South Fayette hears comments on proposed UPMC hospital

South Fayette commissioners will be set to vote next week on whether to allow UPMC to build a hospital as a conditional use in the Newbury Plan on a 16acre parcel along Presto Sygan Road.

UPMC is proposing a three-story hospital as well as outpatient medical offices on the campus.

Brett Malky, president of Newbury, championed the hospital along with a Top Golf entertainment facility at the commissioners’ Wednesday workshop meeting.

“Obviously, Newbury has taken a long time,” Mr. Malky said. The development is on its 14th revision. “It’s been a long, hard struggle,” he added.

During a presentation to commissioners, Mr. Malky referred to a study Newbury had done by the research firm Buxton, which pointed to health care facilities, not retail, as long-term viable options in developments.

“We needed to be creative,” Mr. Malky said, adding that big-box retail was not a realistic option with stores like Target and KMart closing locations.

“Health care in the South Hills is a very underserved marketplace,” Mr. Malky said, adding that UPMC wants to build a “worldclass” medical campus in the township that would create hundreds of jobs.

Joseph Horowitz, president of the board of commissioners, said he has heard from some residents that they are concerned about potential noise from ambulance traffic and helicopters.

South Fayette resident Chip Davis said he didn’t think a hospital was the best use for the property.

“I don’t understand why you are saying the South Hills is underserved,” Mr. Davis said. “What we were promised at Newbury was a town center,” he said. He said a grocery store would be better suited for the development.

The board of commissioners will hold a public hearing at 7 p.m. April 19 to receive comment on UPMC’s conditional use application. The board is also set to vote on the matter at the meeting.