our presence in West Earl Township is an investment in the economic success of the region. Our efforts will create new jobs, increase local tax revenue for critical public projects and spur additional investment in the area.
Q: Why is LG Health building in an area where other medical facilities exist?
A: We have great respect for the other medical providers located in northeastern Lancaster County. We are expanding into this area because of the needs of Lancaster General Health patients. We believe that patients should absolutely have a choice about where they receive their care. Our intent is to provide easier access to high-quality care to the residents of northeastern Lancaster County, many of who already choose to come to LG Health and who want to avoid the long drive to our downtown facilities. We want them to be able to spend more time with their healthcare provider and less time behind the wheel of their car.
Q: Does your plan pose a threat to environment and the farmland in that region?
A: No. We are committed to preserving open space, farmland and the natural landscape, protecting the local environment, and minimizing disruptions to the way of life for our future neighbors. We want to make sure that what we may eventually build complements the surrounding area. In addition, we plan to use our own resources for our infrastructure needs, such as roads, water and sewer, to minimize the impact on local taxpayers. We have been, and always will be, a good neighbor to the citizens of Lancaster County.
Q: What happens next in the process?
A: We are still quite early in the planning stages. Before any detailed building plans can be developed and presented, we must continue our work with local officials to improve the township’s zoning regulations. (Click here for our Calendar of Events.) Since 2003, we have met publicly with West Earl Township’s Planning Commission and Board of Supervisors to insure our project complements their goals for the future. We also have met with the leaders of surrounding communities, and farmland preservation groups, to explain our plans and answer their questions.
Q: Will public water and sewer lines run through farmland to reach the project’s location?
A: No. Water and sewer lines will run along public roads, to avoid disrupting farmland. Both lines will be owned and paid for by Lancaster General Health, and no future development will be allowed to tap into either lines. The lines will also be sized to accommodate the services planned by LG Health only – no other uses. Under the direction of West Earl Township, the water and sewer lines will connect the North Campus to the township’s sewer plant and existing water main.