County moves psychiatric hospital project forward

A Clark County hearing examiner ruled Friday that a proposed $26.8 million psychiatric hospital project in Salmon Creek does or can meet county code standards and “will not be significantly detrimental” to people or property nearby, or to the county’s general welfare.

Springstone LLC of Louisville, Ky., is proposing to build Rainier Springs Hospital on a 12.5-acre site at 2711 N.E. 129th St. The proposed 53,300-square-foot hospital property would be bordered by Waters Edge condominiums to the north, Salmon Creek to the east and I-205 to the south.

Rainier Springs Hospital would provide a full range of services — including inpatient, voluntary and involuntary treatment, adult treatment, geropsychiatric services for the elderly and substance abuse services, all for patients 18 and older.

Springstone has preliminary approval from the state Department of Health to construct the hospital, pending issuance of the conditional use permit by Clark County. Clark County Community Development had recommended approval of the project’s conditional use permit and preliminary site plan on March 30, but a community member requested a public hearing, which was held April 14 before a hearing examiner.

The hearing examiner’s final order included several conditions of approval regarding street, stormwater, engineering and design issues.

The project still requires a final site plan review and building permit before construction can begin. Plans call for the hospital to be operational by January 2018.

Another company that submitted an application to build a psychiatric hospital in Vancouver is appealing the state health department’s decision. A health law judge will rule on the appeal later this year. In the meantime, Springstone can move forward with the Salmon Creek project.

The nearby Goddard School preschool in Salmon Creek had expressed concerns about Rainier Springs’ admissions, treatment and discharge policies — particularly about transportation of patients upon discharge — and asked that the hospital be precluded from having patients with a history of harming others. The Fairgrounds Neighborhood Association, which had concerns about hospital operations, requested that Rainier Springs officials be required to attend one regular monthly neighborhood association meeting, according to the county staff report.

Clark County planning staff’s recommended approval did come with some conditions, many of which revolve around final construction drawings and ensuring the project follows proposed plans.

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