Hospital gains support for expansion plans
BY PETER B. BRACE INDEPENDENT WRITER
Nantucket Cottage Hospital plans to add a new operating room and covered entrances for its main and emergency room access points.

The 9,400-square-foot addition includes 2,600 square feet of storage and training space on the basement level, 3,400 square feet for lobby, reception and office space on the first floor and 3,400 square feet of clinical space on the second floor - the new operating room.

At the main entrance, the Cottage Hospital will build a covered patient drop-off area with a 22-foot-wide vehicle lane. Two lanes of drop-off and pick-up traffic will be built to pass under a covered patient entrance. The hospital's 192 parking spaces will also be reconfigured, a change that will ultimately cre- ate five additional spaces. Along with the parking layout change, the hospital wants to make traffic flow one-way from the Prospect Street side and out onto Vesper Lane.

Cottage Hospital architect George A. Berg of Trapani and Associates of Boston, Engineer Dan Mulloy and attorney Arthur Reade presented early plans for the addition at the Planning Board's March 10 meeting as a modification of the hospital's major commercial development special permit.

"These elevations are preliminary in nature and we have had one review by the HDC," said Berg. "It's by no means a final proposal, it still needs to be vetted through the HDC process."

The Planning Board liked what it saw, but made several suggestions on how to improve traffic circulation on the property.

After examining the plan, Planning Board Chairman Frank Spriggs suggested the hospital do something about trimming back the bushes on the east side of the Prospect Street entrance, because it is difficult for drivers to see when trying to turn right.

"I also like the idea of the one-way traffic in the parking lot, but good luck enforcing it," he said. "I think it's a great improvement."

Planning Board member Barry Rector added that the hospital's plan seemed straightforward enough and following his lead the board voted unanimously to have its staff draft an approval letter for the April 14 meeting. Despite the early nature of the HDC plans, Reade assured the Planning Board that only one architectural element might be altered.

"The site plan and the floor plans are probably not going to change," said Reade. "The only question is the roof of the entrance - whether it is gabled or flat."

Work on the addition is likely to begin by the fall, said hospital spokesman Chuck Gifford.

"We have to get the approvals, [and] all things being equal, if we get the approvals, then I think we're looking at the fall."

As for the entrance to the emergency room, W. Bill McEachern Contractors of Nantucket began work on Monday, said Gifford.

This entrance will be extended under the existing overhang and will contain a two-door entrance, one being sliding glass doors and the other for ambulatory access. During the construction period for this entrance, probably about six weeks, Gifford said ambulances will continue to bring patients in through the ambulance-only door into the emergency room. All others in need of emergency care must use the main

entrance to the hospital. I