HomeMy WebLinkAboutDCA Mercy Hospital DRI Letter (7.12.93)STATE OF FLORIDA
DEPARTMENT OF COMMUNITY AFFAIRS
2740 (EN TER VIEW 0
LAWTON CHILES
Governor
RIVE • TALLAHASSEE. FLORIOA 3239q•2 t
July 12, 1993
Mr. Charles B. Short
Hellmuth, Obata, Kassabaum, Inc.
2502 Rocky Point Road, Suite 100
Tampa, Florida 33607
LINDALOOMISSHELLEY
Scorwv
Re: Binding Letter of Interpretation
of Vested Rights Status
File No. BLIVR-1193-001; and
Binding Letter of.Developm,pt
,of Reainnal TIQact Status
File No. BLID-1193-002
Mercy Hospital -- FINAL ORDER NO: DCA93-165-F0E-BL
Dear Mr. Short:
We have evaluated your combined application for Binding
Letters dated August 20, 1992 and received September 10, 1992,
with supplemental information supplied on February 3, April 1,
April 23, June 23, and June 28, 1993. Based on the information
contained in the application and other information obtained dur-
ing the review of the development proposal, we enter the fol-
lowing Findings of Fact, Concluiions of Law, and order.
FINDINGS a FACT
1. The applicant is Charles B. Short; authorized represent-
ative of Mercy Hospital, Inc., which retains title of the hospital
buildings. The applicant proposes to expand the hospital facili-
ties with the addition of floors five and six to Huntley Tower, a
medical office building, parking garage and a nursing home.
2. The Mercy Hospital development is loAted in Sections
14, Township 54 South, Range 41 East, Dade County. The 40.74-
acre project site is situated east of South Miami Avenue at the
intersection of South Miami Avenue ,and Alatka Street (Exhibit A).
The boundary of the nearest county, Broward County, is approxi-
mately 25 miles north.
Mr. Charles B. Short
'July 12, 1993
Page Two
3. The existing Mercy Hospital is a multi -use development
which consists of 401 licensed beds presently in use, 220,069
gross square feet (gsf) of medical office space, 102,339 gsf of
ancillary hospital services and administrative office space, and
925 gsf of retail/service space with a total of approximately
2,300 parking spaces, on 40.74 acres.
The main components of Mercy Hospital are the main building
(bldg. #3, containing the East Wing, West Wing, North Wing and
South Tower), the Huntley Tower (bldg. 12), and the Carroll Tower
(bldg. #1). The main hospital building was originally built to
accommodate and was licensed for 569 beds. However, due to revi-
sions in the plan of development for the hospital, 57 beds were
delicensed. Therefore, Mercy Hospital presdntly is licensed for
512 beds. In addition, the following development is found on the
40.74 acres (Exhibit B):
a. The professional office building (bldg. #4) consists of
128,345 gsf of medical office and 925 gsf of retail/service use
(pharmacy) open to members of the public.
b. The Radiation/Oncology center (bldg. #10) consists of
10,000 gsf of medical office space open to members of the public.
c. The outpatient center (bldg. #11) consists of 75,831 gsf
of medical office space open to members of the public.
d. The MRI building (bldg. 113) consists of 5,893 gsf of
:pedical office space open to members of the public.
e. The four story addition to the West Wing (bldg. #14)
with 24 relocated beds.
The existing buildings 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 12, and 15 on Exhibit
B are approximately 102,339 gsf of hospital services and adminis-
trative office space that function primarily to serve patients
- admitted to the hospital. Therefore, the Department will consi-
der these facilities as ancillary to the hospital development.
The existing professional office building (bldg. #4), the
existing outpatient center (bldg. #11), the existing MRI building
(bldg. #13), and the Radiation/Oncology center* (bldg. #10) are
designed primarily to provide outpatient services to the general
public. Therefore, the Department will recognize these facili-
ties as separate medical office development. In addition, the
925 gsf of retail/service space located in the existing profes-
sional office building (bldg. #4) is designed primarily to serve
the general public and, therefore, will not be considered as
12
Mr. Charles B. Short
July 12, 1993
Page Three
ancillary to the inpatient hospital services.
4. The applicant is now proposing to add an additional
100,000 gsf medical office building (bldg. #20) to serve the
general public, a 120-bed nursing home (bldg. # 19), a fifth and
sixth floor addition to Huntley Tower which will contain 32 re-
located licensed beds (bldg. #18), a corridor and elevator with
approximately 15,000 gsf of ancillary space to connect the
Carroll Tower and the East Wing (bldg. #16), and a parking garage
containing 500 parking spaces (bldg. #21). A proposed rehabili-
tation center, described in Exhibit B as building #17, was can-
celed prior to this binding letter application. Thus, after the
expansion, Mercy Hospital will. consist of a total of 512 licensed
beds, 320,069 gsf medical office, 117,339 gsf of ancillary hospi-
tal services and administrative office space, a 120-bed nursing
home, 925 gsf of retail/service area, and 2,800 parking spaces on
40.74 acres.
5. The applicant is seeking a vested rights determination
pursuant to Subsection 380.06(20), Florida Statutes (F.S.) to
establish whether the existing hospital and its related office
and commercial facilities are vested. In addition, the applicant
is seeking a determination as to whether any portions of the
existing hospital and related facilities which are not vested
along with the proposed development cited above would be required
to undergo development of regional impact (DRI) review.
Vested Rights
6. According to the applicant, the following existing fac-
ilities were authorized for development prior to July 1, 1973:
Carroll Tower (bldg. fl); Huntley Tower (bldg. 12); the main
building (bldg. *3), containing the West Wing (floors 1-5), East
Wing (floors 1-6), North Wing (floors 1-5) and the South Tower
(floors 1-5); the 129,270 gsf professional office building (bldg.
#4), which includes 128,345 gsf of medical office space and 925
gsf of retail/service space; a two-story East Wing addition
(bldg. #5); and a four-story North Wing addition (bldg. #6) and
a one-story North Wing addition (bldg. #7). According to the
applicant, the hospital authorized for development prior to July
1, 1973 was originally approved to accommodate.and licensed for
569 hospital beds.
7. The applicant provided information for the vested.rights
determination which included, in part, the following:
a. Aerialphotograph of Mercy Hospital dated February, 1973
showing existing hospital.
20
M.r. Charles B. Short
July 12, 1993
Page Four
b. As built blueprints, dated June 21, 1947, showing the
East Wing (6 floors) and West Wing (5 floors) of the main build-
ing, with 184 beds. The architect was Stewart and Skinner (Job 4
237).
c. As built blueprints, dated December 23, 1954, of the
North Wing (5 floors) of the main building, which show 43 beds.
The architect was Stewart and Skinner (Job # 57-93).
d. As built blueprints, dated January 24, 1964, of the
South Tower (4 floors) of the main building, which show 128,345
gsf of medical office space and 68 beds. The architect, was
Stewart and Skinner (Job # 63-255).
e. As built blueprints, dated September 1, 1970, of the
Huntley Tower (4 floors), which show 32 beds. The architect was
Madden (Job #1132).
f. As built blueprints, dated September 1, 1970, of the
South Tower (5th floor) of the main building, which show 42 beds.
The architect was Madden (Job #1132).
g. As built blueprints, dated October 8, 1970, of the
Carroll Tower (8 floors), which show 200 beds. The architect was
Madden (Job #237).
h. As built blueprints, dated May 21, 1971, of the 129,270
gsf professional office building, which includes 128,345 gsf of
medical office space and a 925 gsf retail facility. The archi-
tect was Madden (Job #1132-F).
i. As built blueprints, dated January 24, 1964, of the two
story East Wing addition, which includes a pharmacy for inpatient
use only and a waiting room totaling 6,688 gsf.
j. As built blueprints, dated January 24, 1964, of the four
story North Wing addition , which includes hospital administra-
tive office space totaling 9,596 gsf.
8.. Section 380.06(20), F.S., provides:
•
Nothing in this section shall limit or modifythe rights of
any person to complete any development that has been
authorized by registration of a subdivision pursuant to
chapter 498 by recordation pursuant to local subdivision
plat law, or by a building permit or other authorization to
commence development on which there has ben reliance and
change of position and which registration or recordation
Mr: Charles B. Short
July 12, 1993
Page Five
was accomplished, or which permits or authorization Was
issued prior to July 1, 1973. If the developer has, by
his actions in reliance on prior regulation, obtained
vested or other legal rights that in law would have prevented
a local government from changing those regulations in a
way adverse to his interests, nothing in this chapter
authorizes any governmental agency to abridge those rights.
9. The applicant has not provided evidence of vested rights
based upon an approval of an overall plan of development for the
hospital or upon any authorization to commence development.
Instead, the applicant has submitted as built blueprints of the
floors, which show the rooms and beds of the existing hospital
structures, as evidence that the hospital was in existence and
operating prior to July 1, 1973 (see finding of fact #6).
According to the applicant, the existing additions to the
main hospital built after July 1, 1973, include: the surgery
suite (bldg. #8), Catheter Lab/Hyperbaric Chamber (bldg. #9),
Radiation/Oncology Center (bldg. #10), a corridor to connect the
Carroll Building to the medical office building (bldg. #12), MRI
Building (bldg. #13), an outpatient center (bldg. #11), a four-
story West Wing Addition on infill space (bldg. #14 containing 24
relocated beds), and a two-story West Wing Addition on infill
space (bldg. #15 containing a pharmacy and waiting room).
10. Any project which was constructed or which received
authorization to commence development on which there was reliance
and change of position prior to July I, 1973, is vested for pur-
poses of MI review pursuant to Section 380.06, F.S. The appli-
cant has provided evidence that -portions of Mercy Hospital in-
cluding: Carroll Tower (bldg. #1 floors 1-8); Huntley Tower
(bldg. #2 floors 1-4); the main building (bldg. #3) containing
the West Wing (floors 1-5), the East Wing (floors 1-6), the North
Wing (floors 1-5), and the SOuth Tower (floors 1-5) initially
built to accommodate 569 beds; the 129,270 gsf professional of-
fice building (bldg. 04); a two story East Wing addition (bldg.
#5); and a four story North Wing addition (bldg. #6) were con-
structed or under construction prior to July 1, 1973. The appli-
cant did not provide any evidence to show that the one story
North Wing addition ( bldg. #7) was constructed or under con-
struction prior to July 1, 1973.
Portions of the existing hospital development which are not
vested include: a one story North Wing addition (bldg. #7), the
surgery suite (bldg. #8), the Catheter Lab/Hyperbaric Chamber.
(bldg. #9), the Radiation/oncology Center (bldg. 110), the
outpatient center (bldg. #11), the Carroll -medical office
Mr. Charles B. Short
July 12, 1993
Page Six
building corridor (bldg. #12), the MRI building (bldg. #13), and
the two West Wing additions (bldgs. #14 and #15). Additionally,
the applicant's information shows that 56 beds have or will be
relocated to buildings built after July 1, 1973 [the four story
West Wing addition (bldg. #14) and the proposed two story Huntley
Tower addition (bldg. #18)]; thus, the number of beds remaining
in the structures built prior to July 1, 1973 is reduced to 513.
DRI Status
11. No documentation or claim was presented by the appli-
cant that the existing one story North Wing addition (bldg. #7),
the surgery suites and central supply (bldg. #8), the catheter
Lab/Hyperbaric Chamber (bldg. #9), the 10,000 gsf of medical
office space (Radiation/Oncology building bldg. #10), 75,831 gsf
of medical office space (outpatient facility bldg. #11), the
bridge from the Carroll building to the professional office
building (bldg. # 12), the 5,893 gsf of medical office space (MRI
building bldg. 413), the four story West Wing addition with 24
relocated beds (bldg. 414), and the two story West Wing addition
(bldg. #15) were authorized or built prior to July 1, 1973. The
following facilities have not received authorization to commence
development: the elevator/bridge between the East Wing and
Carroll Tower (bldg. 416), the addition of the fifth and sixth
floor to Huntley Tower with 32 relocated beds (bldg. #18), the
120 bed nursing home (bldg. #19), the proposed 100,000 gsf medi-
cal office building (bldg. 420), and the 500 space parking garage
(bldg. #21).
The existing buildings # 7, 8, 9, 12, and 15; and the pro-
posed building # 16 function as -administrative office space or
services for patients admitted to the hospital. Therefore, the
Department will consider these facilities as ancillary to the
hospital development.
.12. Paragraph 380.06(2)(c), F.S., provides that the Depart-
ment shall apply the guidelines and standards which were in ef-
fect when the developer received authorization to commence de-
velopment from the local government. It is the Department's
policy that if a portion of a project has received authorization
to commence development prior to July 7, 1989,4but a substantial
addition, expansion or revision to the project has been author-
ized after July 7, 1989, then the entire project will be con-
sidered, for the purposes of DRI review, as having received
authorization after July 1, 1989. .Any such addition, expansion,
or revision is considered substantial if it exceeds the substan-
tial deviation criteria specified in Subsection 380.06(19), F.S.
22
Mr. Charles B. Short
July 12, 1993
Page Seven
The currently proposed 100,000 gsf medical office (bldg.
#20) which has not received approval from the local government,
exceeds the substantial deviation criterion specified in Section
380.06(19)(b)6., F.S. Therefore, the applicable DRI guidelines
for the project are Rules 28-24.017, 28-24.020, 28-24.023, and
28-24.032, Florida Administrative Code (F.A.C.).
13. Section 380.06(2)(d), F.S., provides that development
which is at or below 80 percent of all numerical thresholds shall
not be required to undergo DRI review; a development that is
between 80 and 100 percent of a numerical threshold shall be
presumed to not require DRI review; a development at 100 percent
or between 100 and 120 percent of a numerical threshold shall be
presumed to require DRI review; and a development that is at or
above 120 percent of any numerical threshold shall be required to
undergo DRI review.
Rule 28-24.017, F.A.C., provides, in part, that any proposed
hospital development which has a design capacity of more than 600
beds shall be a DRI. Mercy Hospital with 56 relocated non -vested
beds and 101,055 gsf of non -vested ancillary service and adminis-
trative space is 9.3 percent of the hospital bed threshold.
Therefore, the project is not required to undergo DRI review,
based solely on the hospital bed threshold.
Rule 28-24.020, F.A.C., provides, in part, that the DRI
threshold for any proposed office building or park operated under
common ownership, development plan, or management is 300,000
square feet of gross floor area or 30 acres. The proposed pro-
ject, with a combined total of 191,724 gsf of nonvested existing
and proposed medical office building on approximately 5 acres is
63.9 percent of the office square footage threshold and 16.7
percent of the office acreage threshold. Therefore, the proposed
project is not required to undergo DRI review, based solely on
the office development threshold.
Rule 28-24.023, F.A.C., also provides, in part, that any
proposed residential development in a county with a population in
excess of 500,000 is 3,000 dwelling units. The population of Dade
County is 1,982,901 . Therefore the DRI threshold for Dade
County is 3,000. The Department has determine 0 that a nursing
home shall be considered residential development. The proposed
120 bed nursing home is 4.0 percent of the residential threshold,
therefore, the project is not required to undergo DRI review,
based solely on the residential threshold.
Rule 28-24.032, F.A.C„ Multi -use development, provides, in
part, that the DRI threshold for any proposed development with
23
24
Mr. Charles B. Short
July 12, 1993
Page Eight
two or more land uses is reached when the sum of the percentages
of the appropriate thresholds identified in Chapter 28-24,
F.A.C., and Section 380.0651, F.S., for each land use in the
development is equal to or exceeds 145 percent. For each land
use, the Department will analyze the highest percentage of the
appropriate numerical thresholds for that use.
The sum of the percentages of the appropriate thresholds for
each of the above named land uses in the proposed development
equals 77.2 percent, which is 53.2 percent of the multi -use
threshold. Therefore, the proposed development is not required
to undergo DRI review based solely on the.multi-use threshold.
14. All commitments made by the applicant, all materials
submitted by the applicant in the application, and all other
relevant written materials are incorporated herein by reference
and made a part hereof.
15. On September 25, 1992, notice of this request for a
Binding Letter of Interpretation was published in the Florida
Administrative Weekly. In addition the South Florida Regional
Planning Council and the City of Miami were notified.
CONCLUSIONS OF LAW
1. The Department concludes that the following development
is vested from compliance with Chapter 380, F.S., pursuant to
Section 380.06(20), F.S.: Carroll Tower (bldg. #1), Huntley Tower
(bldg. #2), and the main building (bldg. #3) containing the West
Wing (floors 1-5), East Wing (floors 1-6), North Wing (floors 1-
5) and the South Tower (floors 1-5) which can accommodate 513
beds; the 129,270 gsf professional office building (bldg. #4),
which includes 128,345 gsf of medical office space and 925 gsf of
retail/service space; a two-story East Wing addition (bldg. #5);
and a four-story North Wing addition (bldg. #6).
However, the Department concludes that the following devel-
opment is not vested: a one-story North Wing addition (bldg. #7),
the surgery suite (bldg. 18), the Catheter Lab/Hyperbaric Chamber
(bldg. #9), the 10,000 gsf of medical office space (Radiation/On-
cology Center bldg. #10), the 75,831 gsf of medical office space
(outpatient center bldg. #11), the Carroll -medical office build-
ing corridor (bldg. #12), the 5,893 gsf of medical office space
(MRI' building bldg. #13), the four story West Wing addition con-
taining 24 relocated beds,(bldg. #14) and the two story West Wing
addition (bldg. 15), the proposed 100,000 gsf medical office
building (bldg. #20), the addition of the fifth and sixth floor
to Huntley Tower with 32 relocated beds (bldg. #18), the 120 bed
Mr. Charles B. Short
July 12, 1993
Page Nine
nursing home (bldg. #19), the elevator/bridge between the East
Wing and Carroll Tower (bldg. #16), and the 500 space parking
garage (bldg. #21).
2. Based on Finding of Fact No. 13, the nonvested develop-
ment in Mercy Hospital is less than 80 percent of all applicable
DRI thresholds. Therefore, pursuant to Paragraph 380.06(2)(d),
Florida Statutes, the Department concludes that the nonvested
development is not required to undergo DRI review.
ORDER
The existing and proposed Mercy Hospital development, as
described above, shall not be required to comply with the review
requirements of Section 380.06, F.S.
2. Any proposed changes to the vested portion of the pro-
ject may require further review pursuant to Sections 380.06(4)(e)
and (f), Florida Statutes.
3. The nonvested development as described in Conclusion of
Law No. 1 shall be considered cumulatively with any future addi-
tional development in terms of the guidelines and standards con-
tained in Chapter 28-24, Florida Administrative Code, and Section
380.0651, Florida Statutes, and its associated regional impacts.
Should any of the above representations made by the applicant be
substantially changed, including those regarding the abandonment
of building I 17, further review of the project may be required.
4. The determination in this binding letter specifically
regarding the development of regional impact status of the non -
vested development shall expire and become void on July 12, 1996,
unless the plan of development has been substantially commenced
by that date. This date may be extended by mutual agreement of
the Department, the local government of jurisdiction, and the de-
veloper.
This binding letter of interpretation has been issued pur-
suant to the procedural requirements of Subsection 120.57(2),
F.S., and constitutes final agency action appealable within 30
days to a District Court of Appeal pursuant to4Bection 120.68,
Florida Statutes. If you wish to present oral or written evi-
dence, or written statement in opposition to this agency action,
you must file with the Department a written request for an oppor-
tunity to do so within 30 days from this date. Such a request
for a reconsideration shall be made in accordance with Rule 9J-
2.016, Florida Administrative Code, and will be responded to by
the Department pursuant to Paragraph 120.57(2)(a), F.S.
25
Mr. Charles B. Short
July 12, 1993
Page Ten
This determination does not obviate the need to comply
with other applicable state or local permitting procedures. Any
questions regarding this determination may be directed to Jim
Snyder in the Bureau of State Planning at (904) 488-4925.
Sincerely,
J.4homas Beck, Chief
Bureau of State Planning
JTB/jts
Attachments
cc: Mr. Rob Curtis (SFRPC)
Mr. Sergio Rodriguez (City of Miami)
FILING AND ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
FILED, on '..3 :lace, r:'.111 s...:e (4n.r.,n1ted
Departmer;e. C'E?., Ze: -:.4.;', oi wi-iich
is ; aci-.;.oii,11.,
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. Bass Date
tment Clerk
26
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