The Bellaire City Council and the planning and zoning commission held a public hearing Monday night to discuss the possible expansion of the First Street Surgical Center, 411 North First St.
First Street Surgical Center was built over three years ago and now they are seeking permission from the city for a 21,000 square feet expansion to accommodate 19 hospital beds.
Jacobo Varon, M.D., a plastic surgeon at First Street Surgical Center, is petitioning on behalf of the Lenox Hill Holdings Ltd., for the abandonment from the city for a 60 foot right-of-way of Chestnut Street between Bissonnet and First Street. The city of Bellaire will have to agree to sell the street to Varon and approve the expansion of the hospital before any construction can begin.
The main reason for the expansion is to accommodate the number of patients, who are having surgery and need to stay overnight, with a hospital bed, Varon said. Currently, the surgical center has five beds, and with the expansion they will have 19 beds.
The plans for the expansion of the hospital include building an additional building, landscaping and putting in fountains on the property.
“It will beautify the city of Bellaire significantly,” Varon said.
The expansion will take over most of the shopping center, where many businesses are located, but they will have the choice of staying in their location, moving to a different location, or closing, he said.
Varon said he has been in communication with the businesses and has kept them informed of the hospitals plans.
The cost of the expansion is $4.2 million.
The council and the planning and zoning commission discussed traffic, lighting and noise issues during the public hearing and will deliberate and make a decision during their city council meeting on May 3.
All public comments must be submitted in writing to City Clerk Tracy Dutton no later than noon on April 29.
