Valley to hold public hearing on medical park district

By: Amy Weaver Staff Writer | Opelika Auburn News
Published: March 09, 2009

The next step in creating a medical park district in the city of Valley is expected to happen Monday night.
A public hearing to rezone the area around the George H. Lanier Hospital as a medical park district is scheduled just before the city council meeting which begins at 7 p.m. EDT in city hall.
Mayor Arnold Leak said letters were sent out to homes and businesses in the surrounding area and neighborhoods about the possible change.
“If anyone wants to speak, pro or con, they can come and talk about it before the city council meeting,” he said.
In December, the council agreed to create a medical park zone designation, in anticipation of creating such a zone around the hospital in the near future.
Leak said the idea behind the district is to create a place where “any kind of medical treatment you can think of “ can be located in “one concentrated area.”
The Chattahoochee River, which flows directly behind the hospital, is expected to be a big appeal for doctors and clinics to locate in the area, Leak said.
Also, if the city grows as officials anticipate, Leak said the medical park could be targeted as a destination for a future public transportation system.
Another public hearing is scheduled prior to the March 23 meeting to consider renaming the Fairfax Bypass to Valley Haven Highway.
The hearing and city council meeting will be at the Valley Community Center, instead of city hall.