A new dialysis clinic will have to address loading and off-loading concerns at their proposed facility after receiving a letter from the Lake-Sumter Metropolitan Planning Organization.
According to Lady Lake Town Planner Wendy Then, the Longview Avenue project was originally reviewed and approved by commissioners nearly a decade ago.
Since then, new plans and a new project have been developed to erect a 7,104 square foot medical building to house Fresenius Medical Care Dialysis Clinic.
The proposed location is just north of the Microtel and medical offices located along Skyline Drive. The building will be constructed in the craftsman bungalow architectural style and the clinic plans to incorporate 74 trees for a total of 240 tree caliper inches of coverage.
After the conceptual plan was presented to commissioners, Commissioner Ruth Kussard voiced her concerns about a letter received from the Lake-Sumter MPO regarding off-loading and on-loading issues.
“My concern is in the letter that was received by Lake-Sumter MPO,” said Kussard.
Kussard read a portion of the letter that indicated that, according to the site plan, the accommodations for “paratransit vehicles for off-loading and loading of kidney dialysis patients” would “block the front door driveway and loading area for periods of 20 minutes or more, multiple times per day.”
“The recommendation is that you consider adding paratransit bus loading and unloading accommodations at the front door area,” added Kussard.
A representative appearing on behalf of the site engineers indicated that the company would be reaching out to Lake Sumter MPO to see if they could “possibly widen that drop-off area” to allow for other vehicles to pass even with paratransit loading and off-loading.
“Thank you, that is a big concern, that’s why I wanted to address it now” added Kussard.
Commissioners were otherwise excited about the new clinic.
“It’s a good use of the property, I’m sure it’s going to be very valuable,” said Commissioner Tony Holden.
