Jefferson Hills, Pennsylvania, United States
STATUS UPDATES:
Residents prevail at Court of Common Pleas: Judge upholds Zoning Hearing Board's decision
On August 7, 2020, the Allegheny County Court of Common Pleas upheld the Jefferson Hills Zoning Hearing Board's unanimous September 17, 2019, decision to REVOKE the Zoning Permit issued to UPMC for construction of UPMC South.
This is yet another win for the residents and taxpayers of Jefferson Hills who support responsible development of the Borough.
Read the full text of Judge James's decision to uphold the Zoning Hearing Board's decision here.
A second hospital does not make sense
Jefferson Hills should not carry the healthcare burden for the entire region
Jefferson Hills is already home to one hospital. The cost of having a second, redundant hospital in Jefferson Hills is real. Hospitals are not-for-profit and do not pay real estate taxes. Yet they are considered a high-impact use. The experts agree.
Professor Joseph S. Mistick, J.D., the region's foremost zoning expert, concluded that allowing a second hospital in the Borough as a use-by-right does not make sense because it forces a small municipality to carry the healthcare burden for an entire region. Professor Mistick believes that our group's proposed ordinance (which would only allow one hospital in the Borough) is legally sound and strikes the right balance of uses for this community.
Jason Theadore, an expert in hospital development, said, "In my 25 years of experience, I have never seen two full-service hospitals built as close together [as in this case]." Theadore believes that the general cost and stress of an additional full-service hospital in Jefferson Hills would far outweigh any benefits to the community. Among his concerns are:
- Noise from helicopters and sirens
- Increased traffic from multiple sources
- Pollution including medical waste
- Public safety
- Increased demands on the police force
- Maintenance issues like flooding
- Bright lights
Read on to learn more.
About Us
Concerned Residents of Jefferson Hills
We are over one hundred residents who live in Jefferson Hills who oppose UPMC's efforts to build a hospital at the intersection of Elliott Road and Route 51.
We are concerned about the negative effects of a second hospital on our quiet, family-friendly community and believe this is not responsible economic development.
Contact Borough Council Members
412-655-7735
Council Members
Council President
Karen Bucy
Council Vice President
David Montgomery
Council Members
Vickie Ielase
Keith Reynolds
Nicole Ruscitto
Francis Sockman
Melissa Steffey